Deen kya kehta hay?

Hum aurton ko aksar ye kaha jata hay k humara mazhab aur deen ye kehta hay k hum pe bayshak jitna marzi zulm keray, humein khamosh rehna chahiye aur achay ki dua kerni chahiye. Per kya apko is baat ka pata hay k Islam, Christianity, aur Hindusim mein aurton k haqooq ka khaas khayaal rakha hay. Agay parhiye.

Islam

Men and women are considered to be spiritual equals under Islam.

“Men and women are considered to be spiritual equals under Islam: “Who so does that which is right, and believes, whether male or female, him or her will We quicken to happy life” (16:97). “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” (4:124)

The preservation of the (nuclear) family and social order is of utmost importance to Islam, which is why marriage is considered to be holy in Islam. As stated in the Quran, the basis of marriage is love and it is meant to make lives better.

“And among His signs is this that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that you may dwell in tranquility with them, and he has put love and mercy between your hearts” (30:21).

“Islam renders consent (of men and women) a necessity for a valid marriage.” (4:19).

The main purpose of marriage is seen (by most scholars and believers) as prevention of promiscuous or unlawful sexual behavior:

“They (your wives) are your garment and you are a garment for them” (2:187).

Marriage is thus a contract. Both husband and wife face equal punishment in case of infidelity i.e. adultery. Repentance and forgiveness are possible:

“And the two who commit it among you, dishonor them both. But if they repent and correct themselves, leave them alone. Indeed, Allah is ever Accepting of repentance and Merciful.” (4:16).

“And due to the wives is similar to what is expected of them, according to what is reasonable. But the men have a degree over them [in responsibility and authority]…” (2:228).

Thus, the husband has the role of a breadwinner while the wife is under no obligation to contribute to the household income. In many instances, this is used as a justification for men having an upper hand in the relationship or forcing women to leave work. In practice at least in Pakistan, lack of financial support constitutes a sufficient reason for judges to rule in favour of women seeking a khula.

However, in Islam, career oriented women could not be admonished because the roots of Islam were funded by the most part by Hazrat Khadija, the first wife of the Prophet (PBUH). Not only was she the first woman to accept Islam, she retains the prestigious title of being the financial and emotional support to the Prophet (PBUH) in the hardest days of Islam. A successful business woman in her days, it should also be noted that it was Hazrat Khadija who proposed to the Prophet (PBUH).

The Quran admonishes those men who oppress or ill-treat women:

“O you who believe! You are forbidden to inherit women against their will. Nor should you treat them with harshness, that you may take away part of the dowry you have given them – except when they have become guilty of open lewdness. On the contrary live with them on a footing of kindness and equity. If you take a dislike to them, it may be that you dislike something and Allah will bring about through it a great deal of good.” ( 4:19)

The Quran repeatedly warns against the use of injurious statements by a husband against his wife (58:2-4). Similarly, with regards to child-bearing, the Quran highlights that the sex of the child depends on what God has ordained:

“To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. He creates what He wills. He bestows female children to whomever He wills and bestows male children to whomever He wills.” (42:49)

Does Islam allow wife beating?

The history of segregation, cultural traditions that have no basis in Islam (example: marriages to the Quran in Pakistan), male control of religious texts and interpretation, as well as domination of religious leadership, have led to manipulation of religious edicts for the selfish interests of certain groups of men. Many religious scholars and abusers use the infamous ‘wife-beating’ verse to justify physical abuse. The hotly debated verse states that a rebellious woman should first be admonished, then abandoned in bed and ultimately “beaten” – the most common translation for the Arabic word “daraba” – unless her behaviour improves.

New research proves that is a gross misinterpretation by a patriarchal society. When Laleh Bakhtiar read Edward William Lane’s Arabic-English Lexicon, a 3,064-page volume from the 19th century, for the tenth time, she found a definition that made sense – among the six pages of definitions for daraba was “to go away.” “I said to myself, ‘Oh, God, that is what the prophet meant,’ ” said Bakhtiar. “When the prophet had difficulty with his wives, what did he do? He didn’t beat anybody, so why would any Muslim do what the prophet did not?” She thinks the “beat” translation contradicts another verse (4:128), which states that if a woman wants a divorce, she should not be mistreated. “Given the option of staying in the marriage and being beaten, or divorcing, women would obviously leave”, she said. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/25/world/americas/25iht-koran.4.5017346.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&

