Whenever the issue of women
in Islam arises, western critics without hesitation assume that all Muslim
women are oppressed. They make these unfounded allegations and accusations
with a superficial knowledge of what the true teachings of Islam is all
about. The question then arises whether these critics write these outlandish
fabrications of the truth against Islam out of sincere ignorance or to
demoralize the true nature of Islam. I truly believe it is a combination
of both with more of the latter.
One of the reasons
why non Muslims believe that Muslim women are oppressed is because of the
modest standard in their clothing. This is very surprising because we were
always taught from the West to never judge a person by the clothes they
wear. Thus, they equate modest clothing with oppression. One then must
ask himself,"Who ordained women to dress modestly?" All Muslims believe
it was God. Therefore, they must adhere to God's Will without any hesitation.
When comparing Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam, all agree that God created both women and men.
Disagreement quickly follows with the first man, Adam and the first woman,
Eve. When we look at Christianity (Bible-Genesis 3:6-17) and the
Quran (Quran-Al-'Araf: 19-23), we come up with the following essential
differences:
1) The Quran, contrary
to the Bible, places equal blame on both Adam and Eve. In the Quran, Eve
was neither a seducer nor deceiver.
2) In Islam there is
no difference between true believers, whether you are a man or woman, as
far as their relationship to God is concerned.
"Whoever works righteousness, man
or woman, and has faith, verily, to him will We give a new life, a life
that is good and pure, and We will bestow on such their reward according
to the best of their actions."(Al-Nahl:97)
3) Islam says that both male and female were
created from a single source.
"O mankind! Revere your Gaurdian-Lord,
Who created you from a single person."( The Women:1)
Also, notice the name of
the chapter that contains the verse above. It is called "The Women".
There is no chapter in the Quran that is named "The Men".Also, there is
no chapter in the Bible called "The Women".
Upon examining Eve's
legacy, all throughout the Judeo-Christian heritage, you find a negative
image of women in general. This negativity is a result from the temptress
image of Eve portrayed in the Bible. She has been given the appearance
of a seducer, temptress, as well as a deceiver. From the beginning, the
Judeo-Christian religions placed total blame on Eve. According to their
scriptures, God said to Eve: "I will greatly increase your pains in
childbearing." This implies that God is
punishing Eve as well as the entire female population for Eve's sin. God,
according to the Holy Quran, punishes no one for another's faults. Jewish
rabbis list nine curses inflicted upon women as a result of Eve's sin:
"To the women He
gave nine curses and death: the burden of the blood of menstruation and
the blood of virginity; the burden of pregnancy; the burden of childbirth;
the burden of bringing up children; her head is covered as one in mourning;
she pierces her ear like a permanent slave or slave girl who serves her
master; she is not to be believed after a witness; and after everything-death."
(Leonard J. Swindler, Women in Judaism: The Status of women in formative
Judaism Metuchen, N.J: Scarecrow Press, 1976 pg. 155) Part of the Hebrew
literature, which is found in the Catholic Bible, quotes the following,"no
wickedness comes anywhere near the wickedness of a woman.... Sin began
with woman and thanks to her we all must die." (Ecclesiasticus 25:19-24) In the daily morning
prayers, religious Orthodox Jewish men recite the following: "Blessed
be God King of the universe that Thou has not made me a Woman." In Christianity, Biblical
Eve's sin has played a pivotal role in faith. Due to her disobedience to
God, Christians feel that Jesus Christ's mission on earth is needed. The
Christian's faith holds that Eve is totally responsible for her sin as
well as the sin of Adam, and eventually to the death of Jesus
Christ. St.Terullian, while
talking to his best beloved sisters' in faith, blatantly said," You
destroyed so easily God's image, man. On account of your desert even the
Son of God had to die." (The Gospel according to Woman[London: Elm
Tree Books, 1986] pg. 52-62). The great Christian
reformer Martin Luther used to say," If they become tired or even die,
that does not matter. Let them die in childbirth, that's why they are here." As you can see when
it comes to Adam and Eve, Islam is more impartial than the other religions.
