Man and woman form two parts of a whole called the soul. They enjoy equal human rights and values. Both, being servants of God, share evenly humanity's responsibilities, and sins. Both are equally distant from God. Either the man or the woman, the one who is more devout is nearer to God. Neither of them is superior to each other. They are created to complement each other. They may excel each other, however, in certain characteristics pertaining to their sexes.

CREATION OF WOMAN

… And Allah has made for you mates (and companions) of your own nature, and made for you, out of them, sons and daughters and grandchildren … (16/72)

O mankind! reverence your Guardian-Lord, who created you from a single person, created, of like nature, His mate, and from them twain scattered (like seeds) countless men and women;- reverence Allah, through whom ye demand your mutual (rights), and (reverence) the wombs (That bore you): for Allah ever watches over you (4/1)

Woman is not created from man's rib as told in the Bible And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. (Genesis 2/21-22)

The opponents of suffragettes had recourse to a tale as reflected in the Bible in order to mythologize the woman's creation giving her a status lower than the man's. In the Qur'an there is no such a conception. According to the Qur'an, everything in the world is created in pairs. This is also confirmed by the parity theory. Parity can well be observed in the positive and negative electricity, in the magnetic poles, etc. Any subatomic particle has its own counterpart, a proton is counterweighted by an anti-proton. The nucleus of an atom is surrounded by gyrating negative charged electrons. So is our sun that revolves around its galaxy like our earth, its satellite.

God alone is unique. He is Allah, the One and Only; Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him.

Glory to Allah, Who created in pairs all things that the earth produces, as well as their own (human) kind and (other) things of which they have no knowledge. (36/36)

The above verse divides the above pairs into three groups: 1) Pairs upon the earth; 2) Pairs within man's Self; 3) Pairs of which we have no knowledge. (See Dr.Haluk Nurbaki- Kur'an Mucizeleri pp 27-35)

'Pairs within man's self' are man and woman. In other words, the human being was born out of the pairing of two sexes at the same time. One whole was divided into two halves. . Glory to Allah, Who created in pairs all things that the earth produces, as well as their own (human) kind and (other) things of which they have no knowledge. (36/36) And of every thing We have created pairs: That ye may receive instruction. (51/49)

It is He Who created you from a single person, and made his mate of like nature, in order that he might dwell with her (in love). When they are united, she bears a light burden and carries it about (unnoticed). When she grows heavy, they both pray to Allah their Lord, (saying): "If Thou givest us a goodly child, we vow we shall (ever) be grateful." (7/189)

Pairing of selves following the Doomsday. One day the earth will be changed to a different earth, and so will be the heavens, and (men) will be marshaled forth, before Allah, the One, the Irresistible; (14/48) When the souls are sorted out, (being joined, like with like); (81/7) We learn from the two verses above that just like the birth of man and woman in the present world, every living being with its pair will be re-generated. Of Him seeks (its need) every creature in the heavens and on earth: every day in (new) Splendor doth He (shine)! (55/29)

Conclusion: Woman is no wise created from man's rib and is in not inferior to him in any respect. Man and woman were created at the same time by division of one Self. It follows therefore they are equal in the sight of God; however, thanks to their respective characteristics they complement each other.

GOD FAVORS THE RIGHTEOUS REGARDLESS OF THEIR GENDERS

O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things). (49/13) … .-

Those that keep their plighted faith and act aright,-verily Allah loves those who act aright. (3/76)

Righteousness means conformity to the divine or the moral law, rectitude, uprightness, a righteous act, deed, or quality;: righteous conduct; the state of acceptance with God ; a right relationship to God, devoutness, piety. In this respect, regardless of the sex, the race the class, the wealth, the climate and the region of the earth one lives there is no difference between man and woman and between human beings.

All human beings are at an equal distance from God from the moment of their birth. Their increase or decrease of their merits depends entirely on their own doings. . But Allah will deliver the righteous to their place of salvation: no evil shall touch them, nor shall they grieve. (39/61) Be it a woman or a man, the righteous will be the one who will be favored by the Almighty.

DIFFERENCES DUE TO THEIR NATURE

And in no wise covet those things in which Allah Hath bestowed His gifts More freely on some of you than on others: To men is allotted what they earn, and to women what they earn: But ask Allah of His bounty. For Allah hath full knowledge of all things. (4/32)

Man and woman are equal in terms of human rights and values. They jointly share human responsibilities. However, they differ as to their raison d'ętre. "Everyone acts according to his own disposition: But your Lord knows best who it is that is best guided on the Way." (17/84) The complementariness of sexes does not imply the superiority of either of them. Man and wife share the chores of life. They share and share alike. Certain duties are more suited to wives, others to husbands, although they may swap their respective tasks.

Man's obligations: They are mostly related to his physical superiority. A man must be kind, affectionate and disposed to mercy. Although she is more vulnerable to be affected by fear and nervous breakdowns and physically less strong, a woman is immensely capable of putting up with hardships and she normally outlives her man. The hearth is administered by her. In addition to bearing children, she has the charge of management of the household, of bringing up and educating her children, and of chores that demand sacrifices. Motherhood enjoys a rank unattainable by man. The future of the family depends on her. She is also free to choose to work in an outside employment. The responsibilities of a family may be shared differently, if agreed upon by the parties. This does not imply any differentiation between sexes in terms of law and human rights. Both sexes must be thankful for their innate idiosyncratic characteristics and not envy the qualifications of the opposing sex. This is the only way of achieving serenity and peace of mind.

EQUALITY BETWEEN SEXES

The Believers, men and women, are protectors one of another: they enjoin what is just, and forbid what is evil: they observe regular prayers, practice regular charity, and obey Allah and His Messenger. On them will Allah pour His mercy: for Allah is Exalted in power, Wise. (9/71)

Permitted to you, on the night of the fasts, is the approach to your wives. They are your garments and ye are their garments… (2/187)

Man and woman shall clap together and join forces to cope with the difficulties of life. The above verses stress the equality and the complementariness between the sexes.

EQUALITY AS REGARDS REPONSIBILITIES

Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has Faith, verily, to him will We give a new Life, a life that is good and pure and We will bestow on such their reward according to the best of their actions. (16/97)

The Hypocrites, men and women, (have an understanding) with each other: They enjoin evil, and forbid what is just, and are close with their hands. They have forgotten. (9/67)

Without any distinction, man and woman shall be rewarded or punished both upon the earth and in the afterlife either for their merits of demerits.