This translation is further supported by the fact that the word “darabtum” is used in the same Surah (4:94), which means to “go abroad” in the sake of Allah and which is derived from the same root word (“daraba”) as “idribuhunna” in 4:34. In the context of the above verse the most appropriate meaning is ‘to separate’ or ‘to part’. Otherwise, it is inviting the likelihood of a divorce without any reconciliation procedure. Such a step would blatantly contravene the Qur’anic guidance shown in verse 4:35 below. Therefore, a more accurate and consistent translation of the above verse would be: “[…]as for those women whose animosity or ill-will (nushuz) you have reason to fear, then leave them alone in bed, and then separate; and if thereupon they pay you heed, do not seek a way against them.”(4:34)

Many religious scholars and abusers use the infamous ‘wife-beating’ verse to justify physical abuse. The hotly debated verse states that a rebellious woman should first be admonished, then abandoned in bed and ultimately “beaten” – the most common translation for the Arabic word “daraba” – unless her behaviour improves.New research proves that is a gross misinterpretation by a patriarchal society.

Other Ahadith or Ayat corroborating that Islam is against Domestic Violence

Asad, Muhammad. (1980). The Message of the Qur’an. Gibraltar: Dar al-Andalus, p. 110, footnote # 45, cited by Asad

The Prophet said, “Never beat God’s handmaidens (female believers).”

10 -Fath al-Bari, vol. 9, p. 249.

Aisha is reported to have said, “The Prophet never beat any of his wives or servants; in fact, he did not strike anything with his hand except if he were to struggle in the cause of God.”

Allah Almighty loves those who restrain anger:

“Those who spend (freely), whether in prosperity, or in adversity; who restrain anger, and pardon (all) men; for Allah loves those who do good. (3:134)” “…Do not retain them (i.e., your wives) to harm them…(2:231)”

Narrated Mu’awiyah al-Qushayri: “I went to the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) and asked him: What do you say (command) about our wives? He replied: Give them food what you have for yourself, and clothe them by which you clothe yourself, and do not beat them, and do not revile them. (Sunan Abu-Dawud, Book 11, Marriage (Kitab Al-Nikah), Number 2139)”

Islamic Scholars

“Under no circumstances is violence against women encouraged or allowed in Islam. There are many examples in Quran and Ahadith that describes the behavior of Muslims towards husband and wife. The relationship should be one of mutual love, respect and kindness.”

Excerpt from Domestic violence -Islamic perspective by M. Basheer Ahmed, M.D.

“Under no circumstances is violence against women encouraged or allowed. The holy Qur’an contains tens of verses extolling good treatment of women. Several specifically enjoin kindness to women (2:229-237; 4:19; 4:25). These verses make it clear that the relationship between men and women is to be one of kindness, mutual respect, and caring. Some verses, where Allah calls men and women “protecting friends of one another,” refer to the mandated atmosphere of mutual kindness and mercy in the marital home (30:21; 9:71). Others show disapproval of oppression or ill treatment of women.”

Excerpt from Ending Domestic Violence in Muslim Families by Sharifa Alkhateeb
Unfortunately, many societies that are predominantly Muslim have cultural values that conflict with this understanding of equality (examples: harem culture in the Arab world, feudalism in South Asia, etc). In some cultures, women have an inferior position as evidenced by limited legal rights or limited involvement in society. According to M. Basheer Ahmed, M.D. (Domestic violence -Islamic perspective): “Arabian society at the beginning of Islam sanctioned appalling violence towards women. Far from giving permission for wife beating Allah prohibited or at least severely curtailed excessive violence against women. Allah repeatedly says in the Quran to show love, kindness and warns that they should not harm their wives even after divorce. Allah has even forbidden us to call each other by bad names and to humiliate. The abusive behavior does not reflect the kindness and love for their spouses. Still, some men justify their behavior knowing that they are disobeying Allah’s guidance…”

Christianity

“Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest” (Ecclesiastes 9:9)

In Christianity, men are to marry women who they love and are thereby responsible for the maintenance of their wives and the children they produce.

Abusers may take the word “weaker” out of context and use it to their advantage, so that they will justify their unacceptable abusive behaviour. Yet, by reading the whole verse one can clearly see that in Christianity men and women are equal partners, and husbands are instructed to love and honour their wives, and to not treat them harshly.

