The Quran1 reflects and fosters 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 that all Muslims, regardless of gender, must adhere to, it is evident that many, if not most, of the verses are aimed at a male audience. Although the text contains many verses that outline women's rights, many of these verses are directed specifically at men; in other words, the women's rights verses are written in a style that suggests an instruction manual for men - not women . The patriarchal systems reaffirmed in the Quran do not simply control women's behavior; any substantial threat to patriarchy is condemned as wrong and deserving of punishment. Due to the patriarchal bent of the society in which the Quran was revealed, it is very interesting to explore Qur'anic verses that seem to subvert the patriarchal system. The verses that undermine patriarchy are often more subtle than those that confirm it; some verses, depending on how they are interpreted, could support patriarchy or degrade it. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay There are several distinct ways in which the Quran reinforces pre-existing patriarchal ideas: it establishes that women and children are property, it prohibits activities that would upset the patriarchal order (such as homosexuality, extramarital fornication, and adultery) , dictates that male relatives inherit more and more property than female relatives and suggests that women are made unpure beings by menstruation and men are made unpure by menstruation. relationships with women. These methods of proliferation of patriarchy are very clear in some verses, while in others they manifest themselves more subtly. The most important reinforcement of patriarchal values ​​is the obvious, often implicit notion that women and children are property. While the Quran undoubtedly strives to protect the rights and even happiness of women and children, their status as the property of men is never fundamentally questioned. For this reason, it is sometimes difficult to ascertain whether women and children are protected for their own good as individuals or whether they are protected because they are a valuable asset to men, although obviously these two reasons for protection are not mutually exclusive. The exchange of financial compensation or a dowry in exchange for a woman's hand in marriage is one of the clearest signs that a woman is a commodity to be bought. The numerous verses dedicated to mediating when and how to pay the dowry highlight the importance of this financial transaction and suggest that a marriage contract is all but void until validated by both the dowry and consummation. The variable price of the dowry depending on the social class or position of the woman in society3 is another strong indicator of women's property status. If women are prized possessions of their husbands or male family members, measures 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, a woman must protect herself from other men4. In addition to the obvious protection of their sexuality, women are expected to hide their beauty and behave modestly to prevent men from being tempted by it. The Quran provides adetailed list of selected people to whom a woman can show her beauty. The importance of controlling a woman's (and therefore her offspring's) sexuality in maintaining and affirming the patriarchal order can be further demonstrated by the severe consequences delivered to those who do not respect the rules. If four people can testify that a woman has acted lewdly, she will be confined to her house until she dies. If a couple is proven to commit adultery, they are to be flogged one hundred times each and prohibited from marrying anyone other than their adultery partner.7 Women's sexuality is not the only threat to patriarchy that is stifled by threats of punishment . Even homosexuality, an obvious threat to patriarchal systems because, among other reasons, it abandons the idea of ​​using women as sexual currency, is strongly condemned and those who participate in homosexual acts are threatened with punishment. Another overt way in which the Quran reinforces patriarchy is the way inheritances are distributed to heirs. Female offspring receive only half of what their brothers receive. If a man has only daughters and no sons, the daughters still receive only two-thirds of the inheritance. If a man's wife dies and he has no children with her, she receives half of her inheritance, but a wife whose husband has died and left her childless receives only a quarter of her inheritance. If a person dies without a husband and 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 in verses that mention the impurity of women. It is implied that women are impure during the menstrual cycle and therefore should not be touched.10 Furthermore, touching women is considered one of the pollutants (along with bathing and disease) that must be washed away before prayer . As seen in the previous examples, verses from 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 check the power of patriarchy, granting women, children, orphans, and other would-be second-class citizens equal or nearly equal rights as adult males. The right to marriage and divorce granted to women and the importance of charity for orphans highlighted by Allah are two examples of Qur'anic themes that weaken the patriarchal strength of society. Perhaps, however, the greatest subversion to patriarchy manifests itself not in the rights of women and children, but rather in Allah. As an omniscient and ever-present patriarch who judges all individuals equally regardless of their position in the temporal patriarchal system, Allah warns men that He knows all their actions and will punish them if they abuse their patriarchal power. If a man obtains a marriage contract with a woman and then changes his mind before the dowry is fixed and the consummation takes place, he is still obliged to make a small gift to the woman, a gesture that seems to have no substantial purpose other than to fulfill a good deed. Although the dowry reinforces the ideal of women as property, the Quran clearly states that it is a gift given by the husband which the wife must not renounce unless it is her will. This gives women at least some financial security in case a consummated marriage ends in divorce. The Quran also expressly prohibits men from forcing women they have inheritedmarry or treat them harshly and encourages men to let their wives leave them if they fear harsh treatment. Furthermore, polygamy, an obvious extension of patriarchy, is only encouraged when a man is confident that he can treat all these wives and children fairly. Men are also prohibited from forcing their servants into prostitution.16 And finally, women are protected from false accusations by the provision that anyone who gives false testimony against a woman should be flogged. All these provisions control and suppress the forces of absolute patriarchy and prevent women from being denied fundamental rights. The Quran recognizes that men have the upper hand 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 standard modern divorce practice in America. An interesting specification regarding divorce is that a woman who has divorced the same husband twice must marry another man if she ever wants to go back to her original husband. Furthermore, ex-husbands are expressly prohibited from preventing ex-wives from remarrying. Finally, men are required to pay a fair share of support to all their ex-wives. All of these laws oppose the power of the patriarchal system to protect women from men who might otherwise marry and divorce women with reckless abandon. Another way the power of patriarchy is kept in balance is the notable mention of orphans' rights. in the Quran. Since orphans have no fathers to represent them in the patriarchal hierarchy, the Qur'an's copious verses meant to protect them are a direct confrontation with the patriarchal system. Men are prohibited from marrying widows if they feel they cannot treat the woman's children fairly. If they inherit orphans through marriage, men are expected to guard the orphans' property and return it to them when the orphans reach adulthood. Mistreatment of orphans is considered a serious crime, as can be seen in the verse "Those who devour the possessions of orphans devour only fire and will surely burn in hell." These warnings against the mistreatment of orphans protect those who, in an absolute patriarchy, would most likely be abused or forgotten. Perhaps the greatest affront in the Quran to a patriarchal social system is not the rights of women and orphans, but the ever-presence of Allah. If Allah sees all the actions of humanity and judges according to what is right, regardless of who the person is, then men of power must act and feel kindness towards those who have a lower status on the patriarchal ladder. Surah Al-Nisa (Women), which contains many of the laws relating to how men should treat women, begins with a serious warning: "O men, fear your Lord", implying that any injustice committed towards women or inferiors will be meticulously recorded by Allah. Allah is the supreme patriarch, and while it may be obvious, it is worth stating that if men truly fear Him, they will also fear punishment for going against His will. In many ways, Allah protects men in the same way that men are expected to protect women. An interesting example of this is the following: "Tell believers to lower their eyes and watch over their private parts. There is good in this for them. God is aware of what they do." Therefore, women are protected from patriarchy through men's fear of Allah's punishment. It is also useful to note that the creation of man and woman.