Assalamu alaykum - The Quran Encourages Women to Speak with Dignity

Assalamu alaykum, Some people claim Islam tells women to stay quiet, but the Quran actually says the opposite. Take the verse addressing the Prophet’s wives (33:32). It’s often misused to argue that women shouldn’t speak, yet the verse itself makes clear guidance about how to speak, not to be silent: يَا نِسَاءَ النَّبِيِّ O wives of the Prophet, لَسْتُنَّ كَأَحَدٍ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ You are not like any other women, إِنِ اتَّقَيْتُنَّ If you have taqwa. فَلَا تَخْضَعْنَ بِالْقَوْلِ So do not be submissive or soft in speech, فَيَطْمَعَ الَّذِي فِي قَلْبِهِ مَرَضٌ Lest the one in whose heart is a disease be tempted, وَقُلْنَ قَوْلًا مَعْرُوفًا And speak a good, appropriate word. You can’t use this to say “don’t speak” because the verse literally ends by commanding them to speak (وَقُلْنَ). The phrase فَلَا تَخْضَعْنَ بِالْقَوْلِ is better understood as guidance on style: don’t lower your tone, don’t speak with submissiveness or a bowed demeanour. The root خَضَعَ elsewhere in the Quran (e.g., 26:4) describes necks bowed down - that image shows physical lowering and submission. So here Allah is telling the Prophet’s wives to avoid that submissive posture in speech. Put simply: lift your head, speak with confidence and dignity, and use words that are good and appropriate. The command وَقُلْنَ قَوْلًا مَعْرُوفًا reinforces that - speak, but speak rightly. This isn’t just for the Prophet’s wives alone. The Quran also describes the Prophet’s wives as mothers to the believers (33:6), and we learn from the example of women in our families - their speech, strength, and character. So the lesson applies to all believing women, and to men as well: use your voice respectfully, clearly, and confidently. Wassalamu alaykum.