‘Abd-al-Rahman bin Nasir al-Barrak is clearly a Misunderstander of Islam. Surely Honest Ibe Hooper or Boy Reza Aslan would be happy to travel to Saudi Arabia to straighten him out.
“Saudi Sheikh Rejects Equality Between Muslims and Infidels, Men and Women,” from Translating Jihad, January 12:
Saudi Sheikh, ‘Abd-al-Rahman bin Nasir al-Barrak explains that there is no equality in Islam, or at least not in the way the West and the Human Rights Charter defines it. (See original Arabic here.)
Fatwa title: What is the ruling on the saying uttered by some people: “Islam is a religion of equality”?
Fatwa no. 38610, 7 Oct 2010
Answer: Praise be to God. Many people have spoken the phrase, “Islam is a religion of equality.” They should know that this statement is heinous and false. Some Muslims may say it out of good intentions, seeking to praise and glorify Islam. Perhaps they don’t know the real truth behind this phrase. This phrase is spoken by some whimsical people, who thereby reach out for purposes that are contrary to the law of Islam, such as the equality of rights between Muslims and infidels, and between men and women. They do this for the infidels, running behind their ways and their calls. But God hath differentiated between men and women in terms of rights, duties, and judgments. He hath also differentiated between Muslims and infidels in terms of judgments and penalties. The universal, legitimate, and penal Sunnah of God recognizes the differences–this is common sense. The Qur’an is frank in rejecting equality among things that are different. The Most High said: “Not equal are the blind and the seeing, nor the darknesses and the light, nor the shade and the heat, and not equal are the living and the dead…” [Qur’an 35:19-22]. He also said, “Are those who know equal to those who do not know? Only they will remember who are people of understanding” [Qur’an 39:9]. […] The Almighty also said, “The woman is not like the man.” He also said regarding the inheritance of sons and brothers, “The man receives the fortune of two women.” […]
There are two issues here which are defined and called for by the UN, and which it requires every member nation to apply, specifically targeting Muslims. The first issue is regarding the difference between Muslims and infidels. It is known that this contradicts the shari’a of Islam, in terms of retribution, inheritance, marriage, brotherhood, and loyalty. […] The call for equality between Muslims and infidels has been made in conferences and seminars under the banner of humanitarianism and the like. Branching out from this is the call for coexistence, religious dialogue, and world peace, by which they deceive the Muslims into giving up the law of jihad in the path of God, and God’s requirement of disloyalty to the unbelievers.
The second issue: the call for equality between men and women. The UN issued this in a document entitled, “Preventing Discrimination Against Women,” […]
God hath differentiated between men and women in the shari’a of Islam, required by their natures and legacy. [He hath differentiated] among them in inheritance and testimony, in the cordiality of a man toward a woman, in rights in marriage, in clothing, in comings and goings, in travel, in mandate, and in responsibilities. […]