Gender

Gender is the range of characteristics pertaining to, and differentiating between, masculinity and femininity.

73154

How is it fair that a man can leave the house without telling his wife but she has to take permission from him? How does this prove equality or anything but inferiority and ownership?

Zoheir Ali Esmail, Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD... Answered 3 weeks ago

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. Islam has stressed the equality of men and women when it comes to their relationship with God. Their actions and attitudes are their own and they will be recompensed with justice and mercy. When it comes to some of the rulings on a sociological level, while they may not be the same for a man and woman, that doesn't affect their equality in front of God and certainly doesn't indicate inferiority as the Qur'an has clearly defined the benchmark of superiority being that of God-consciousness. There is also no ownership as the woman is a free woman and is responsible in front of God. It is her choice to follow these rules in her obedience to God, and for that she achieves the spiritual progression which is the benchmark of excellence.

At the same time, there is much discussion on the rulings related to women and the paradigms that have been used throughout our intellectual history to determine the rulings in different epochs. While that discussion has not resulted in a change of view of many scholars in regards to the specific ruling in your question, research is continually being made to apply our understanding of Islamic law in each time and the concern that you have raised is one that is taken seriously in intellectual circles, bearing in mind the changing roles of women in the modern world.

May you always be successful

68125

Gender . Medicine

How can a doctor or therapist who works with patients or clients of the opposite gender handle the issue of physical contact? They can avoid it unless absolutely necessary, but when it is necessary does that constitute a sin?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 2 months ago

Islamic rules forbidding seeing or touching other gender (Non Mahram) are very clear but exceptions come if there is a real necessity to save life. Necessity must be assessed and the exception should meet no more than the necessity. Any act more than the real necessity is not permissible.

Wassalam.

66169

Sexual . Marriage . Gender

Is it allowed to marry a transwoman who has undergone Sexual Reassigning Surgery (SRS)?

First of all we need to be sure that she is really a woman. This assurance does not come from her recent appearance which looks like a woman but must come
through medical confirmed results that the DNA belongs to a female
human being. When a person is a female by genetic structure but
because of abnormality she looked like a male and then she went
through a surgery to remove the abnormal organs and develop the female
organs, in this case she is a female and marriage between a Muslim man
and a Muslim woman is possible. But if she does not have female DNA
and the operation was just for removing the male organs and creating or implanting
female organs instead, she is in fact not a female, so there is no
question of marriage between a Muslim man and such a person.

Same situation applies on a woman who undergoes a surgery to look like a man wth out a DNA confirmation about the real gender.
Wassalam.

65027

Soul . Gender . Paradise

Does the soul have a gender? What gender will be represented when we go to Jannah?

Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answer updated 3 months ago

There isn't full agreement on whether the soul has a gender, although a common view is that the soul does not have a gender. However one can deduce from Qur'an and hadith that we will appear in the afterlife similar to how we appear in this world including gender. It is said that the soul is affixed to a sort of body in the afterlife (less "heavy" than the physical body but still a sort of body) and so perhaps this is why it will appear gendered.

[Edit: Hereby is demonstration that there is no agreement on the matter! In tafsir of 4:1, Allamah Tabataba'i expresses the view that the Qur'anic reference to creating the "nafs" of a person and its mate is the compound of worldly body and soul, not the soul in and of itself or what persists after the worldly life.

However, it should be said that there have been multiple trends of thought in the Islamic world regarding the nature of the soul, and some scholars accept some views - like Molla Sadra's - whereas others do not. As for non-Islamic sources, while it is true that extra-Islamic philosophical ideas were introduced to the Islamic world early on and became part of Islamic thought, just because something is extra-Islamic does not automatically mean it is wrong. For instance, pre-Islamic sources also say that 2+2=4, and we do not disagree with that. What can be said is that non-Islamic sources cannot be taken as proof of matters known through revelation, although one could consider the logic presented in them.

In any case, this may not be what the question is actually intending to ask, because it seems that the question is aimed at asking whether we will appear gendered in the barzakh and heaven/hell. From the Qur'an and hadith, it seems as if we will appear recognizably gendered, regardless of whether or not that is an inherent nature of the soul. In any case, we will all find out.

In contrast, some people ask whether the soul is essentially gendered because they have an interest in questions such as the position of women and men spiritually in Islamic thought.

