Islam and Gender Differences- Hosein Bostan (Najafi)

The legal differences between women and men never meant a difference in setting values on women and men themselves. In other words, gender has no relation to the true value of man, which is dignity before God. Rather, these differences merely refer to the difference in the guidelines of behavior and rules of social relations; each was directed at fulfilling some individual and social expedience. An important instance of such expedience defined by Islam is reinforcing the role of family and improving its effectiveness in order to provide the peace of mind to the spouse and bringing up good children in order to improve the moral health of society and to support the female gender because of certain vulnerabilities. Therefore, one cannot refer to an axiological virtue or superiority of men over women in Islam.