Reading Against the “masculine” Grain
Below are some passages from the Quran translated by two different individuals. Please
read each carefully, noting the differences in the wording. Mark also areas you think puts
women in subservient
Verses from the Qur’an,
Translation by Yusuf Ali
Surah 33:35
For Muslim men and women
For believing men and women
For devout men and women
For true men and women
For men and women who are
Patient and constant, for men
And women who humble themselves,
For men and women who give
In charity, for men and women
Who fast (and deny themselves)
For men and women who
Guard their chastity, and
For men and women who
Engage much in Allah’s praise—
For them has Allah prepared
Forgiveness and a great reward.
Surah 4:3
If ye fear that ye shall not
Be able to deal justly
With the orphans,
Marry women of your choice,
Two, or three, or four;
But if ye fear that ye shall not
Be able to deal justly (with them)
Then only one, or (a captive)
That your right hand possess.
That will be more suitable,
To prevent you from doing injustice.
Translation by Ahmed Ali
Surah 33:35
Verily men and women who have come
to submission
men and women who are believers,
men and women who are devout,
truthful men and truthful women,
men and women with endurance ,
men and women who are modest,
men and women who give alms,
men and women who observe fasting,
men and women who guard their private parts,
and those men and women who remember God
a great deal,
for them God has forgiveness and
a great reward.
Surah 4:3
If you fear that you cannot be equitable
to orphan girls
(in your charge, or misuse their persons), then
marry women who are lawful for you,
two, three, or four; but if you fear you
cannot treat so many with equity,
marry only one, or a maid or a captive.
This is better than being iniquitous.
4:34 4:34
Men are the protectors Men are the support of women as God
And maintainers of women, gives some more means than others, and
Because Allah has given because they spend of their wealth (to
provide
The one more (strength) for them). So women who are virtuous are
Than the other, and because obedient to God and guard the hidden as
They support them God has guarded it. As for women you feel
From their means. are averse, talk to them suavely;
Therefore the righteous women then leave them alone in bed (without
Are devoutly obedient, and guard molesting them) and go to bed with them
In (the husband’s) absence (when they are willing). If they open out to
you,
What Allah would have them guard. do not seek an excuse for blaming them.
As to those women Surely God is sublime and great.
On whose part ye fear
Disloyalty and ill-conduct,
Admonish them (first)
(Next) refuse to share their beds,
(And last) beat them (lightly);
But if they return to obedience
Seek not against them
Means (of annoyance):
For Allah is Most High,
Great (above you all).

9:72 9:72
Allah hath promised to Believers—
Men and women—Gardens
Under which rivers flow,
To dwell therein,
And beautiful mansions
In Gardens of everlasting bliss.
But the greatest bliss
Is the Good Pleasure of Allah:
That is the supreme felicity.
God has promised men and women who believe
gardens with streams of running water
where they will abide for ever
and beautiful mansions in the Garden of Eden,
and the blessings of God above all.
This will be happiness supreme.