Widows are protected in Islam from their in-laws, but are forced and not protected in the Bible's NT and OT:
In this article, we will see how Islam protects the widows from the mistreatment of her in-laws, while the Bible forces her to be under their control and mercy.
In Islam:
Narrated Ibn Abbas: "Regarding the Divine Verse: "O you who believe! You are forbidden to inherit women against their will, and you should not treat them with harshness that you may take back part of the (Mahr) dower you have given them." (4:19) (Before this revelation) if a man died, his relatives used to have the right to inherit his wife, and one of them could marry her if he would, or they would give her in marriage if they wished, or, if they wished, they would not give her in marriage at all, and they would be more entitled to dispose her, than her own relatives. So the above Verse was revealed in this connection. (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Prophetic Commentary on the Qur'an (Tafseer of the Prophet (pbuh)), Volume 6, Book 60, Number 103)"
So as we clearly see, Islam in Noble Verse 4:19, clearly prevents the in-laws from trying to control and abuse the widows. Before Islam, widows were basically enslaved to their in-laws. They had no control over any of their inheritance, and they were in many times married off to their former husband's brothers or relatives. Islam came and ended all of that, and lifted the status of women and gave them liberty and rights.
In the Bible's NT and OT:
The Bible has absolutely no regard for women what so ever! I have challenged before Jews and Christians to give me one Biblical verse that praises women in the article: Polygamy is allowed in both the Old and New Testaments in the Bible. Let us look at what the Bible says about widows:
"If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband's brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her. (From the NIV Bible, Deuteronomy 25:5)"
It would be nice for the widow to marry her husband's brother, especially if they had a good relationship. But what if they couldn't stand each others? Why does she have to be forced to marry him and be under her husband's family's control and mercy?
Let's not forget about how bad mother in-laws can be, especially toward the wives. The Bible clearly forces the widowed wives, who lived with or near their husbands' families, to continue living under the control and mercy of their in-laws even after their husbands' deaths. It is clear that there is no liberty and freedom of choice granted to women.
The reason why I said "who lived with or near their husbands' families" is because Matthew 22:24-28 in the New Testament doesn't specify that the brothers must be living in one single home together. Being near each others in one town is good enough to force the widow to marry her brother in law.
And by the way, Jesus in Matthew 22:24-32 didn't really answer the question. Let us look at the verses to and analyze what Jesus said:
Matthew 22
24. "Teacher," they said, "Moses told us that if a
man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and have children for
him.
25. Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he
had no children, he left his wife to his brother.
26. The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh.
27. Finally, the woman died.
28. Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them
were married to her?"
29. Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the
power of God.
30. At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they
will be like the angels in heaven.
31. But about the resurrection of the dead--have you not read what God said to you,
32. `I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob' ? He is not the God
of the dead but of the living."
Humans will not be like Angels in Heaven. According to the Bible itself, Adam was created from dust in Heaven, and GOD Almighty created woman, Eve, for Adam to be his physical mate. So in Heaven, we will not be spirits and angels. We will have earthly-similar bodies, and we will have the feelings and pleasures that we currently have here on earth. This means that we will have sex in Paradise as we do here on earth, and also enjoy seeing, breathing, hearing and sensing good things. GOD Almighty intended for Adam and Eve to have a relationship which included a sexual one in Heaven, long before they were kicked out of it.
The Jews' question was wrong because in Heaven there is no forced marriage. People are free to do what ever they wish and please. But Jesus' answer also wasn't accurate and precise either! Taking his answer in the literal sense will clearly reveal inconsistent and wrong information when comparing it to the Old Testament. Jesus failed to elaborate on our physical life and bodies in Heaven. He never talked about it in the New Testament. He should've addressed it in Matthew 22:24-32. This is another reason why Jesus can not be the Creator of the Universe, because he wasn't even perfect with his words. GOD Almighty is Perfect. Jesus was not perfect, and it was GOD Almighty's Holy Wisdom and Intention to not make Jesus perfect. As Allah Almighty said in the Noble Quran:
"The similitude of Jesus before God is as that of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him: "Be". And he was. (The Noble Quran, 3:59)"
"O People of the Book! Commit no excesses in your religion: Nor say of God aught but the truth. Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) an apostle of God, and His Word, which He bestowed on Mary, and a spirit proceeding from Him: so believe in God and His apostles. Say not "Trinity" : desist: it will be better for you: for God is one God: Glory be to Him: (far exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belong all things in the heavens and on earth. And enough is God as a Disposer of affairs. (The Noble Quran, 4:171)"
"Curses were pronounced on those among the Children of Israel who rejected Faith, by the tongue of David and of Jesus the son of Mary: because they disobeyed and persisted in excesses. (The Noble Quran, 5:78)"
"And behold! God will say: "O Jesus the son of Mary! Didst thou say unto men, worship me and my mother as gods in derogation of God'?" He will say: "Glory to Thee! never could I say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, thou wouldst indeed have known it. Thou knowest what is in my heart, Thou I know not what is in Thine. For Thou knowest in full all that is hidden. (The Noble Quran, 5:116)"
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