Why is no woman except Hz. Maryam (Mary) mentioned in the Quran?

- Allah addresses Hz. Adam as "you and your wife". Does He not speak to Hz. Hawwa (Eve)?

Dear Brother / Sister,

- The reason why Hz. Maryam is mentioned in the Quran is that she was Hz. Isa’s mother as a virgin and that she was a wonderful manifestation of divine power.

- The reason why the names of other women are not mentioned is a lesson teaching us that it is necessary to show respect to women. According to the Quran, women deserve tasattur (hijab) in all aspects. Their bodies being regarded as awrah (as a sign of grace that non-mahram people should not look at) is also in question for their names.

That the names of the two women (Hz. Shuayb’s two daughters) are not given in the verses below is a reflection of that grace:

“And when he arrived at the watering (place) in Madyan, he found there a group of men watering (their flocks), and besides them he found two women who were keeping back (their flocks)…”

“Afterwards one of the (damsels) came (back) to him, walking bashfully…” (al-Qasas, 28/23, 25)

“…The believing women should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband´s fathers, their sons, their husbands´ sons, their brothers or their brothers´ sons, or their sisters´ sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O ye Believers! Turn ye all together towards Allah, that ye may attain Bliss.” (an-Nur, 24/31)

In the verse above, even the footsteps of women are placed in a respectable place and it is pointed out that they should not be heard by non-mahram men.

- It is in accordance with the formula that the Quran introduced for the family structure that it addresses Hz. Adam as “you and your wife”.

“Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means...” (an-Nisa, 4/34)

It is stated in the verse above that the man is the head of the family with its reason.

Besides, men have always been the head of the family in principle since the creation of human beings and they have been held responsible for breadwinning and protecting the family from all kinds of danger.

From this point of view, the expression of the Quran “you and your wife” is coherent in terms of the general structure of the Quran and the historical, social reality.

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