I can find more if you want, but here's a start (note, the between verse commentary was written by me):
What Islam says about women.
One particular issue raised in the Quran is lewdness, this is defined in a dictionary as behaviour that is crude and offensive in a sexual way, what I would particularly like to draw reference to here is the different way in which men and women are to be treated if guilty of lewdness.
Surah 4 Ayat 15-16:
“If any of your women are guilty of lewdness, Take the evidence of four witnesses from amongst you against them; and if they testify, confine them to houses until death do claim them, or Allah ordain for them some way.
If two men among you are guilty of lewdness, punish them both. If they repent and amend, Leave them alone; for Allah is Oft-returning, Most Merciful.”
With women they are to be punished as soon as it is decided that they are guilty whereas with men they are to be given the chance to repent. Also note in western society sexual jokes are a common every day thing, under islamic rule these would fall into the category of lewdness, and would be punishable by death through starvation.
On a more positive note it does say that wives cannot be inherited against their will, nor can their dowers be confiscated unless they are guilty of lewdness
Surah 4 Ayat 19:
"O ye who believe! Ye are forbidden to inherit women against their will. Nor should ye treat them with harshness, that ye may Take away part of the dower ye have given them,-except where they have been guilty of open lewdness; on the contrary live with them on a footing of kindness and equity. If ye take a dislike to them it may be that ye dislike a thing, and Allah brings about through it a great deal of good."
On a more negative note the Quran sanctions the beating of wives
Surah 4 Ayat 34:
"Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in absence what Allah would have them guard. As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them, refuse to share their beds, beat them; but if they return to obedience, seek not against them Means: For Allah is Most High, great."
As witnesses one man is worth the same as two women:
Surah 2 Ayat 282:
"O ye who believe! When ye deal with each other, in transactions involving future obligations in a fixed period of time, reduce them to writing Let a scribe write down faithfully as between the parties: let not the scribe refuse to write: as Allah Has taught him, so let him write. Let him who incurs the liability dictate, but let him fear His Lord Allah, and not diminish aught of what he owes. If they party liable is mentally deficient, or weak, or unable Himself to dictate, Let his guardian dictate faithfully, and get two witnesses, out of your own men, and if there are not two men, then a man and two women, such as ye choose, for witnesses, so that if one of them errs, the other can remind her. The witnesses should not refuse when they are called on (For evidence). Disdain not to reduce to writing (your contract) for a future period, whether it be small or big: it is juster in the sight of Allah, More suitable as evidence, and more convenient to prevent doubts among yourselves but if it be a transaction which ye carry out on the spot among yourselves, there is no blame on you if ye reduce it not to writing. But take witness whenever ye make a commercial contract; and let neither scribe nor witness suffer harm. If ye do (such harm), it would be wickedness in you. So fear Allah. For it is G-d that teaches you. And Allah is well acquainted with all things."
According to the Hadith it is perfectly alright to rape women taken as captives during a battle or raid
Sahih Bukhari Volume 3, Book 46, Number 718:
"I saw Abu Said and asked him about coitus interruptus. Abu Said said, "We went with Allah's Apostle, in the Ghazwa of Barli Al-Mustaliq and we captured some of the 'Arabs as captives, and the long separation from our wives was pressing us hard and we wanted to practice coitus interruptus. We asked Allah's Apostle (whether it was permissible). He said, "It is better for you not to do so. No soul, (that which Allah has) destined to exist, up to the Day of Resurrection, but will definitely come, into existence."
“coitus interruptus” of course means having sex but stopping before you ejaculate, the answer from Muhammad saying that only people who are destined to exist will come into existence, as far as I can see is saying that it is fine for the men to have sex with their captives, and not necessary for them to try to not make them pregnant while doing so. If anyone can provide me with an alternative interpretation of this passage please do so.
Also of note is that Muhammad married a 9 year old
Sahih Bukhari Volume 5, Book 58, Number 234:
Narrated Aisha:
"The Prophet engaged me when I was a girl of six (years). We went to Medina and stayed at the home of Bani-al-Harith bin Khazraj. Then I got ill and my hair fell down. Later on my hair grew (again) and my mother, Um Ruman, came to me while I was playing in a swing with some of my girl friends. She called me, and I went to her, not knowing what she wanted to do to me. She caught me by the hand and made me stand at the door of the house. I was breathless then, and when my breathing became Allright, she took some water and rubbed my face and head with it. Then she took me into the house. There in the house I saw some Ansari women who said, "Best wishes and Allah's Blessing and a good luck." Then she entrusted me to them and they prepared me (for the marriage). Unexpectedly Allah's Apostle came to me in the forenoon and my mother handed me over to him, and at that time I was a girl of nine years of age."
Actually there is a disagreement on this matter in the Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari Volume 5, Book 58, Number 236:
Narrated Hisham's father:
"Khadija died three years before the Prophet departed to Medina. He stayed there for two years or so and then he married 'Aisha when she was a girl of six years of age, and he consumed that marriage when she was nine years old."
This suggests that the marriage occurred when Aisha was only 6, but that he didn’t have sex with her until she was 9.
In the Quran it is stated that men can have sex with their wives as much as they want and however they want, nothing is said about the wife’s opinion on the matter.
Surah 2 Ayat 223:
"Your wives are as a tilth unto you; so approach your tilth when or how ye will; but do some good act for your souls beforehand; and fear Allah. And know that ye are to meet Him (in the Hereafter), and give (these) good tidings to those who believe."
