Verse 2:223 - Surah Al-Baqrah, Explaining the term "tilth"

[Zainab_M]

 


"Your women are a tilth for you (to cultivate) so go to your tilth as ye will, and send (good deeds) before you for your souls, and fear Allah, and know that ye will (one day) meet Him. Give glad tidings to believers, (O Muhammad)."  (2:223)

There are some stupid feminists and aggressive stereo-type non-Muslims who keep fighting over this Verse, claiming it's insulting for women.  As usual, these people just won't take the time to focus on the words and understand them to know that it's neither derogatory for women nor for men.  Rather it highlights the importance of both for the procedure of reproduction. 

The analogy of the wife as a tilth for the husband reflects the simple reality wherein the husband 'sows' his seed and wife brings forth a return in terms of a child.  It's a simple analogy with connotation to the biological fact of reproduction and birth.  As we've read in many verses the Quran also refers to humankind originating from a drop of fluid referring to the sperm.  In Verse 2:223 the reference is the necessary biological contribution of both parents for procreation.

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Salam and many thanks dear sis.  I've also come across plenty of bizarre bickerings against this Verse - the usual storm in a teacup - without taking the time to focus on and understand the facts.  It's usually misinterpreted as women used as 'instruments' for procreation.   The same people have also come up another very stupid criticism.  The portion of the Verse which says "so go to your tilth as you will," .... the words "as ye will" has been misconstrued using women as objects of sex way men desire.  Please know folks, that idea is completely wrong.  It isn't the reference at all.  Instead, the reference is again collective citing both men and women.  The expression "as ye will" simply hints at the convenience or whenever convenient for both spouses to participate in their conjugal relations.

[Ruhi_Rose]

Alhumdulilah.  Shukran for the very nice tafsir, sisters. 

I recall reading one of the criticisms by that mad and fat Bangladeshi woman .. I forget her name Tasleema Shahin or something similar.  No one knew of her ever and to get famous all she could think of was to criticize the Quran.  Now she's got asylum in some European country, I think Sweden, because she criticized the Quran.   What a shameful world, what shameless humans!  I find this horrible woman so irritating.  Hope she rots in Hell after her departure from this world, InshAllah, ameen.

[Zainab_M]

Sister Heba, wa'salaam and many thanks for the additional explanation.  That sort of intentional misinterpretation for the purpose of slandering is common from the type of people that inhibit this ghastly planet. 

Sis Ruhi, yeah that awful woman is intensely irritating.  Bad, bad woman!  The idiot's name is Tasleema Nasrin.  InshAllah, she will find the 'fame' she is looking for when she arrives in Hellfire.  Like Pharaoh and Haman, she'll be one of the infamous inmates within the wretched doom of Hell.