http://quran.al-islam.com/GenGifImages/Normal/290X330-0/4/15/1.png

[15] If any of your women are guilty of lewdness, take the evidence of four (reliable) witnesses from amongst you against them; and if they testify, confine them to houses until death do claim them, or Allah ordain for them some (other) way.

[16] If two men among you are guilty of lewdness, punish them both. If they repent and amend, leave them alone; for Allah is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.

[17] Allah accepts the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and repent soon afterwards; to them will Allah turn in mercy: for Allah is Full of Knowledge and Wisdom.

[Al Nisa: (The Women) - Surah 4:15,16,17 from al-islam.com]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------@

1) When reading verses 15,16,17 or Surah "Al Nisa", I was suprised of the death sentence given to women who commit lewdness and even more suprised that when it comes to men, they don't get the same punishment. Why is that?

2) In the islamic terms, what is exactly considered 'lewdness" and what happen if a woman repent, but her family doesn't accept it?

3) Verse 16 is mentioning two men in particular. What will be the punishment for one man only?


.

X-press
1) When reading verses 15,16,17 or Surah "Al Nisa", I was suprised of the death sentence given to women who commit lewdness and even more suprised that when it comes to men, they don't get the same punishment. Why is that?Keep reading and you will find many other verses that you will find very interesting concerning difference in men and women treatments.

Is this the first time you have read the quran?

There is an aya (verse) in surat al noor :

"The woman and the man guilty of adultery or fornication,- flog each of them with a hundred stripes: Let not compassion move you in their case, in a matter prescribed by God, if ye believe in God and the Last Day: and let a party of the Believers witness their punishment." (24:2)

That verse clearly states that both men and women should be flogged regardless of gender.

My thoughts are that this verse came after the one in surat alnisa (The Women); the one you posted X-press. There is such a thing as Nasi'7 and Mansoo'7; which means that some of the verses in the Koran are forfeited because later verses came with a different ruling.

Before many jump to say that Koran contradicts itself; you must understand that the people of Mekka and Madina (basically the people that Islam came upon in it's begining) were not ready for such strict rulings. Allah SWT, considered this and gave the rulings slowly and in steps. The people were very into their habits, such adultery and drinking, these were apart of life for them therefore prohibiting these things right away would have created a not only hesitant feeling toward Islam but the people wouldn't have converted easily; many would despise it for it's strictness. I am sure many of you know that the steps of prohibiting alcholol came in FOUR different verses, only one of which states clearly that it is haram. The latter came in the end and that is what we believe in and follow. Perhaps adultery was more popular amongst the men of Mekka therefore prohibiting it in such a way would turn many against Islam, whereas with women it was less. Also, it is known that the Koran views adultery as it is more in the woman's hand than the man's, and that she is who leads him to it by flirting or showing herself .... ect. So maybe the Koran is stopping what it views as the source of adultery first.
However, it is more likely that it's an example of Nasi'7 and Mansoo'7, because I doubt a Koran verse would contradict itself for any other reason. Plus there are many hadeeths (prophet's sayings PBUH) that agree and confirm the verse in surat anoor (The Light)......There are many other examples (like changing the Qibla) of Nasi'7 and Mansoo'7.

Enigma, after reading tafseer al quran, yea indeed those two ayahs are manokhat (have been canceled with another ayah)

look at Ayah number 15 "or Allah ordain for them some (other) way.


the other way was the Naskh of this Ayah according to the tafseer I read.

The second verse was concerning homosexuality (two men!) but it was also mansookha

the punishment nowadays as all of you know is 100 stripes for both men and women!

Originally posted by jack
X-press

Is this the first time you have read the quran?

Of course it is not my first time to read the quran Jack and you might not know that you can read it a thousand times and everytime you will discover something new. It is my first time to discuss these specific verses though ;)

I am perfectly aware that there are many verses in the quran pointing at the difference between men and women or between each genders according to a specific circumstance, but the one I quotes seem to give a harsh punishment to the women while a lighter on for the men for the same lewdness.

Enigma, I thank you for your long explaination and I have to say that your post really impressed me. Did you inspired yourself from a specific source?

My aim is not to show any contradiction in the quran, but an apparent clear difference between the treatment of women versus men. My curiosity was simply wandering why such big difference?

Originally posted by X-press
Enigma, I thank you for your long explaination and I have to say that your post really impressed me. Did you inspire yourself from a specific source?

[/B]

Not really, it's just general stuff I learned in grade school. But the actual posting was inspired by your query, I like explaining the verses and rulings. Just ask your buddy Mo, he's quite sick of my preaching :D

[15] If any of your women are guilty of lewdness, take the evidence of four (reliable) witnesses from amongst you against them; and if they testify, confine them to houses until death do claim them, or Allah ordain for them some (other) way. This verse refers to all acts of lewdness (evil) which can emcompass many things, not only sex.

"The woman and the man guilty of adultery or fornication,- flog each of them with a hundred stripes: Let not compassion move you in their case, in a matter prescribed by God, if ye believe in God and the Last Day: and let a party of the Believers witness their punishment." (24:2)This verse speaks to adultry and fornication only.

So do they cancel out or they addressing different issues?

Looking up 'lewdness' in the dictionary gave me :

a. Preoccupied with sex and sexual desire; lustful.
b. Obscene; indecent

Anyways, the word used in the first verse 'Fa7sha' is always reffering to adultery in the Koran and Hadeeth.

They both address the same issue but the later one (the one I posted) cancels the first.

i agree with enigma.