Adam held Responsible - not his Wife

MSA stated: Both Adam and his wife had disobeyed Allah, and both of them sought His forgiveness. But Allah forgave only Adam (cf. 20:122). His wife was never pardoned. So she remained under Allah's curse throughout her life on earth. Her offspring, if she had produced any, were also cursed and their descendants remain cursed even today!

Answer: According to the Quran, it was Adam who had disobeyed his Lord. The blame is not placed on Adam's wife anywhere in the Quran! The progeny of Adam is also not blamed for the sin of Adam. However, we suffer from the consequences since we inherit the DNA, as I've discussed in my blogpost: Adam's Attempt to Improve upon Allah's Creation - Outcome: Mutated, Non-Functional Genes
http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/2015/11/mission-of-messengers-iii.html 

In the passage from Surah Taha quoted below, Quran 20:115 speaks of a covenant being taken from Adam, and no firm resolve found in him. Quran 20:117 states that Adam was warned that Iblis is an enemy to you and your wife, so do not let him get you both out of the Garden and landed into misery. Quran 20:120 informs us that Iblis whispered evil suggestions to Adam. Quran 20:121 informs us that both Adam and his wife ate from the forbidden tree, but the verse also goes on to place the blame only on Adam stating that Adam had disobeyed his Lord and erred. The next verse then informs us that Adam was pardoned and granted guidance.   

The following verses highlight the importance of the guidance for us, the progeny of Adam, and why it is imperative that we heed the guidance! 

113 Thus have We sent this down - an arabic Qur'an - and explained therein in detail some of the warnings, in order that they may fear Allah, or that it may cause their remembrance (of Him). 114 High above all is Allah, the King, the Truth! Be not in haste with the Qur'an before its revelation to thee is completed, but say, "O my Lord! advance me in knowledge." 115 We had already, beforehand, taken the covenant of Adam, but he forgot: and We found on his part no firm resolve. 116 When We said to the angels, "Prostrate yourselves to Adam", they prostrated themselves, but not Iblis: he refused. 117 Then We said: "O Adam! verily, this is an enemy to thee and thy wife: so let him not get you both out of the Garden, so that thou art landed in misery. 118 "There is therein (enough provision) for thee not to go hungry nor to go naked, 119 "Nor to suffer from thirst, nor from the sun's heat." 120 But Satan whispered evil to him: he said, "O Adam! shall I lead thee to the Tree of Eternity and to a kingdom that never decays?" 121 In the result, they both ate of the tree, and so their nakedness appeared to them: they began to sew together, for their covering, leaves from the Garden: thus did Adam disobey his Lord, and allow himself to be seduced. 122 But his Lord chose him (for His Grace): He turned to him, and gave him Guidance. 123 He said: "Get ye down, both of you,- all together, from the Garden, with enmity one to another: but if, as is sure, there comes to you Guidance from Me, whosoever follows My Guidance, will not lose his way, nor fall into misery. 124 "But whosoever turns away from My Message, verily for him is a life narrowed down, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Judgment." 125 He will say: "O my Lord! why hast Thou raised me up blind, while I had sight (before)?" 126 (Allah) will say: "Thus didst Thou, when Our Signs came unto thee, disregard them: so wilt thou, this day, be disregarded." 127 And thus do We recompense him who transgresses beyond bounds and believes not in the Signs of his Lord: and the Penalty of the Hereafter is far more grievous and more enduring. 128 Is it not a warning to such men (to call to mind) how many generations before them We destroyed, in whose haunts they (now) move? Verily, in this are Signs for men endued with understanding. 129 Had it not been for a Word that went forth before from thy Lord, (their punishment) must necessarily have come; but there is a Term appointed (for respite). 130 Therefore be patient with what they say, and celebrate (constantly) the praises of thy Lord, before the rising of the sun, and before its setting; yea, celebrate them for part of the hours of the night, and at the sides of the day: that thou mayest have (spiritual) joy. 131 Nor strain thine eyes in longing for the things We have given for enjoyment to parties of them, the splendour of the life of this world, through which We test them: but the provision of thy Lord is better and more enduring. 132 Enjoin prayer on thy people, and be constant therein. We ask thee not to provide sustenance: We provide it for thee. But the (fruit of) the Hereafter is for righteousness. 133 They say: "Why does he not bring us a sign from his Lord?" Has not a Clear Sign come to them of all that was in the former Books of revelation? 134 And if We had inflicted on them a penalty before this, they would have said: "Our Lord! If only Thou hadst sent us a messenger, we should certainly have followed Thy Signs before we were humbled and put to shame."135 Say: "Each one (of us) is waiting: wait ye, therefore, and soon shall ye know who it is that is on the straight and even way, and who it is that has received Guidance."
http://searchtruth.com/chapter_display.php?chapter=20&translator=2 

To be or not to be equal: Comments on gender equity in Islam

Question: Are women equal to or inferior to men in Islam?

