[source: Islam in Focus, p. 

ZAKAT IS TO BE PAID FOR FREEING PRISONERS OF WAR
The Holy Qur'an classifies the due recipients of Zakah as follows...4.) The 
Muslim prisoners of war, to liberate them by payment of ransom money.
[source: Islam in Focus, p. 97]

UNITY OF ALL HUMANITY STEMS FROM COMMON PARENTS, IN ADAM AND EVE
The unity of mankind is conceived in the light of the common parentage of Adam
and Eve. Every human being is a member of the universal family established by 
the First Father and the First Mother, and is entitled therefore to enjoy the
common benefits as he is enjoined to share the common responsibilities. When
people realize that they all belong to Adam and Eve and that these were the
creation of God, there will be no room for racial prejudice or social injustice
or second class citizenship. People will be united in their social behavior as
they are united in nature by the common bond of common parentage. In the Qur'an
and the Traditions of Muhammad there is a constant reminder of this important
fact, the unity of humanity by nature and origin. This is to eliminate racial
pride and claims to national or ethnic superiority, and pave the the way for
genuine brotherhood (Qur'an 4:1, 7:189, 49:10-13).
[source: Islam in Focus, p. 123]

WOMEN ARE IN ABSOLUTELY NO WAY INFERIOR TO MEN, RIGHTS NOT IDENTICAL BUT EQUAL
...there is no ground to imagine that woman is inferior to man. There is no 
ground to assume that she is less important just because her rights are not 
identically the same as his. Had her status been identical with his, she would 
have been simply a duplicate of him, which she is not. The fact that Islam gives 
her equal rights - but not identical - shows that it takes her into due 
consideration, acknowledges her, and recognizes her independent personality.
[source: Islam in Focus, p. 184]

QUR'AN SHOWS EVE NOT PRIMARY CAUSE OF FIRST SIN, BOTH ADAM AND EVE SINNED JOINTLY
The Qur'an makes it very clear that both Adam and Eve were tempted; that they 
both sinned; that God's pardon was granted to both after their repentance; and 
that God addressed them jointly. (2:35-36; 7:19,27; 2-:117-123). In fact the 
Qur'an gives the impression that Adam was more to blame for that First Sin from 
whcih emerged prejudice against woman and suspicion of her deeds. But Islam does 
not justify such prejudice or suspicion because both Adam and Eve were equally 
in error, and if we are to blame Eve we should blame Adam as much or even more.
[source: Islam in Focus, pp. 184-185]

WOMEN'S RIGHTS IN CHRISTENDOM WON BY FORCE AND NOT FROM DIVINE TEACHINGS
The rights of woman of modern times were not granted voluntarily or out of 
kindness to the female. Modern woman reached her prsent position by force, and 
not through natural processes or mutual consent or Divine teachings. She had to 
force her way, and various circumstances came to her aid. Shortage of manpower 
during wars, pressure of economic needs and requirements of industrial 
developments forced woman to get out of her home - to work, to learn, to 
struggle for her livelihood, to appear as an equal to a man, to run her race in 
the course of life side by side with him. She was forced by circumstances and in 
turn she forced herself through and acquired her new status.
[source: Islam in Focus, p. 185]

WHY DO WOMEN STAND BEHIND MEN IN CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER?
The standing of woman in prayers behind man does not indicate in any sense that 
she is inferior to him. Woman, as already mentioned, is exempt from attending 
congregational prayers which are obligatory on man. But if she does attend she 
stands in separate lines made up of women exclusively, just as the under-aged 
children compose separate lines behind the adult men. This is a regulation of 
discipline in prayers, and not a classification of importance. In men's rows the 
head of state stands shoulder to shoulder to the pauper. Men of the highest 
ranks in society stand in prayer side by side with other men of the lowest 
ranks. The order of lines in prayers is introduced to help every one to 
concentrate in his meditation. It is very important because Muslim prayers are 
not simply chanting or the sing-a-song type. They involve actions, motions, 
standing, bowing, prostration, etc. So if men mix with women in the same lines, 
it is possible that something disturbing or distracting may happen. The mind 
will become occupied by something alien to prayer and derailed from the clear 
path of meditation. The result will be a loss of the purpose of prayers, besides 
an offense of adultery committed by the eye, because the eye - by looking at 
forbidden things - can be guilty of adultery as much as the heart itself. 
Moreover, no Muslim man or woman is allowed during prayers to touch the body of 
another person of the opposite sex. If men and women stand side by side in 
prayer they cannot avoid touching each other. Furthermore, when a woman is 
praying in front of a man or beside him, it is very likely that any part of her 
dressed body may become uncovered after a certain motion of bowing or 
prostrating. The man's eyes may happen to to looking at the uncovered part, with 
the result that she will be embarrassed and he will be exposed to distraction or 
possibly evil thoughts. So, to avoid any embarrassment and distraction, to help 
concentrate on meditation and pure thoughts, to maintain harmony and order among 
worshippers, to fulfill the true purpose of prayers, Islam has ordained the 
organization of rows, whereby men stand in front lines, children behind them, 
and women behind the children. Anyone with knowledge of the nature and purpose 
of Muslim prayers can readily understand the wisdom of organizing the lines of 
worshippers in this manner.
[source: Islam in Focus, p. 190]

IN ISLAM, PEOPLE OF EVERY AGE, RANK, STATUS STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, BOWING 
AND PROSTRATING ALIKE BEFORE GOD
In men's rows the head of state stands shoulder to shoulder to the pauper. Men 
of the highest ranks in society stand in prayer side by side with other men of 
the lowest ranks.
[source: Islam in Focus, p. 190]