Chapter IV:
Misogynous Statements
In the Books Allegedly Written by Mawlana Rumi

In this chapter, there are some statements of Rumi which are attributed to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) although they, by all means, have nothing to do with him (our Prophet is surely above these attributions). The Messenger of God (pbuh) is a person who set an example for the entire world with his love, respect and politeness towards women. He expressed at every moment of his life his high regard for women, protecting, supporting and honoring them in the most beautiful way. Therefore, it is impossible for our Prophet (pbuh) to have any statement that disparages women. This is not in conformance with the Qur'an either. Attributing statements that belittle women to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), who loved God dearly, feared Him genuinely and lived his entire life according to the Qur'an, is a gross slander against our blessed Prophet (pbuh). Our Prophet (pbuh) is above all these slanders and vile statements.

The mentality that considers women supposedly inferior exists in the superstitions of bigotry. The Qur'an abolished such vile superstitions. For instance, according to the bigoted superstitions that also appear in the Masnavi, women have lesser minds and they should not be conferred with. However, the Qur'an features a parable about the Queen of Sheba. In other words, God gives an instance of a woman who rules a country. Similarly, in the Qur'an God also praises female believers such as Mary and Pharaoh's wife, and holds up their beautiful moral values as an example to all of humanity.

1. The Lie That Woman is a Part of Evil

He (the questioner) said, "(But) if a child should come in, or a woman who has no clear understanding or judgment. 'Take counsel with her'," said he (the prophet) "and do the contrary of what she bids (thee) and go thy way." Know that your fleshly soul is woman and worse than woman, because woman is a part (of evil) but fleshly soul is evil entire. (The Masnavi of Jalalu'ddin Rumi, Book II, Couplets 2270-2273, masnavi.net)

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2. The Error of Saying 'Do Not Consult With Women'

O traveller, take counsel with a traveller, for a woman's counsel will keep thy foot lame. (The Mathnawi of Jalau'ddin Rumi, Translation and Commentary by Reynold A. Nicholson, Books IV&V, Couplet 2210, p.394

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3. The Fabrication That Advises to Consult Women and do the Opposite of What They Say

"Consult them (women) and then oppose (them in what they advise): he that disobeys them not will be ruined." (The Masnavi of Jalalu'ddin Rumi, Book I, Couplet 2955, masnavi.net)

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4. The Claim That not Just Women's Intelligence But Also Their Dreams are Inferior To Those of Men

Know that a woman's dreams are inferior to those of a man because of her deficiency of intelligence and weakness of soul. (The Mathnawi of Jalau'ddin Rumi, Translation and Commentary by Reynold A. Nicholson, Books V-VI, Couplet 4320, p.497)

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5. The Statement Insulting Mothers

My mother's lust caused me to fall from the highest heaven which was my tethering-place (stable), for (God said), Fall ye down!
So by the artfulness of a crone I fell from (a state of) complete perfection into the prison of the womb.

She brings the spirit from the highest heaven to the (corporeal) Hatim (enclosure): great must be the craft of women.

(Both) my first and my last fall were caused by woman, since I was spirit- and how have I become body? (The Mathnawi of Jalau'ddin Rumi, Translation and Commentary by Reynold A. Nicholson, Books V-V1, Couplet 2795, p.413)

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6. The Lie That Animal Nature Prevails in Women

The animal nature prevails in woman, because she has an inclination towards colour and scent [worldly vanities].

(The Mathnawi of Jalau'ddin Rumi, Translation and Commentary by Reynold A. Nicholson, Books V-V1, Couplet 2465, p.148; Mesnevi Şerif Tercümesi [(Turkish) Translation of Masnavi], Oriental Islamic Classicals, Translator: Veled Çelebi İzbudak) Editor: Abdulbaki Gölpınarlı, Book V, Couplets 2968-2975)

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7. Just Like in Masnavi, Darwin Also Regarded Women Inferior and Like Animals

Darwin describes the role of woman in marriage as follows: 'an object to be beloved and played with—better than a dog anyhow'—... (Charles Darwin, The Autobiography of Charles Darwin 1809-1882, Edited by Nora Barlow, W. W. Norton & Company Inc., New York, 1958, pp. 232-233)

In his book, The Descent of Man, Darwin says that with regard to women's ability to reason, understand and mimic, they possess the characteristics of "inferior races" and therefore they possess an outdated and inferior civilization. (John R. Durant, "The Ascent of Nature in Darwin's Descent of Man" in The Darwinian Heritage, Ed. by David Kohn, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1985, p. 295)

God Informs in the Qur'an That Women and Men are Equal in Terms of Faith, Morality And Wisdom and That Superiority is Only by Piety

Men and women who are Muslims, men and women who are believers, men and women who are obedient, men and women who are truthful, men and women who are steadfast, men and women who are humble, men and women who give charity, men and women who fast, men and women who guard their chastity, men and women who remember God much: God has prepared forgiveness for them and an immense reward. (Qur'an, 33:35)

Anyone, male or female, who does right actions and is a believer, will enter the Garden. They will not be wronged by so much as the tiniest speck. (Qur'an, 4:124)

Anyone who acts rightly, male or female, being a believer, We will give them a good life and We will recompense them according to the best of what they did. (Qur'an, 16:97)

The men and women of the believers are friends of one another. They command what is right and forbid what is wrong, and perform prayer and give the alms, and obey God and His Messenger. They are the people on whom God will have mercy. God is Almighty, All-Wise. (Qur'an, 9:71)

God has promised the men and women of the believers Gardens with rivers flowing under them, remaining in them timelessly, for ever, and fine dwellings in the Gardens of Eden. And God's good pleasure is even greater. That is the great victory. (Qur'an, 9:72)

And when the angels said, 'Mary, God has chosen you and purified you. He has chosen you over all other women.' (Qur'an, 3:42)

The Messiah, the son of Mary, was only a Messenger, before whom other Messengers came and went. His mother was a woman of truth... (Qur'an, 5:75)

God has made an example for those who believe: the wife of Pharaoh when she said, 'My Lord, build a house in the Garden for me in Your Presence and rescue me from Pharaoh and his deeds and rescue me from this wrongdoing people.' (Qur'an, 66:11)

And Mary, the daughter of 'Imran, who guarded her chastity–We breathed Our Spirit into her and she confirmed the Words of her Lord and His Book and was one of the obedient. (Qur'an, 66:12)

They said "Glory be to You!
We have no knowledge except what You have taught us.
You are the All-Knowing, the All-Wise."
(Qur'an, 2: 32)

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Chapter IV: Misogynous Statements In the Books Allegedly Written by Mawlana Rumi