It does not fault the entire women race for Eve's fall. Since men and women
both came from the same essence, they are equal in their humanity.
When it comes to female
or male gender religious attitude is present as well. The Catholic Bible
does say explicitly that, "The birth of a daughter is a loss."(Ecclesiasticus:
22:3) In Levitcus 12:
2-5 we have "If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child:
then she shall be unclean seven days...but if she bear a maid child, then
she shall be unclean two weeks.." The idea of gender
quality in Islam is emphasized by the non superiority of either sex over
the other:
"To God belongs the Dominion of the
heavens and the earth. He creates what He wills(and plans). He bestows
(children) male or female according to His Will (and plan). (42:49) Before Islam, pagan
Arabs used to practice female infanticide, the killing of newborn females.
Islam abolished this. In the Noble Quran we have:
"When news is brought
to one of them, of (the birth of) a female (child) his face darkens, and
he is filled with inward grief! With shame does he hide himself from his
people, because of bad news he has had! Shall he retain it on (sufferance
and) contempt or bury it in the dust? Ah! What an evil (choice) they decide
on! In Islam there is no
distinction between boy and girl (In fact, a recent discovery made while
studying the mathematical aspect of the Quran shows that the word "man"
and "woman" both appear the same amount of times in it. This is probably
Allah's way of showing us that men and women are equal. To find out more
about these miracles, go to: Miracles
of Allah.) However, custom and tradition in the Arab world emphasize
the male. This is not the fault of Islam, but rather the misapplication
sometimes brought about because of attachment to traditions.
In the Quran, it was
revealed that both male and female offsprings are both gifts from Allah.
One should not forget that biologically speaking it is the male who determines
the sex of the child. So if it is a boy or a girl, it is due to the man's
X or Y chromosome.
When it comes to education,
there is also a great distinction between the three religions. In Judaism,
the Torah is the Law. However, according to the Talmud," women are exempt
from the study of the Torah." Many Jewish rabbis declare," Whoever
teaches his daughter Torah is as though he taught her obscenity."(Denise
L. Carmody, "Judaism, in Arvind Sharma", ed.,op.,ct.,197*) According to the New
Testament, "let your women keep silent in the churches for it is not
permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience,
as also saith the law, and if they will learn anything, let them ask their
husbands at home: FOR IT IS A SHAME FOR A WOMAN TO SPEAK IN THE CHURCH."
(Corinthians14:34-35) The question then arises,"How
can a woman educate themselves if they are not allowed to speak?" Intellectually,
she would be closed minded and this, in essence, makes her submissive.
Islam encourages parents
to educate both the boys as well as the girls. Teach them religion and
what's right and what's wrong. However, the education of women should be
in line and not conflict with Islamic teachings.
With education comes
the right to be heard: to voice your opinion. Women have a right to heard
and plead their case. Allah assured this with Surat Al-Mujadila,
or "The Woman who pleads": "God has indeed
heard (and accepted) the statement of the woman who pleads with thee concerning
her husband and carries her complaint (in prayer) to God: And God (always)
hears the arguments between both sides among you: for God hears ands sees(all
things)."(Al-Mujadila:1) The Prophet Mohammed
(PBUH) has been quoted in a hadith as saying,"seeking knowledge is obligatory
on every Muslim man and Muslim woman." In Islam, women along with men
are equal in the pursuit of knowledge and education. Women have equal access
to education as men because they are responsible for the education and
upbringing of the new generation. The declaration in the above hadith that
was made by the Prophet (PBUH) was and has been implemented by Muslims
throughout history. Aisha, the Prophet's wife, was considered one of the
most influential religious references. She later became a scholar and one
of the highest religious authorities.
A very significant
difference between the three religions is the question of the female inheritance.
Upon viewing the Holy Bible, Numbers 27:1-11, a wife is given no
share in her husband's estate, while he is her first heir, even before
her sons. If a male heir exists then the female cannot inherit.
On the other hand,
Muslim women, whether she is a wife,mother, sister, or daughter receive
a certain share upon the death of her father of kin.
