There are two verses that are taken into consideration by the atheist and traditional people as proofs for the superiority of men to women. Let us check 34th verse of Nisa Surah firstly.

Men guard women. For this reason Allah granted different capabilities and features for each of them. (Nisa Surah, 34)

The term ”erricalü kavvamune alennisai” in the verse has been translated as ‘’men dominate women’’ in most of the interpretations instead of ‘’men guard women’’ or ‘’men observe women’’.

Although most of the interpreters translate the word ‘’kavvam’’ in this verse as ‘’dominant, superior’’, they translate the same word in the 135th verse of Nisa Surah and 8th verse of Maide Surah as ‘’obsreve the justice, guard the justice’’.

Again in the same verse, the term ”feddelellahu badehum ala badin” means ‘’we granted different capabilities and features for each of them’’. But in most of the interpretations it is translated as ‘’Allah made some of the men superior to some of the women’’. If the verse had contained the meaning of ‘’Allah made some of the men superior to some of the women’’, it would have been; faddalellahur ricae alen nisai.

If the pronoun ‘’hum’’ in the word ‘’badehum’’ (some of) in the verse is addressed to men only, the meaning becomes: Allah made some of the men superior to some other. This interpretation conflicts with the verse.

If you address the pronoun hum to group that consists of men and women, the meaning becomes: Allah made some of the men and women superior to some other.

Same words are used in Nisa Surah 32nd verse and Rad Surah 4th verse. But they translated it here as ‘’some men superior to some women’’. The meaning of the verse is ‘’Allah granted different capabilities and features for each of them’’. There is no sexual discrimination. The true translation of the verse is as follows.

Men guard women. For this reason Allah granted different capabilities and features for each of them. The men is responsible of earning a living… (Nisa Surah, 34)

Another verse shown as proof of the male superiority is Bakara 228. When you take into consideration just the last part of the verse and ignore the first part, it may mean as if man is superior to women. But you see that the meaning is very different when you read the whole verse. Let us check the verse;

Divorced women, will wait for three months without getting married. If they believe in Allah and the judgment day, they should not conceal the creature of Allah in their wombs. If they like to make peace during this period, their husbands are entitled to take them firstly. Since men have some rights over women, women also have some rights over men. The husbands have priority over their wives. Allah I strong and wise. (Bakara Surah, 228)

The verse tells about the situation of the divorced men and women. The woman has to wait for three months after divorce and if it is realized that she is pregnant, the father of the baby has priority in marrying her comparing to other men.

Allah says in the verse, ”No matter if a man or woman, if a believer does a rightful act, we grant him a nice life and award him with the best against his rightful act.” (Nahl Surah, 97). Men and women are equal in terms of acts. ”The most superior of you before Allah, (regardless of race or family) is that of the most devotion.” (Hucurat Surah, 13)

As a result men are not superior to women, but they guard women. Quran mentions as ”believer men and believer women”. Nobody is superior to the other. Superiority is according to devotion. And that is before Allah.

Believer men and believer women are protectors of each other. They do the good and abstain from the bad, they pray accordingly, grant alms and obey Allah and his Prophet. These are the people to whom Allah will show mercy… ( Tevbe Surah, 71)