“In the same way, you husbands must give honour to your wives. Treat her with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. If you don’t treat her as you should, your prayers will not be heard” (1 Peter 3:7) “Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them” (Colossians 3:18-21)

Very often, abusers try to justify their behaviour by blaming the victim, saying that she caused it by something she said or did, by not obeying them, by upsetting them etc. This is not true, as abusers will abuse you no matter what you say or do. But even if you did something to upset them, it is clearly stated in the Bible that love is patient and kind, not rude, irritable or resentful. And since God instructs husbands to love their wives (Ecclesiastes 9:9), your husband should be kind, patient and loving towards you even if you upset him.

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

In the New Testament, we see that Christ loves His church to the extent that He gave His life for the people. We see references in the New Testament too, for the husband to love his wife as Christ loves His Church: not withholding His life but giving it up gladly. Yet, abusive husbands do not live their lives according to the standards that God has set for us. Apart from verbally, emotionally, and physically abusing their wives, some may even cheat on them. However, the concept of polygamy is not a way of life that God condones. When God made Adam, He created ONE Eve for him. Furthermore, God was faithful with Israel and never let anyone else take the place of Israel. In the Old Testament we see the Wisdom Literature where we see the wise men telling again and again to forsake not the wife of your youth, to love your wife; to women He says to love their lovers that is husbands. If we read the whole context we find that God honours one man and one woman to be faithful towards each other:

Again, abusers may distort the meaning of these verses and use some phrases out of context to justify the fact that they sexually assault their wives, e.g. ‘My wife should fulfil her marital duty to me’. Yet, they deliberately avoid referring to the fact that ‘just as the husband has authority over his wife’s body, so too has the wife authority over his body’. In other words, ‘don’t do to others what you don’t want others do to you’. And since nobody would want to be abused, nobody should abuse others as well.

“It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman. But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.The husband should fulfil his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.I say this as a concession, not as a command” 1 Corinthians 7:1-6 New International Version (NIV)

As we see in the above verse, the Bible tells the husband and wife to stay faithful to each other. It does not speak to only one but to both at the same time. It in no way implies that staying faithful is only the job of the wife or the husband.

It is clearly stated in the Bible that all humans are the same and that men and women are equal. Thus, no one has the right to control your life and have power over you.

“So there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles, between slaves and free people, between men and women, you are all one in union with Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28)

In Christianity, love is emphasised more than anything else. Without love, we are nothing. People who are full of love, just as the Bible instructs us to be, would never hurt another human in any way. Hence, abusive individuals do not live their lives according to the word of God.

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

God does not want you to live a distressful life where you are continuously being abused because, after all, He gave us this life and He wants all of us to be happy. If anyone tells you that divorce is not allowed in Christianity, beware: you are being fooled! God is all-knowing and all-seeing, and He knows how you have tried to make it work and how much effort you have put in the relationship. You need not explain it to anyone. If you know how much you have tried then that’s enough. Yes, in some arranged marriages love may come slowly but violence is not allowed. That is simply a big red flag for you. It may take time for you to love your husband or vice versa but violence does not fit anywhere in any relationship. The husband is the one closing all the doors because of the violence and he is the one provoking you to part ways. You cannot be expected to try to make it work all your life! God is love and therefore He would never want you to bear any kind of abuse or to stay a slave all your life. If your husband is incapable of giving you love then how can you think that God expects you to stay with such a man? Find a husband who makes you feel like thanking God all the time for him because that is what God wants your life to be: full of love and joy.

‘God is a shelter for the oppressed’. God does not want you to live a life of oppression and abuse.

“The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, have never abandoned anyone who searches for you” (Psalm 9:9-10)

Hinduism

In a general sense, violence means use of force to injure or abuse someone. However, in Hinduism violence (himsa) not only means injuring or hurting others through force, but also causing disturbances within oneself or others through intentional physical and mental actions. Use of thoughts, desires and words to hurt or harm others also comes under the purview of the definition. Wilful action to hurt others or cause them pain and suffering is also considered violence.

In the mortal world, violence is the foundation of survival and self-preservation. None can live upon earth without indulging in some form of violence. The root cause of violence is desires and attachment. One may avoid physical violence, but one cannot avoid hurting or harming others or their peace through mental and emotional actions. Hinduism recognizes this fundamental problem of human existence and recommends the practice of yoga as the best solution to suppress the modifications of our own minds so that we may cease to disturb ourselves and others.

