There are a lot of ideas and theories which are wide spread among the people and which rank the woman in a level less than that of the man. Also, the people incline to believe that such ideas are demonstrated by the divine doctrine; as a result, the Muslim person does not dare to face them, thus conceiving that to do so is an opposition to the doctrine. Yet, the truth is absolutely not so. Among these theories are the following.
1-Is the Woman a Secondary Creature?
It is widespread among some Muslims that Hawwaa [Eve] (PBUH) was created from one of Adam’s (PBUH) ribs, and it is referred to some narratives to serve as testimonies for this theory. Such theory as regards the creation of Hawwaa may lead the human being to think that Hawwaa- and consequently all the women- is a secondary creature which was created from the rib of the man; moreover, some people relate that it is the short and left rib. This is absolutely an incorrect idea.
We do not need to discuss the signification of Hawwaa’s being created from Adam’s (PBUH) rib. It is related to us that she was created from the same clay from which Adam (God’s peace bestowed upon him) was created and definitely not from his rib.
It is related by Ibn Abi Al-Mikdad that his father related, “I asked Abou Jaafar [Imam Al-Baqir] (A.S), ‘From what did God create Hawwaa?’ He (God’s peace bestowed upon him) in turn asked me, ‘What do the people say?’ I answered, ‘They say that God created her from one of Adam’s ribs.’ He (God’s peace bestowed upon him) said, “They are untrue. Could not He create her from anything else rather than his rib?!’ I asked him, ‘O Son of God’s prophet, I sacrifice my soul for your sake! From what did God create her?’ He (PBUH) answered, “My father told me in ascription to his fathers (PBUH), ‘God’s prophet (PBUH) said, ‘The Most High and Blessed God took a grip of clay, mixed it by His Right- and both His Hands are Right, and created Adam from it. And from the leftover of the clay, The Most High God created Hawwaa1.
The term “leftover of clay” is not meant to make little of this clay, for God is All Wise which means that His Work is not resulted in leftovers. This term indicates two points.
First, it refers to the chronological order i.e. God created Adam (PBUH) at first from a part of the clay and then created Hawwaa (PBUH) from what remained from that clay after He had created Adam. Second, it shows that she was created from the same clay which Adam was created from i.e. it deletes the idea which states that there is another clay for women different from that of men. In consistent with this is the Saying of The Most High God in The Noble Qur’an: ﴾And among His Signs is this, that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who reflect﴿2.
2-The First Fault and Sin
The adopters of other religions rather than Islam, and some Muslims as well, believe that the woman is responsible for the first fault which was done by the human being and that she was the reason of Adam’s (PBUH) committing of the fault too because she persuaded him of eating from the tree which The Most High God forbade them to eat from.
It is ascribed to Ibn Abbas that he said, “When Adam ate from the tree which he was forbidden to eat from, The Most Glorious and Reverent God asked him, ‘What made you disobey me?’ Adam answered The Most High God, ‘O God, Hawwaa persuaded me to.’ Then, God said, ‘I will punish her by that she does not conceive but painfully and does not labor but painfully and by that she bleeds twice a month.’ When Hawwaa heard that, she cried loudly. At that, God said to her, ‘The cry is destined on you and on your daughters3.
We consider such narratives as incorrect, for they contradict the literal meaning of The Noble Qur’an. The Most High God says ﴾And O Adam! Dwell you and your wife in Paradise, and eat thereof as you both wish, but approach not this tree otherwise you both will be of the unjust * Then Satan whispered suggestions to them both in order to uncover that which was hidden from them of their private parts; he said, “Your Lord did not forbid you from this tree save you should become angels or become of the immortals* And he [Satan] swore by Allah for them both, “Verily, I am one of the sincere well wishers for you both”﴿4.
Source: shafaqna.com
To be continued …
Notes:
1- Bihar Al-Anwar [The Seas of Lights]/ Part Twenty Two/ Page 116
2- The Noble Qur’an/ Al-Rum [Rome] Chapter/ Verse 21
3- Al-Moustadrak [Making Up For the Means]/ Al-Hakim Al-Nisabori/ Part Two/Page 381
4- The Noble Qur’an/ Al-Aa’raf [The Heights] Chapter/ Verses 19 till 23