Answer: Women are NOT INFERIOR to men, women are NOT EQUAL to men, women are SUPERIOR to men in Islam.
Men have been appointed our guardians and protectors, and as such have been accorded certain rights over us (that is obedience and fidelity, guarding what one must guard in any relationship). They have to go out and earn the bread, they have to provide food, clothing and comfort for the wife, the children, his parents and the rest of the family including unmarried or widowed sisters, and the community at large, according to their means, and discharge these financial duties with love, kindness and willing happiness!
Women have been given the burden of pregnancy and childbirth, and as such, have been exempted of everything else. They have the freedom to do business/ jobs, but are not required to spend a single penny from it on anybody, except of their own free will.
The institution of marriage is to get ‘sukoon’….. that is peace and contentment/ happiness/ a state of felicity! Furthermore, men are required to give a gift (mehr) to the wife at the time of the nikah, before consumption of marriage, according to the financial means of the groom, which is hers to keep and do whatever she wishes with it, and she is not required to return it even if they eventually divorce.
Men may have been allowed to marry more than once BUT under certain conditions………… they are to take care of the orphans in the society…. And if they are not able to foster-parent the orphans, they may marry( I think the ayat implies the widowed mother), and yet the ayat continues to say that you may alternatively use the services of your servants/slaves for the purpose of taking care of the orphans, and that ONE(wife) is better for you if you know!
Men may have been given the right to divorce, but under so many conditions that it is extremely difficult, if they want to follow letter and spirit. Women have also been given the right to khula.
Furthermore, in the event of death or divorce, Allah tells the women to wait for a period prescribed till it is established if the woman is pregnant or not, so that the father of the child may be accurately identified, but after the prescribed time-period, the woman is free to marry. Don’t find any advice for re-marriage for men anywhere except for the care of orphans!
In financial transactions, it is prescribed to take as witness one man or two women; in cases of adultery, the witness of four pious men is required, and if they are found lying, then forever their word is not to be accepted in any matter!
What is essential is the spirit within, in that case, all humans are equal, the male or female body is simply the mortal shell without, and thus the different rules for the time we spend here on this temporary abode.
May Allah grant us all the guidance to study the Quran, understand it, and follow it and may Allah grant us all success in both this world and the hereafter. Amen.

To spank/beat wives is not a crime?

Question: To spank/beat wives is not a crime?

Answer: I have been listening to a scholar who has had the privilege of growing up and studying in Medina in an extremely religious environment.
During tafseer, when we came across the ayat you have mentioned, he explained that ‘daraba’ has many shades of meanings, one of which is to separate. From this, he logically concludes that in the event the husband and wife have severe disagreements, they should be separated for a while so that they can assess their emotions in each other’s absence, and focus on what’s really important and valuable in their relationship.
Also, if we take the Sunnah of our dear Prophet (saw), he never hit any of his wives; when the rumour-mongers were spreading bad thoughts about Bibi Ayesha, he did not confront or hit her, he simply separated himself for a while, giving everybody time to think things over, and the truth to be revealed.
Islam means Peace, and Allah loves all his creations. Islam is a religion based on ‘nature and what’s natural’, in urdu we call it ‘fitrat pay’, thus, it cannot condone something which is so completely wrong.
Beating the wife, or anybody else for that matter, may be able to get submission, but will never be able to get love, respect and willing obedience, which is so crucial to a happy marriage. After all, Allah says in the Quran that he has made the institution of marriage so that we find peace and solace/tranquility(Surah Room Ayat 21, Arabic word:lay-ta-skunoo [root: sa ka na ] ). Love and mercy has been ordained.
Can’t happen if one half is wielding a baton!