Thus, in Hinduism and Yoga, non-violence is considered the highest virtue or the virtue of virtues, attained only at the end of a prolonged spiritual practice, when one reaches perfection in self-control and makes peace with oneself and with the rest of the world.

The Bhagavadgita aims to achieve the same goal through various paths. It declares that those who do not disturb others and are not disturbed by them in turn are very dearer to God. In Hinduism, causing intentional harm to others in any form is considered sinful, with negative consequences for one’s rebirth. One should avoid intentional harm by all means. In this regard, there is no better example than God Himself. He is the epitome of peace. Having created the worlds, He remains a mere witness, letting the beings to exercise their will and live their own lives.
Violence is justified in Hinduism in the following circumstances:

When one offers one’s own life as a sacrifice to God.
When one participates in a war either in self-defense or for a righteous cause.
To feed oneself by hunting etc., in times of famines, scarcity of food, and starvation.
When the mind and body are subjected to austerities and self-discipline to achieve liberation.

In all the above cases violence is justified only when one resorts to it as an offering to God without selfish intentions and without seeking the fruit of such actions.

We see that violence against women or the wife or any kind of domestic violence is NOT permissible in Hinduism.

Domestic violence and violence against women

Domestic violence is an acute problem in modern Hindu society. Most of the domestic violence in Hindu families happen in the form of wife beating, bride burnings, acid throwing, eve-teasing, mental and physical harassment, dowry deaths, enforced slavery, verbal abuse malnourishment, neglect, women trafficking, forced marriages, rapes, property related homicides and solitary confinement. Millions of women go through numerous hardships in India as victims of various forms of violence.

A number of such incidents also go unnoticed, due to fear, social and domestic pressure and the apathy and inefficiency of the law enforcement machinery who often aggravate the situation by colluding with the aggressors and harassing the victims further.

Death of women due to systematic discrimination against them is an acute problem in India, which has one of the highest incidences of gender related abortions and girl child mortality so much so that the sex ratio in the country has fallen considerably in the last few decades by 20% to 30% in some states.

Domestic violence in Hindu families is not confined to India alone, though the phenomenon is prevalent in all communities. It seems to be a cultural problem because it also exists in some Hindu families outside India in countries such as the UK, USA, South Africa, Canada and Australia.

Status of Women In Hinduism

According to Hinduism, the female was created by Brahman as part of the duality in creation, to provide company to men and facilitate procreation, progeny and continuation of family lineage.

The Vedas suggest that a woman’s primary duty is to help her husband in performing obligatory duties and enable him to continue his family tradition. Her primary duty is to give birth to his children and take care of them.

Like all the major religions of the world, Hinduism is a predominantly male dominated religion. Women play a secondary role. True in certain ages, such as the Gupta period, women enjoyed freedom and held administrative posts. They also acted as teachers and participated in debates and public discussions. However, such privileges were limited to socially well-placed families. It is also true that the norms of conduct were stricter in case of higher caste women and male domination increased in proportion to their caste status. Generally speaking, the Vedas placed comparatively greater duties and responsibilities upon men and exhorted women to help their men in performing such duties. Any respect that women enjoyed in society were as daughters, mothers and wives. It meant that once their husbands passed away, women lost their status in the family and suffered from many disabilities.
The law books prohibit men from harassing or neglecting women in their households. It is a man’s obligatory duty to protect his wife and take care of her until the end. He is not expected to abandon her, since she is a gift from the gods under a pledge, except where there is sufficient justification such as mental illness, inability to bear children and adultery.

Similarly, he has an obligation to take care of his aged mother or his dependent daughter.

Women are considered aspects of Nature or embodiment of the Universal Mother, Shakti, in her aspect as pure energy (shaktiswarupini). She is extolled as mata, the Mother Goddess, or devi the auspicious one.

Bias in Hindu law books

The law books are unabashedly male-centric. They do suggest that women should not be harassed and the homes in which women suffered would be without peace and happiness.

Problems faced by present day Hindu women

Hindu women have a long way to go to enjoy an equal status with men. They have to cope with many social and economic pressures and resolve many problems that afflict their lives today such as the following.

