Gender roles in Islam

Gender roles in Islam are based on scriptures, cultural traditions, and jurisprudence.

The Quran, the holy book of Islam, indicates that both men and women are spiritually equal. The Quran states:

"Those who do good, whether male or female, and have faith will enter Paradise and will never be wronged; even as much as the speck on a date stone."^[1]

— Quran 4:124

However, this notion of equality has not been reflected in several laws in Muslim-based institutions.^[2]

The Quran does not specify gender roles for women,^[3][4][5] but Islamic practice does. This is partially because men and women are at times allotted different rights and cultural expectations. Hadith Sahih Bukhari (9:89:252) states that a man is expected to be the "guardian of [his] family," whereas a woman is expected to be the "guardian of her husband's home and his children."^[6]

In some Muslim-based countries, women are legally restricted from practicing certain rights.^[7]