SURAH AN-NISA (WOMEN): 32

TRANSLATION:

[4:32]
Do not covet something in which Allah has made some of you superior to others. For men there is a share of what they earned, and for women, a share of what they earned. Pray to Allah for His grace {27}. Surely, Allah is All-Aware of everything.

INTERPRETATION:

{27} Some women had expressed the desire that if they had been born as men they would have participated in Jihad to earn more Thawab (eternal reward). This verse has clarified that there are some personal characteristics which are beyond a person’s control. In these matters, Allah Ta’alah has endowed some people with one characteristic, and others with another. For example, some people are stronger than others, some are more beautiful than others. He has created some human beings as women, and some as men. Because it was beyond a person’s control whether they were born as men or women, or beautiful, or stronger than others, therefore, a person should remain content with Allah’s will in such matters and should not waste time in pointless desires about being born with different characteristics. On the other hand, a person should occupy themselves with the virtuous acts and good deeds that are within their control, and in those matters Allah Ta’alah rewards people according to the efforts they have made. There is no preference given to any gender in that regard.