Dowry problem, which is acute in certain castes and communities
Parental interference in marriage and career matters
Domestic violence and abuse
Violence against women which often goes unreported
Bride burning and dowry deaths
Gender based abortions
Gender inequality in the treatment of children

All information has been sourced, paraphrased and edited from the following articles written by Jayaram V. Spelling corrections have been made.

Please do read the full, detailed articles on Women in Hindu religion and culture, as well as the importance of non-violence in Hinduism:

Traditional Status of Women in Hinduism

Violence and Abuse in Hinduism

Sikhism

It is apparent to those with any knowledge of Punjab’s history and culture that there are fundamental differences between Sikh teachings and some of the less enlightened social practices on the sub continent. This is particularly noticeable in attitudes to the status of women in society, and we will deal with them separately. Around the time of the birth of the Sikh Guru; Nanak in 1469AD, in Punjab, India as in other parts of the sub continent, it was customary to discriminate against women, regardless of caste. In 15th Century Indian society, female infanticide was all too common. Dowry was a massive burden on the bride’s parents and murdering daughters, if dowry could not be amassed was common practice. Sati, the voluntary/involuntary burning of the widow on the funeral pyre of her husband was encouraged by society. The status of women was low; references would be made to women as ‘having her brain in her ankles’. Women were not eligible for any social positions, and declared to be intrinsically impure and unfit, therefore ineligible to listen to sacred texts and religious sermons. And female infanticide or foeticide was fairly common.

Guru Nanak’s condemnation of discrimination against women

Guru Nanak directly challenged the existing discrimination. He did this by liberating all women, declaring equality between men and women for the first time in this part of Indian society. His teachings were against rituals or customs that discriminated against women. He did not consider women in any way impure and/or evil, and his teachings reinforced this. He recorded many bold compositions in praise of women: “Of woman are we born, of woman conceived; to woman engaged, to woman married. Women are befriended, by woman is the civilisation continued. When woman dies, woman is sought for. It is by woman that the entire social order is maintained. Then why call her evil of whom great men are born?” (Asa ki Var, Guru Granth Sahib).

To ensure equal status for women, the Guru made no distinction between the sexes in matters of initiation, instruction or participation in congregation. The Sikh Guru’s forbade female infanticide in their code of conduct for Sikhs, prohibiting Sikhs from having any contact or relationship with those who indulge in this practise: “With the slayers of daughters. Whosoever has social contact; him do I curse”. And again, “Whosoever takes food from the slayers of daughters, Shall die unabsolved” (Guru Gobind Singh, Rehat nameh, pp.385. Cunningham, J.D. History of the Sikhs. 1st Publ: 1849). Accessed: [page 8, MPSA_Booklet_24_5_10.indd 11, 24/05/2010, 09:50]

Long before Lord William Bentick declared Sati illegal (Madras Regulation 1 of 1829 Bengal), the 3rd Sikh Guru made a seminal pronouncement by annulling the draconic requirement of the cremation of the living wife on her husband’s funeral pyre. He also encouraged widow re-marriage: “A virtuous wife is not one who burns Herself alive with her dead husband. She, indeed, would be a sati who dies through Shock of separation. But, says Nanak, a True Sati is she who bears the shock of Separation with courage and lives her natural Span of life in a disciplined, dignified and virtuous manner.” (Guru Granth Sahib, pp. 787)

Sikhism postulated equality between the sexes and the promotion of an egalitarian society. The Sikh Guru’s abolished the need for dowries, and over 400 years ago appointed and ordained a large number of women preachers, and that at least one woman was ordained and appointed as a Sikh bishop; Mathura Devi.

The Sikh stance is a remarkable phenomenon in the history of world-religions and marks a new insight into the innate capacities of women in relation to the highest spheres of human activity.

The Punjabi Culture – on women

As we have observed the Sikh Religious stance on this issue is unique, however, there is a conflict between the high values of this Religion and what is actually practised by some Punjabi Sikhs. The conflict here is one of Sikh theory challenging demeaning social practices. In the Punjab, female infanticide is still sadly a real problem. There are recorded figures which illustrate a disparity in male/female birth rates, with the Punjab having a strangely and irregular higher male than female birth-ratio. Modern techniques are sometimes used to abort female foetuses, a new form of female infanticide. Baser social practices find new ways of circumventing more enlightened thinking. Laws against dowries have been enacted but are usually not enforced by Indian Governments, fathers and fathers-in-law still occasionally murder daughters if dowry is lacking.

