Gender Discrimination: Why Prophethood was not bestowed upon Women

The role of women is often debated in theological domain, specially for not elevating the women to the the elevated status of prophetesses. This so called "gender discrimination" is not only part of Islamic theology but all earlier religions as mentioned in Psalms, Torah and Injeel (The Gospel). While such questions were generally not asked in the ancient times, but in modern times, it is a profound and sensitive theological question — one that touches on Divine wisdom, human equality, and the unique distribution of roles in revelation. 

Although, there have been over one hundred thousand prophets, there is no recorded mention of women being prophetesses. The absence of women prophets in major monotheistic religions is attributed to a combination of factors, primarily centered on the perceived social and physical demands of prophethood and leadership. According to some theological viewpoints, men were considered better suited for the public roles of leadership, warfare, and public preaching that were part of a prophet's duties, while natural female cycles like menstruation, pregnancy, and childbirth were seen as incompatible with these responsibilities. Some also suggest that a woman prophet might face additional dangers and societal resistance. 

Scholars through centuries have reflected on the subject very carefully. The Qur’an and Sunnah make it clear that Prophethood (nubuwwah) was bestowed only upon men, but Islam does not link this to superiority of worth or spiritual rank in general.

Let’s go step-by-step through the reasoning from the Qur’an and Hadiths, and the classical scholars’ explanations.

The Qur’an’s Teaching on Prophethood and Divine Selection

In Qur'an, Allah ﷻ says clearly defines His wisdom and how He has planned the affairs of the universe:

اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ حَيْثُ يَجْعَلُ رِسَالَتَهُ

“Allah knows best where to place His Message.” — Surah Al-An‘ām (6:124)

This verse lays down the foundation that:

• Prophethood (Nubuwwah) is not a reward or a status earned by effort — it is a divine appointment based on Allah’s perfect knowledge and wisdom.
• Allah alone decides whom to entrust with the responsibility of revelation and leadership of nations.

Were There Any Female Prophets?

The answer is negative. In the Qur’an, Allah mentions a long line of Prophets, all of whom are men:

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا نُّوحِي إِلَيْهِم

“And We sent not before you [O Muhammad] except men to whom We revealed (Our message).” — Surah An-Naḥl (16:43), repeated also in Al-Anbiyā’ (21:7)

The Arabic word "rijāl" means mature males, leaving no ambiguity that Prophethood was restricted to men.

Instead of Prophethood, Women Chosen for Other Divine Roles

Although no woman was a Prophet (Nabi), the Qur’an honors women in other sacred ways. They were recipients of divine inspiration (waḥy) — not in the legislative or prophetic sense, but in a special spiritual sense:

• Maryam (Mary) - Chosen above all women, addressed by angels, given glad tidings of Jesus (ʿĪsā A.S.) - Surah Al-Imran 3:42–45, Maryam 19:16–21
• Mother of Mūsā - Allah inspired her to place baby Mūsā in the river — “We inspired the mother of Moses” - Surah Al-Qaṣaṣ 28:7
• Āsiyah (wife of Pharaoh) - Role model of faith — her prayer is recorded in the Qur’an.  - Surah At-Taḥrīm 66:11
• Sarah (wife of Ibrāhīm) - Angels gave her glad tidings of a son (Isaac) - Surah Hūd 11:71–72

So while women were not Prophetesses, they were recipients of revelation and divine favor — an exalted status of spiritual excellence (wilāyah).

Scholarly Explanation

Classical scholars like Ibn Kathīr, Al-Qurṭubī, Ibn Ḥazm, and An-Nawawī unanimously hold:

“All Prophets were men, as explicitly stated in the Qur’an (16:43, 21:7).

Women, however, reached the highest ranks of faith, truthfulness, and nearness to Allah.”

Ibn Kathīr (in Tafsīr, vol. 4) writes: “Although Maryam and the mother of Mūsā received divine communication, it was ilhām (inspiration), not nubuwwah (prophethood).”

Wisdom Behind Limiting Prophethood to Men

This is a matter of divine wisdom, not superiority. Some wisdoms scholars mention include:

• Public Leadership and Physical Hardship:
• Prophethood required public leadership, including preaching to large crowds, leading armies, and serving as a judge, which were roles more commonly associated with men. 
• The job was physically and emotionally demanding, requiring constant travel and confrontation with adversaries, which, according to some interpretations, was more feasible for men.
• And in line of duty as prophets, they had to confront tyrants, arrogant audience, that sometimes even resulted into physical assaults and extreme mental and psychological torture.  Like for instance, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was stoned so much that his whole body was covered in blood. Such harsh treatment is far above the physical endurance of women.
• Thus, in historical contexts, a woman prophet might have been seen as more vulnerable and susceptible to attack or harassment from disbelievers than a male prophet. 
• Therefore, Allah, in His mercy, did not assign women such burdens.
• Preservation of Family and Modesty: A woman’s role in nurturing future generations and maintaining moral sanctity is itself a pillar of faith.
• Biological and social limitations:
• Natural female biological functions such as menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth, and infant care were seen as taking away from the time and energy required to fulfill the duties of a prophet. 
• Some traditions also suggest that women were typically under the control of male family members, which would have hindered their ability to be an independent leader of a society.  
• Complementary, Not Hierarchical:
• Islam never devalues women.
• The Qur’an equally promises: “Indeed, I do not waste the work of any worker among you, whether male or female.” — 3:195
• That is both genders are equal in worth, but different in duties.

Although, women were not chosen as prophetess, their spiritual equality with men is affirmed in Islamic teachings, which emphasize that women have souls and can achieve salvation.  They are sometimes more convincing than men to make the audience understand. 

Prophetesses vs. Awliyā (Saintly Women)

Although, the status of women is not reported in the theological history, there have been many a woman that surpassed men in piety.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has been quoted as saying:

“Many men attained perfection, but among women none attained perfection except Maryam, the daughter of ʿImrān, and Āsiyah, the wife of Pharaoh.” — (Sahih al-Bukhari 3411, Sahih Muslim 2431)

This means: although no woman became a Prophetess, some women attained perfection of faith and moral excellence equal to the greatest of men.

Summary

Let us summarize what has been narrated above to understand the Divine wisdom of not appionting women as prophetesses:

• Prophethood is a trust, not a privilege
• Prophethood is not a measure of value; taqwā (piety) is.
• Allah appoints messengers according to wisdom, not status. Thus all Prophets were men — by Allah’s decree (16:43).
• Women are honored differently, not less - Their spiritual rank and role in preserving faith are immense. 
• Divine inspiration continues in lesser forms - True believers,  both men or women, can be guided by ilhām (inner light from Allah). Women like Maryam, Āsiyah, and Mūsā’s mother received divine inspiration.
• Respect all divine choices - Submission (Islam) means accepting Allah’s decisions as wise and just.
• The Qur’an upholds full spiritual equality of men and women
• Each man and women with distinct, honored roles. 
• “Whoever does good — male or female — while he is a believer, We will surely grant him a good life.” — Surah An-Naḥl (16:97)

Let us now watch an informative video on the subject:

This post is not a detailed study on the status of women inn the theological domain, but just a bird's eye view of a very in-depth study carried out many a scholars from all Divine religions. For those wanting more information, some of the links to this question are given in the links mentioned below.

Photo | Resource References for more on the subject: | 1 | 2 | 3 |

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing. one may also consult local Muslim Imaan of the masjid for more clarification.

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Posted in: Gender Discrimination,Islam,Prophethood,Rights,The Rebuttal,Women