This Is Islam Uncovered

Why No Women Were Prophets in Islam — And Why That’s a Theological Problem

A Critical Analysis of Gender, Revelation, and Exclusion from Divine Leadership

“We did not send before you except men to whom We revealed the message.”
— Qur’an 16:43 & 21:7

Islam claims to be a universal religion that values all believers equally. Yet when it comes to the highest spiritual office — prophethood — women are completely excluded.

No female prophet. No female messenger. Not even a female warner.

Let’s critically examine the rationale, the theological contradictions, and the real-world consequences of this exclusion.

📜 The Standard Islamic View

Islamic scholars across Sunni and Shi’a traditions agree:

All prophets and messengers (rusul and anbiya) were men.
Women, regardless of their faith, knowledge, or character, were never chosen by God to deliver divine revelation.

Main proof texts:

Qur’an 16:43 / 21:7
“And We sent not before you [O Muhammad], except men to whom We revealed Our message.”

Tafsir al-Tabari, Ibn Kathir, and Qurtubi all interpret these verses as universal — i.e., women are categorically excluded from prophethood.

🧠 What’s the Problem?

🔸 1. Contradicts the Qur’an’s Own Criteria for Leadership

“The most noble among you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous (taqwa).”
— Surah 49:13

If righteousness is the sole criterion, then women — who can be as righteous as men — should theoretically qualify for prophecy.

But Islam adds an unspoken rule:

“Righteousness, plus being male.”

This is a contradiction. Either God chooses the most spiritually qualified people — or He filters by gender.

🔸 2. Mary Meets All the Criteria for a Prophet

The Qur’an praises Maryam (Mary) more than any other woman:

“And [mention] when the angels said, 'O Mary, indeed Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of all worlds.'”
— Surah 3:42

She receives divine revelation,
Is visited by angels,
Submits to divine command,
And even delivers a divine message to her people.

In fact, she fulfills more prophetic criteria than many named male prophets.

And yet… she is never called a nabiya (female prophet). Why?

Because she’s a woman. And that’s the only disqualifying factor.

🔸 3. Divine Exclusion of Half of Humanity

Out of the 124,000 prophets that Islam claims were sent, not one was female?

Not one woman — in all of human history — was considered fit by Allah to:

Deliver a message,
Warn a people,
Lead a spiritual community?

This isn’t equality. This is exclusion.

🔸 4. Other Abrahamic Traditions Recognize Female Prophets

Islam often claims to confirm the message of previous scriptures — yet both Judaism and Christianity acknowledge female prophets:

Deborah – Prophet and judge of Israel (Judges 4:4)
Miriam – Sister of Moses, called a prophetess (Exodus 15:20)
Huldah – Consulted on Torah law by male priests (2 Kings 22:14)
Anna – Prophetess in the New Testament (Luke 2:36)

So Islam’s refusal to recognize any female prophets marks a clear theological departure — and not a progressive one.

🔸 5. The Apologetic Excuse: “Prophethood Is a Burden”

Some apologists argue that women were spared prophethood to protect them from the hardship and public criticism prophets faced.

This is patronizing for two reasons:

It suggests that women are too weak to handle spiritual leadership.
It contradicts the fact that many prophets (e.g., Yahya, Zakariya) did not lead armies or wage wars — they were spiritual guides, not generals.

Also, Islam claims martyrdom, hijab, and childbirth are burdens that bring women honor. Why, then, is prophecy too much?

🔥 Final Verdict: Prophetic Exclusion Reveals Systemic Gender Bias

Islam Claims	But Then Says
God is perfectly just	But only chooses men to deliver revelation
The most righteous are the most honored	But not if they’re female
Women are equal in spirituality	But never allowed to spiritually lead
Mary is the greatest woman	But not good enough to be a prophet

This is not divine wisdom. It’s institutionalized patriarchy elevated to the level of doctrine.

A truly just and all-knowing God would not systematically exclude half of humanity from the most honored spiritual office.

📚 Sources:

Qur’an 16:43, 21:7, 49:13, 3:42–47
Tafsir: Al-Tabari, Ibn Kathir, Qurtubi
Hadith: Musnad Ahmad, Ibn Hibban (on 124,000 prophets)
Women and Gender in Islam – Leila Ahmed
Qur’an and Woman – Amina Wadud