Do women have soul according to Islam or its various sects?

Sources

• ✓ 33:35 · Al-Ahzaab

  33:35 · Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall

  إِنَّ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ وَٱلْمُسْلِمَٰتِ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَٰتِ وَٱلْقَٰنِتِينَ وَٱلْقَٰنِتَٰتِ وَٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ وَٱلصَّٰدِقَٰتِ وَٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ وَٱلصَّٰبِرَٰتِ وَٱلْخَٰشِعِينَ وَٱلْخَٰشِعَٰتِ وَٱلْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ وَٱلْمُتَصَدِّقَٰتِ وَٱلصَّٰٓئِمِينَ وَٱلصَّٰٓئِمَٰتِ وَٱلْحَٰفِظِينَ فُرُوجَهُمْ وَٱلْحَٰفِظَٰتِ وَٱلذَّٰكِرِينَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرًۭا وَٱلذَّٰكِرَٰتِ أَعَدَّ ٱللَّهُ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةًۭ وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًۭا

  Lo! men who surrender unto Allah, and women who surrender, and men who believe and women who believe, and men who obey and women who obey, and men who speak the truth and women who speak the truth, and men who persevere (in righteousness) and women who persevere, and men who are humble and women who are humble, and men who give alms and women who give alms, and men who fast and women who fast, and men who guard their modesty and women who guard (their modesty), and men who remember Allah much and women who remember - Allah hath prepared for them forgiveness and a vast reward.

• ✓ Tafsir Ibn Kathir on 33:35

  Sunni

  Tafsir Ibn Kathir · 33:35

  Ibn Kathir reports from Imam Ahmad a narration concerning the context of the verse (33:35). Umm Salamah, the wife of the Prophet ﷺ, spoke to him, saying that she asked why women are not mentioned in the Qur'an as men are. She relates that the Prophet ﷺ responded by reciting this exact verse publicly at the pulpit, mentioning both men and women equally as believers, Muslims, devout, truthful, patient, humble, charitable, fasting, guarding chastity, and remembering Allah frequently. This incident is reported in several chains of transmission by narrators such as Al-Nasa'i, Ibn Jarir, and others, showing the verse was revealed as an answer to the concerns of women who felt omitted in scriptural mention compared to men. Other narrations confirm varying forms of the question women posed to the Prophet ﷺ about being mentioned or not, leading to the revelation of this verse including both masculine and feminine forms. Ibn Kathir highlights that these reports affirm the divine response emphasizing equality in spiritual status and reward between men and women. The commentary then elaborates on the various categories mentioned in the verse, explaining each in the light of Islamic teachings: - "Muslimin and Muslimat" refers to those who submit outwardly to Allah. - "Mu'minin and Mu'minat" (believers) denotes a deeper faith that inhabits the heart, distinguished from mere submission and rejectable is disbelief, as proven by other Quranic verses and Hadith. - "Qanitin and Qanitāt" signify the devoted ones, characterized by obedience and tranquility, with references provided to verses illustrating the state of qunut (humble submission). - "Sadiqin and Sadiqat" means truthful persons, emphasizing sincerity and an absence of lying, noted as a sign of true faith. - "Sabirin and Sabirat" are the patient, enduring trials with steadfastness, explaining that true patience is hardest at first but then becomes easier. - "Khashi'in and Khashi'at" stands for those humble before Allah with awe and reverence. - "Mutasaddiqin and Mutasaddiqat" are those who give charity sincerely, explained as helping the needy out of devotion to Allah, supported by numerous prophetic traditions emphasizing the rewards of charity. - "Sa'imīn and Sa'imāt" (those who fast) cleanse and discipline the body; fasting is a means of purification both physically and spiritually, and a strong aid to control desires. - "Hafizīn furujahum wa hafizat" means those who guard their chastity, preserving themselves from unlawful sexual relations. - "Dhakirin Allah kathiran wa dhakirat" indicates those who remember Allah often, day and night, including a hadith where the Prophet ﷺ said that those who pray two rak'ahs in the night together will be recorded among the frequent remembrancers of Allah. Ibn Kathir highlights multiple rewards and virtues for all these groups, underlining that the verse was a divine affirmation of equal spiritual dignity and reward for men and women who embody these qualities and deeds. Finally, the phrase "Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward" is explained as God having arranged for such believers forgiveness for their sins and eternal reward in Paradise. The passage is rich with hadiths and scholarship emphasizing the importance and virtue of these attributes, encouraging their cultivation in both men and women alike.