How women should be treated, and how they are treated, are two completely different concepts, and realities. In the religion of Islam, and in the Qur'an, women are portrayed as equal to that of man. Below, you will find quotes from the Qur'an, exemplifying this man/woman equality I speak of.

Women in Creation:
- "O mankind! reverence your Guardian-Lord Who created you from a single Person, Created like nature, His mate, and from them twain Scattered (like seeds) Countless men and women, Fear Allah, through Whom ye demand your mutual (rights) and (reverence) the wombs (that bore you): For Allah Ever watches over you." Sura 4, verse 1

- "It is He Who created you from a single person, and made his mate of like nature, in order that he might dwell with her (in love)..." Sura 7, verse 189

- "O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of male and female, and made you into nations and tribles, that you may know each other (not that you despeise each other)..." Sura 49, verse 13

Women and faith:
- " Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has Faith, verily, to him will We give Life, and life that is good and pure, and We will bestow on such their reward according to the best of their actions." Sura 16, verse 97

- "If any do deeds of righteousness-be they male or female and have faith, they will enter Heaven and not the least injustice will be done to them." Sura 4, verse 124

Women in Marriage and Divorce:
- "O you who believe! It is not lawful for you forcibly to inherit the women (of your deceased kinsmen), nor (that) ye should put constraint upon them that ye may take away a part of that which ye have given them," Sura 4, verse 19

- "If a woman feareth ill treatment from her husband, or desertion, it is no sin for them twain if they make terms of peace between themselves. Peace is better." Sura 4, verse 128

Does it not seem that if one were Muslim, and followed the teachings of Allah, that all women would be treated with respect, and with dignity? Why is this not so, especially in Afghanistan? There are several verses in the Qur'an that are controversial, and have been the underlying reasons for some of the mistreatment of the women in Afghanistan, each verse in the favor of man.

- "Men are in charge of women, because Allah hath made the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women). So good women are the obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah hath guarded. As for those from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them." Sura 4, verse 34
Scourge is defined as: a means to inflict severe suffering, vengeance, or punishment.

- "O prophet, speak unto thy wives, and thy daughters, and the women of the believers, that they cast their outer garments over them [when they go out]; this [will be] more proper, that they may be known [to be women of esteem and honour], and may not be affronted [by unseemly words or actions]." Sura 33, verse 59

Both of these verses are cause for conflict, the first being the beating of wives if the husband thinks they will be rebellious, and the second is of the burqa, the head to toe covering that is seen in this picture to the right. Concerning the beating of an unfaithful, or potentially unfaithful wife, is cause for concern. The verse above, leads one to believe that a husband can banish his wife to a separate room, and beat her, if he even suspects her of lewdness, or unfaithfulness. As a woman, I would be in constant fear that my husband would think I was cheating on him, and would beat me, severely.

"Afghan women wearing the traditional burqa..." (Desmond Boylan, Reuters, 2004/10/09)

These beatings, or sometimes burnings, occur frequently in Afghanistan, less than when the Taleban were in control, but still frequently enough to cause need for concern.With the burqa, seen in the image above, it is a form of contaiment, or restriction to the women of Afghanistan, forcing them to wear clothe from head to toe, to prevent any unseemly words or actions, by men, seems above and beyond ridiculous. This verse is of course saying that if a woman is raped, and she isn't wearing a burqa, it is her fault, for she surely isn't as honorable woman anyway, and asked for the treatment she received. Adding to it the possibility for mistreatment at home, life for women in Afghanistan could not have been, or is now, any where near amazing.