An interesting read on the spiritual aspects of gender in the Islamic, including Shi'i, tradition is _The Tao of Islam_.]

Soul . Gender . Paradise

Does the soul have a gender? What gender will be represented when we go to Jannah?

Non Islamic sources claim that souls have no gender but Quran and authentic Hadeeths are clear that human soul is linked with human body, and as every human being has a gender either male of female, so, the souls has the same gender of the human being . Allah (SWT) says in Quran : (O mankind, We have Created you from a male and a female and made you in people and tribes, that you may know each other. Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is most pious (Sura 49, Verse 13).

Wassalam.

62091

Gender . Death

Will we have gender in our existence after death?

Our gender is ordained by our Creator and it will remain with us after this life. In Paradise, Lady Fatimah will be the best of all the ladies of Paradise, which means that there will be females and males in Paradise, and our gender will remain with us after this life.

Wassalam.

53388

Islam . Gender . Bisexuality . Sin

What does Islam say about being bisexual in inclination yet not willing to do sinful acts with the same gender?

Abbas Di Palma, Shaykh Abbas Di Palma holds a BA and an MA degree in Islamic Studies, and certifications from the Language Institute of Damascus University. He has also studied traditional Islamic sciences in... Answer updated 5 months ago

as salam alaikum

Islam does not religiously legitimize any relation outside a lawful marriage sanctioned by Islamic law. The Muslim person, whatever inclination may have, is called to control his lustful desires and abide by the divine religious, legal and ethical code. He should follow the instructions of the Qur'an and Sunna, always ask for Allah's guidance and make the love for Allah stronger than anything else. By sincerely doing so, the servant will be guided and rewarded insh'Allah.

With prayers for your success.

53997

Gender . Employment . Workplace

Should a person's interactions with their colleagues and those who they come across in the work environment, of the opposite gender, be brief and business-like or warm and friendly?

as salam alaikum

if a person find him/herself in a work environment with people of the opposite gender, because he/she doesn't find another job or any other reason, he/she should keep all the rules etiquettes that preserve his/her haya' and try to avoid extra-professional conversations. There is nothing wrong in sending greetings and work-related talk as long as they don't lead to haram consequences. Obviously one should strive also to be gentle, efficient and helpful in every circumstance. However "warm and friendly interactions" are not a necessity and should be avoided.

With prayers for your success.

58185

Salah (Prayers) . Sexual . Gender

My uncle looks like a woman but still has her male parts. Should she pray with her sisters or her brothers?

When she looks like woman ( despite having male organ) means that she is a female. Male parts can be because of genetic abnormality. This can be confirmed by medical tests. She has to be with the females.

Wassalam.

55337

Muslims . Gender

Is joking and laughing, without lustful desires, allowed between Muslims of the opposite gender? Is there a difference in the ruling on this matter between the Maraji'?

Joking and laughing between Muslims of opposite gender is far from the Quranic teachings and the orders of the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) and his Holy Progeny Ahlul Bayt (AS).

Allah (SWT) orders in Quran The wives of the Prophet: ( Do not speak softly with men, because it might cause moving ill hearted men towards evil desire)(33:32).

Hadeeth says that when non Mahram man and woman are together, Shaitan will join them.

It might start with out lustful desire, but Shaitan usually tries to deviate the hearts.

There is difference between Maraaji; in this matter.

Wassalam.

52571

Gender . Dysphoria . Shi'a

When a person has been confirmed as having gender dysphoria and they are in deep distress about their gender identity, are they allowed to transition to the opposite gender according to Shi'a law?

If the genes of the person confirm his or her gender, but they look like a different gender, then it is allowed for them to seek medical help to make their original gender more clear in their body.

No one is allowed to change his or her original gender confirmed by their genes.

Wassalam.

51625

Gender . Wudu (Ablution) . Medicine

Under what circumstances is it allowed to be touched by a doctor of the opposite gender? And does that break one's Wudhu?

It is not allowed to touch non Mahram but only in emergency like life saving or medical emergency etc.

Touching other gender does not invalidate Wudhu, despite of the opinion of Shaafi’ee sect that it invalidates. Their opinion is based on misunderstanding the Quranic verse أو لا مستم النساء. Even most of Sunni scholars do not accept the opinion of Shafi’ee sect in this matter.

Wassalam.