As for Sati;

“Such is the pull and thrill of the mystique of sati…. that the practise has staged a nostalgic comeback here and there, after the British left India in 1947”
(pp.46, Me Judice, Singh, Kapur. CSJS, 2003).

Regardless of the high ideals of the Sikh Guru’s, individuals choose when it suits them to digress from these values reverting back to their ancient Punjabi past, (which existed for thousands of years prior to the advent of Sikhism). Daughter-in-laws often suffer at the hands of mother-in-laws.

In Punjab, like other parts of India, news headlines of women being killed in suspicious circumstances are quite common. What also must be borne in mind by observers and practitioners is that each person, is a Sikh by religion and Punjabi by culture, and has this dual role. Invariably, as in the context here, these can severely clash. Religion and religious values can be discarded by choice; Punjabi/Indian culture can often be more ingrained. Most Semitic religions are able to divorce women within the constraints of their faith. Sikhism emphasises the sanctity of marriage, but a marriage can be annulled through a country’s legal system. The failure of a marriage is more difficult to accept than in modern western society, and there can be greater repercussions in attitudes to bitterness and shame. Occasionally these can assume unacceptable forms of behaviour.

What the Sikh Religion and Punjabi culture have in common is abhorrence of female genital mutilation; however, there is a massive gulf separating the teachings of the Sikh religion versus the Punjabi/Indian culture in attitudes to:

Female infanticide
Female only abortions
Sati
Dowry
So-called ‘honour’ killings.

All the above information was sourced from A Brief Guide to Honour Based Violence by the Metropolitan Police Sikh Association. Some grammatical corrections have been made.: http://www.sikhpolice.org/MPSA%20Repository/Articles/Honour_Violence_Booklet.pdf

For more information about Sikhism and Violence and Women please see the following websites:
http://www.sikhwomen.com/antiviolence/Domestic-Violence.htm
http://www.mrsikhnet.com/2006/11/27/women-in-sikhism-gender-inequality/

Zoroastrianism

Domestic violence in India is prevalent across all religions, states, regions, rural and urban areas, and castes, including the Parsi community. In a 2014 research study titled “Domestic Violence Against Married Women in Rural Area of Wardha District: A Community Based Cross Sectional Study”, it was found that the percentage of women in Parsi families prone to domestic violence was 44.29%. Three out of four women belonging Hindu religion had experienced domestic violence followed by half of Muslim and Parsi respondents.[1]

Zoroastrian religion does not discriminate between men and women. Leaving aside the differences with regard to religious observances and role responsibilities, both sexes are treated equally in the religious texts. Unlike the Vedic religion, there is no preferential treatment for male children. There is no such argument that male children are necessary for the deliverance of parents into the ancestral world. The initiation ceremony, Naujot, is performed for both male and female children. Of the six Immortal Beings created by God, three are feminine and three are masculine. According to the Bundhahisn, “the sky, metal, wind, and fire are male, and are never otherwise; the water, earth, plants, and fish are female, and are never otherwise; the remaining creation consists of male and female.” Both men and women have equal importance in protecting the sanctity and divinity of the world. Children are advised to honor both mother and father equally.

On Treating One’s Wife

In Book 5, Chapter 18 of the same text, we come across the following instructions on how married women are to be treated by their husbands.

The wife of one’s choice who is tied by a marriage ceremony should always be treated with affection and without niggardliness.
One should strive to increase progeny by going to her.
She should be made a sharer in the good gained from righteous deeds.
A maiden wife should be given good dowry. And a wife who was previously a widow should be given lesser dowry.
One should maintain physical intimacy and have sexual intercourse with her several times. No limit is prescribed, but thrice a month is considered reasonable.
As far as possible both men and women should avoid having a second spouse. Such an act is not considered meritorious.

All the above information was sourced and paraphrased from the following web article “Gender Equality and Status of Women in Zoroastrianism” written by Jayaram V. Please read the article for more information on Zoroastrian marriage and inheritance laws: http://www.hinduwebsite.com/zoroastrianism/gender.asp

References:
[1] Khapre MP, Chaudhary SG, Me- shram RD, Mudey AB, Nayak SC, Wagh VV. Domestic Violence Against Married Women in Rural Area of Wardha District: a Com- munity Based Cross Sectional Study. Natl J Community Med 2014: 5(4);355-8.