Women to stay at home

[Saleh]

Peace to All,
Dear Brother Joseph

There are individuals who claimed that the Quranic verses below expicitly for the Prophet's wives and daughters,

[33:33] You shall settle down in your homes, and do not mingle with the people excessively, like you used to do in the old days of ignorance. You shall observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), and give the obligatory charity (Zakat), and obey GOD and His messenger. GOD wishes to remove all unholiness from you, O you who live around the Sacred Shrine, and to purify you completely.

[33:34] Remember what is being recited in your homes of GOD's revelations and the wisdom inherent therein. GOD is Sublime, Cognizant.

But in [3:79] .....................according to the scripture you preach and the teachings you learn.

Is it not the Quran a teaching for all?

Thank you and Peace.

[Joseph Islam]

Peace brother Saleh,

Yes indeed, the Quran is a teaching for all. I have tackled these aggressive (mis)translations in an article which I firmly believe are influenced from later theology sourced from Islamic secondary sources.

Here is the article:

AGGRESSIVE (MIS)TRANSLATIONS OF THE QURAN TO ENSLAVE WOMEN
http://quransmessage.com/articles/aggressive%20(mis)translations%20of%20the%20quran%20to%20enslave%20women%20FM3.htm


Please note below a relevant excerpt from my article above:


STAY FIXED IN YOUR HOME?

Another aggressive rendering and supported by later traditions and theology is the rendering of the following Quranic verse:
 
033.033
"Stay (Arabic: Qarna) in your homes and do not display your finery as women used to do in the days of ignorance (pre-Islamic days); establish Prayer, pay Zakah, and obey God and His Messenger. O People of the House, God only intends to remove uncleanliness from you and to purify you completely"
 
Firstly, the above passage is a reference particular to the Prophet's wives. If this is the case, a general reading of the above translation would cause conflict with the above word 'Sahitun' used in verse 66.5, where righteous movement is clearly permissible. [Please see main article for context]
 
 
Is it plausible to accept that the Prophet's wives were confined to their homes and did not travel or spread the word of Islam or for any other purpose? Does this aggressive rendering of the verse then conflict with 66.5? [Please see main article for context]
 
The Arabic word used is 'Qarna'

So what does the word 'Qarna' mean?
 
The word is made of the Root Q-R-R
 
Qaf-Ra-Ra = To remain quiet, be steadfast, be firm, refresh, be stable, affirm, agree, settle, last. Qarar - stability, a fixed or secure place, depository, place ahead
 
This sense of stability and safe lodging is clear from a reading of the lexicons and its uses in the Quran. Let us see how this root Q-R-R is used in other Quranic passages:
 
023:013                 Safe lodging of sperm
023:050                 Safety and shelter for Mary and Prophet Jesus (pbut)
027:061                 The earth as a place of residence
040.039                 The hereafter as an enduring home
040.064                 The earth as a resting place
 
Many commentators thus see this word not in its restrictive aggressive form to restrict complete movement but as one to settle down, live peacefully, sit with dignity, cause to rest and remain in a secure lodging. The aggressive rendering to restrict women completely and subject them to their homes completely is not warranted by the Quran.

Please do read the main article as it tackles some other aggressive renderings against women.

I hope that helps,
Joseph.

[Wakas]

In addition to the above:
http://www.misconceptions-about-islam.com/women-confined-to-houses.htm