In the name of GOD, Most Gracious, Most Merciful There is no other god beside GOD

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Equality of Men and Women, and more…

…I never fail to reward any worker among you for any work you do, be you male or female
—you are equal to one another.
Quran (3:195)

We learn from the Quran that men and women are equal in the sight of God. In fact, not only our gender, but also any other physical or material differences we might have, such as our race, color of skin, beauty, or money in the bank, are irrelevant for our salvation to God. What God judges us with is our righteousness.

O people, we created you from the same male and female, and rendered you distinct peoples and tribes, that you may recognize one another. The best among you in the sight of God is the most righteous. God is Omniscient, Cognizant (49:13)

God explains in this verse the reason for His creating us physically different and distinct. In another verse, He explains to us why some of us are blessed more than others socially and materially.

He is the One who made you inheritors of the earth, and He raised some of you above others in rank, in order to test you in accordance with what He has given you. Surely, your Lord is efficient in enforcing retribution, and He is Forgiver, Most Merciful. (6:165)

Is God favoring some people over others? No, God does not play favoritism. He is the Most Just. Even though we may not think our circumstances are just at times, God knows while we do not know. Who we are, what we are given, what we are going through in life is exact and the best way for us to prepare ourselves for the Hereafter, based on God’s knowledge about us.

Your Lord knows you best. According to His knowledge, He may shower you with mercy, or He may requite you. We did not send you to be their advocate. Your Lord is the best knower of everyone in the heavens and the earth. In accordance with this knowledge, we preferred some prophets over others. For example, we gave David the Psalms. (17:54-55)

So, if we are born to a certain gender, color, or family, there is a reason for it. Only God knows that reason and the wisdom behind it. However, as we get older and hopefully wiser, we might be able to see and appreciate, by God’s grace, some of this wisdom by looking back on what happened in our lives. Since, we cannot see the future, we have to accept and submit to our current circumstances, and make the best of it.

God always reminds us in the Quran to get our priorities straight. Our lives in this world are temporary. If we give priority to this life over the Hereafter, we may end up with losers in our eternal life even though we may achieve our worldly goals.

Whoever seeks the rewards of the Hereafter, we multiply the rewards for him. And whoever seeks the materials of this world, we give him therefrom, then he receives no share in the Hereafter. (42:20)

God does not want us to be secluded and not to enjoy this life. On the contrary, God wants us to be better off in this life if we can. He would rather see us wealthy with resources than poor and dependent on others (16:75). But He wants us to be cognizant of the source of the blessings and be appreciative of them.

Use the provisions bestowed upon you by GOD to seek the abode of the Hereafter, without neglecting your share in this world. Be charitable, as GOD has been charitable towards you. Do not keep on corrupting the earth. GOD does not love the corruptors. (28:77)

We should concentrate on the blessings God has given us, and how we can use them best to better our lives while leading a righteous life. We need to focus on seeing the glass half full, instead of half empty. If we are appreciative of God’s blessings, we should count what we have, not what we lack. In return, God will bless us with even more. It is a win-win situation!

Your Lord has decreed: "The more you thank Me, the more I give you." But if you turn unappreciative, then My retribution is severe. (14:7)

We need to trust in God that our lives are tailored for us perfectly. Therefore, we should not be covetous of the blessings He has given to other people.

And do not covet what we bestowed upon any other people. Such are temporary ornaments of this life, whereby we put them to the test. What your Lord provides for you is far better, and everlasting. (20:131)

Also, the physical differences in men and women are not something to covet, but to use for complementing each other, and to strengthen our family, community and so on.

You shall not covet the qualities bestowed upon each other by GOD; the men enjoy certain qualities, and the women enjoy certain qualities. You may implore GOD to shower you with His grace. GOD is fully aware of all things. (4:32)

We have to thank God that He created all of us unique, with different color, shape, size and abilities. If we were all the same like cloned people, coming out of the same mold, think about how boring and chaotic the world would be. So, let us enjoy our God-given differences and all the blessings He bestowed on us, be appreciative of them and maintain a positive attitude in life.

Abdullah