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Does Qur'an 7:189 imply women were created to benefit men?

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> It is He who created you from one soul and created from it its mate **that he might dwell in security with her**. And when he covers her, she carries a light burden and continues therein. And when it becomes heavy, they both invoke Allah, their Lord, "If You should give us a good [child], we will surely be among the grateful." -- Qur'an 7:189 Translations of the part highlighted in bold vary (see Islam Awakened ), e.g.: - "...so that man might incline [with love] towards woman"; - "...that he might take rest in her"; - "...so that he may find comfort in her"; - "...that he rest in her"; - "...so that man might incline towards women [with love]". They all assert that women were created with a purpose. Moreover, most imply that the purpose of this creation is to benefit men in some way (even though what the purpose is varies from translation to translation). This implies that for a woman to realize the purpose she was created for, she needs a man (her husband). I'm wondering if this is a correct interpretation. **Question**: Does Qur'an 7:189 imply women were created to benefit men? There are some translations that don't seem to imply women were created to benefit men, e.g.: "...he may settle down with her"; and "...to reside with" (and the Sahih International, quoted at the top of the question). These sound more mutually beneficial. Tafsir al-Jalalayn gives another version again: "...that he might take rest in her and become intimate with her", which is partly to benefit men, and partly mutually beneficial.
Asked by Rebecca J. Stones (20998 rep)
Jun 26, 2017, 12:13 PM
Last activity: Jul 5, 2017, 04:19 PM