The Quran1 reflects and promotes the patriarchal social system in which it evolved. Many verses in the text attempt to structure and reaffirm the patriarchal order and reduce any threat to the patriarchal system. Although the Quran is a text intended for all Muslims, regardless of gender, it is evident that many, if not most, of the verses are aimed at a male audience. Although the text contains many verses describing women's rights, many of these verses are specifically addressed to men. In other words, the verses on women's rights are written in a style that suggests an instruction manual for men, not women. The patriarchal systems reaffirmed in the Quran are not simply limited to controlling women's behavior; any substantial threat to the patriarchy is condemned as evil and deserving of punishment. Due to the patriarchal tendency of the society in which the Quran was revealed, it is very interesting to explore the Quranic verses that seem to subvert the patriarchal system. Verses that undermine patriarchy are often more subtle than those that confirm it; certain verses, depending on how they are interpreted, could either support patriarchy or degrade it. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essay There are several distinct ways in which the Quran reinforces pre-existing patriarchal ideas: it establishes women and children as property, prohibits activities that could disrupt the patriarchal order (such as homosexuality, extramarital fornication and adultery), dictates that male parents always inherit more property than female parents, and suggests that women become impure beings by menstruation and that men become impure by menstruation. sexual relations with women. These methods of proliferating patriarchy are very clear in some verses, while in others they manifest themselves in more subtle ways. The most important reinforcement of patriarchal values ​​is the obvious, often implicit, notion that women and children are property. Although the Quran undoubtedly strives to protect the rights and even happiness of women and children, their status as the property of men is never substantially questioned. For this reason, it is sometimes difficult to determine whether women and children are protected for their own sake as individuals or whether they are protected because they constitute valuable property for men, although, of course, these two reasons for protection are not mutually exclusive. The exchange of financial compensation or dowry in exchange for a woman's hand in marriage is one of the clearest signs that a woman is a commodity to be purchased. The many verses devoted to mediation as to when and how the dowry should be paid emphasize the importance of this financial transaction and suggest that a marriage contract is almost void until it is validated at the both by dowry and by consumption. The variable price of the dowry depending on the social class or social position of the woman3 is another strong indicator of the property status of women. If women are the prized possessions of their husbands or male family members, steps must be taken to preserve their value. The control of women's worth is the control of their sexuality; this control further supports the patriarchal system. The Quran clearly states that men are the protectors of women and that in the absence of her protector, the woman must protect herself from other men4. Besidesobvious protection of their sexuality, women are also expected to hide their beauty and behave modestly to prevent men from being tempted by them. The Quran gives a detailed list of selected people to whom a woman is allowed to show off her beauty. The importance of controlling a woman's (and therefore her offspring's) sexuality to maintain and affirm the patriarchal order can be further demonstrated by the serious consequences to those who do not follow the rules. If four people can testify that a woman acted lewdly, she should be confined to her house until she dies. If a couple is proven to commit adultery, they must be whipped a hundred times each and are forbidden from marrying anyone other than their adulterous partner.7 Women's sexuality is not the the only threat to patriarchy that is drowned out by threats of punishment. Homosexuality, an obvious threat to patriarchal systems because, among other reasons, it abandons the notion of using women as sexual currency, is also strongly condemned and participants in homosexual acts are threatened with punishment. Another blatant way in which the Quran reinforces patriarchy. is the way inheritances are distributed to heirs. Descendants only receive half of what their brothers receive. If a man has only daughters and no sons, the daughters receive only two-thirds of the inheritance. If a man's wife dies and he has no children with her, he receives half of his inheritance, but the woman whose husband died and left her childless receives only one quarter of his inheritance. If a person dies without leaving a husband or children but only brothers and sisters, the brothers receive double the inheritance of the sisters. Such inheritance laws ensure the continuation of patriarchy because it is almost impossible for a woman to inherit more property than her male family members inherit. Perhaps one of the most subtle ways in which the Quran proliferates the patriarchal system is articulated by the verses that mention the impurity of women. It is implied that women are impure during their periods and therefore should not be touched.10 Additionally, contact with women is considered one of the pollutants (along with toilet use and being sick) which must be washed before prayer. .As the examples above show, the verses of the Quran often reinforce the patriarchal values ​​of the society in which the text was revealed. It is therefore fascinating and important to recognize the large number of verses that appear to curb the power of patriarchy, granting women, children, orphans, and other potential second-class citizens equal or near-equal rights to men. adults. The rights to marriage and divorce granted to women and the importance of charity towards orphans emphasized by Allah are two examples of Quranic themes that weaken the patriarchal force of society. But perhaps the greatest subversion of patriarchy is manifested not in the rights of women and children, but rather in Allah. As the omniscient and omnipresent patriarch who judges all individuals fairly, regardless of their place in the temporal patriarchal system, Allah warns men that He knows all their actions and will punish them if they abuse their patriarchal power . a marriage contract with a woman, then changes his mind before a dowry is fixed and consummation has taken place, he is still obliged to give the woman a small gift, a gesture which seems have no substantial goal other than to perform a good deed. Even if the dowry reinforces the ideal of women as property, theQuran clearly states that it is a gift given by the husband which the wife is not required to give up unless she wishes to do so. This gives women at least some financial security if a consummated marriage ends in divorce. The Quran also expressly forbids men from forcing their inherited wives to marry or treating them harshly and encourages men to let their wives leave them if they fear harsh treatment. Additionally, polygamy, an obvious extension of patriarchy, is only encouraged when a man is confident that he can deal fairly with his wives and children. Men are also prohibited from forcing their female servants into prostitution.16 Finally, women are protected against false accusations by the provision that anyone who bears false testimony against a woman must be whipped. All these stipulations control and suppress the impulses of absolute patriarchy and prevent women from being denied their basic rights. The Quran recognizes that men have the advantage in matters of divorce but makes many concessions that are advantageous to women. The three-month separation period or 'Iddat, designed so that couples can reconcile and women have time to find out if they are pregnant, is very reminiscent of the modern practice of divorce in America. An interesting specification regarding divorce is that a woman who has been divorced twice from the same husband must marry another man if she ever wishes to return to her original husband. Additionally, ex-husbands are specifically prohibited from preventing their ex-wife from remarrying. And finally, men are asked to pay fair alimony to all their ex-wives. All of these laws oppose the power of the patriarchal system in order to protect women from men who might otherwise marry and divorce with reckless abandon. Another way in which the power of patriarchy is kept in balance is the considerable mention of the rights of orphans. in the Quran. Since orphans have no father to represent them in the patriarchal hierarchy, the many Quranic verses intended to protect orphans constitute a direct confrontation with the patriarchal system. Men are forbidden from marrying a widow if they feel they cannot treat their children fairly. If inheriting orphans through marriage, men are expected to keep the orphans' property and return it to them when the orphans reach adulthood. The mistreatment of orphans is considered a serious crime, as demonstrated by the phrase "Those who devour the property of orphans devour only fire and will surely burn in hell." These warnings about the mistreatment of orphans protect those who, under an absolute patriarchy, would most likely be mistreated or forgotten. Perhaps the Quran's greatest affront to a patriarchal social system is not the rights of women and orphans, but the constant presence of Allah. If Allah sees all the actions of humanity and judges according to what is right, regardless of the person, then men of power must act and be kind to those who are lower on the patriarchal scale. Surah Al-Nisa (Women), which contains many laws relating to how men should treat women, begins with a serious warning: “O men, fear your Lord,” implying that any injustice done to women or inferiors will be meticulously punished. recorded by Allah. Allah is the ultimate patriarch, and while this may seem obvious, it is worth saying that if men truly fear Him, they will also fear punishment..