Here's a short and sweet rebuttal to the claim:
Islam reveres Mary (Peace and Blessings be Upon Her) as a symbol of virtue and devotion, mentioning her more in the Quran than the Bible does - there is even a chapter named after her.
Discussion
True. Islam deserves major kudos for accepting much of Christianity, including Mary. However, it’s hard to see societies where women must go around wearing black bags, and in many cases aren’t even able to drive a car, and view it as balanced wrt masculine and feminine aspects of God.
Cultural practices like forced veiling or denying women basic freedoms are decadent cultural distortions, not rooted in Islam, and the fallacy of cultural relativism often excuses these by conflating them with religious doctrine.
During the Islamic Golden Age, Muslim women made extraordinary contributions:
Fatima al-Fihri founded the world’s first university, Al-Qarawiyyin, in 859 CE, while others excelled in fields like astronomy, medicine, and poetry, shaping a legacy of intellectual brilliance.
Islam itself granted women progressive rights—the ability to own property, inherit wealth, and pursue education—rights that were revolutionary for their time.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) emphasized this dignity by declaring “The best among you are those who are good and kind to women,”- a teaching that underscores compassion over control.
Today, Muslim women wield agency in modesty, choosing whether to wear the hijab or not, a personal decision reflecting faith and identity.
In nations like Malaysia and Turkey, women—veiled or unveiled—rise to power as CEOs and presidents.
Mary (peace and blessings be upon her), is often depicted wearing a veil or hijab herself, embodying modesty and grace.
The Quran warns against misuse of faith, stating: There is no compulsion in religion” (2:256) - a clear rebuke to those who perpetuate oppression under Islam’s name.
At its core, Islam reiterates the message of Jesus (peace and blessings be upon him) and every messenger that came before: there is no deity worthy of worship but the One True God, The Most-Merciful, Most Compassionate.