This article is from the Islamican Information Service of San Jose California.

Women in Christianity and Islam:

We Muslims are well aware of the fact that Muslim women are objects of derision and mockery especially in the Western world.  Women in Islam are portrayed to be "oppressed" and "inferior" by many Westerners.   However, most of the Westerners I've heard this from are usually Christian. It is amazing how many verses the Christian bible has which supports Islamic treatment of women, among other issues. Here is a small list I would like to share with all of you. Please memorize it and defend the truth from those who make a mockery out of it! You will also know that the christian bible degrades the female sex!

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ARE WOMEN OPPRESSED IN ISLAM?

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Islam: Women must cover their heads as a sign of "modesty." It also serves as protection for the female.  

Christianity: 1 CORINTHIANS 11:3-10 in the christian bible orders women to cover their heads in prayers. These verses further state that the male doesn't have to cover his head because "female was made from male, and the male not from the female." It further states that a woman covering her head is a sign of male "authority."

Conclusion: Islam and Christianity both tell women to cover their heads.

The main difference, however, is that women in Islam cover their heads for purposes of "modesty." Christian women cover their heads as a sign of "male authority." It is clear that the bible gives women an inferior status, whereas Islam doesn't.

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Islam: Adam and Eve (peace be upon them) were EQUALLY responsible for eating from the "forbidden tree." They both repented and were forgiven by the Most-Forgiving and Most-Merciful Allahu ta'ala.

Christianity: Eve ate from the "forbidden tree" BEFORE Adam did. Adam ate from the tree AFTER Eve did. The woman was deceived FIRST.   Because of EVE causing Adam to sin by eating from the forbidden tree, the ground is "cursed." God doesn't forgive them, but damns them and humanity -- thanks to Eve (the woman)! ALL females go through "pains of childbearing" as a punishment from God -- because of EVE'S sin. All males have to go through pains of eating from the ground, thanks to EVE. ALL babies are born in SIN, thanks to EVE. All of this can be found in GENESIS 2:4-3:24.

"Adam was not decieved but the woman was" (1 TIMOTHY 2:11-14)

"Woman will be ruled over by the male" (GENESIS 3:16)

In other words, thanks to a FEMALE, we are damned!

It is clear that in Christianity, the very first woman is blamed for wrongdoing, but not the very first male.

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Islam: Quran orders us that we should not "bury daughters alive."

Christianity: -"The birth of a daughter is a loss" (ECCLESIASTICUS 22:3, Catholic Bible)

- Ritual impurity of a mother is TWICE as long if a female is born and not a male. (LEVITICUS 12:2-5)

Is it not clear that Islam again gives a higher status to females? What Islam came to eradicate -- the bad treatment of females -- still continues in today's Protestant and Catholic scriptures.

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ISLAM: Women can talk in the mosque.

CHRISTIANITY: -"It is a shame for women to talk in the church." (1 CORINTHIANS 14:34-35)

If females cannot talk, then how are they supposed to learn? Again, it is obvious that Islam gives the female a higher status than the bible does.

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ISLAM: If the husband dies, then the wife may marry another male by choice.

CHRISTIANITY: If the husband dies without impregnating the wife, then the "brother" of the dead husband MUST marry his wife.   The female CANNOT marry anyone else, but ONLY her dead husband's brother (DEUTERONOMY 25:5).

Islam gives the woman a choice to marry or not, and to whom she want to marry, if her husband dies. In Christianity (and Judaism), the woman has NO CHOICE, but to marry her dead husband's brother. It is clear which religion is oppressing women.

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OTHER INTERESTING SIMILARITIES:

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ISLAM: Cut off the hand if it steals - of course specific conditions apply).

CHRISTIANITY: "If your hand sins, it is better to cut it off instead of going to hell with both hands" (MARK 9:43)

If any christian tells us we Muslims are CRUEL in punishing, then state this verse to them. In fact, the bible also tells one to "PLUCK YOUR EYE OUT" if it sins!

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ISLAM: Stripes for the one who is drunk - conditions apply.

CHRISTIANITY: The judge may order the unjust man to be STRIPED 40 TIMES (DEUTERONOMY 25:1-3)

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ISLAM: Muslims pray by prostrating and putting forehead on the ground.

CHRISTIANITY: "Jesus fell on his face and prayed...(MATTHEW 26:39).  The churches have even changed the way Jesus prayed!

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ISLAM: Allows a male to marry more than one wife, up to four -- conditions apply.

CHRISTIANITY: -Abraham had 3 wives in the Bibles: Sarah, Hagar, and Keturah.   (In book of GENESIS)

-Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. (1 KINGS 11:3)

-David had many wives (2 SAMUELS 5:13)