"From what is left
by parents and those nearest related there is a share for men and a share
for women, whether the property be small or large,- a determinate share."(The
Women:7) For more precise ratios
and portions that is allocated to the heirs, read "The Women":11-12.
Even if the deceased makes a will depriving her, Islamic law will prevail
and will not allow this injustice to occur.
A very misunderstood
issue of Islamic female inheritance by the West is in many instances that
the man receives two shares whereas the woman gets one share.Islam, in
fact, raised the status of women, for previously, daughters had inherited
nothing. However, the critics say that Islam gives preference to men over
women. The explanation for this is the following:
1) In Islam, a woman is so dignified that
neither she nor her parents have to present gifts in order to attract potential
husbands. It is the groom who must present her with a marriage gift, her
dowry. This is even part of the marriage contract. All gifts received by
the bride is considered her private property to her disposal and only hers.
She even retains these gifts if a divorce occurs later on.
The Muslim husband
is charged with the complete survival and maintenance of his family, including
wife, children, and other needy relations. This is due to the fact that
Islam vehemently advocates family life. It is his duty by Law to assure
all financial responsibilities. It is his duty to contribute to all needy
and good causes in his society. All economical burdens are borne by him
and him alone.
2) The wife's property and earning are
under her full control and for her personal use since her and her children's
maintenance are her husband's responsibility. She is financially secure
and provided for. If she is a wife, her husband is her provider. If she
is a mother, it is her son. If she is a daughter then it is her father
and if she is a sister, it is her brother and so forth.
3) In Islam, a women is a completely independent
personality. She can even make a contract or bequest her maiden name. Therefore,
any extra money that she may earn from a neutral source, something extra
is granted to her. However, if she desires to help her husband financially
she is always free to do so as well and get rewarded for it, God willing.
So we see that we have
a male heir that is burdened with the complete financial responsibilities
and liabilities of providing for and maintaining the family. Not only his
immediate family, wife, and children but also his father, mother, sisters,
and brothers. On the other hand, we have a female who has no financial
burdens or obligations. Islam gives the man a larger portion of the
inherited property to help him meet his challenges and social responsibilities
without leaving or depriving the female. Thus, satisfying both.
In certain civil contracts,
bearing witness is required. In some instances, two men are required or
one man and two women. This does not mean that Islam belittles women. We
go back to the core of Islam which places great emphasis on family life.
The women are the keepers of the home with the primary responsibility of
raising the children. Men deal with the outside world more. Thus he has
more practical experience than women do.
Thus, the requirement
that one man verses two women is needed assures an honest transaction from
a lack of experience that the female may not have. It is a precautionary
step to guarantee proper dealings between people.
The Quran may instruct
the Muslim believer during the business transactions to obtain two men
witnesses or one man and two women. However, in some situations, a woman's
testimony can even invalidate the testimony of a man. For example, if a
man accuses his wife of unchastity, not being pure or a virgin, he is required
by the Quran to solemnly swear five times as evidence of the wife's guilt
as well as to produce four witnesses instead of the regular two. If the
wife, on the other hand, denies and swears similarly five times, she is
not considered guilty and either case the marriage is dissolved.
"And for those who launch a charge
against their spouses, and have (in support) no evidence but their own,
their solitary evidence (can be received) if they bear witness four times
(with an oath) by God that they are solemnly telling the truth. And the
fifth (oath) (should be) that they solemnly invoke the curse of God on
themselves if they tell a lie. But it would avert the punishment from the
wife, if she bears witness four times (with an oath) by God, that (her
husband) is telling a lie. And the fifth (oath) should be that she solemnly
invokes the wrath of God on herself if (her accuser) is telling the truth."(Al-Nur:
6-9) On the other hand,
women were not allowed to bear witness in early Jewish society. Many rabbis
justify this by reciting Genesis 18:9-16, which leads one to blame
Sarah, Abraham's wife, for lying.
In Deuteronomy 22:12-21,
if a husband accuses his wife of not being a virgin and her parents were
able to prove her innocence, the husband will only be fined. One hundred
shekels ($20) and he must not divorce his wife. Thus, she is forced to
live in misery with a man who slandered her for the rest of her life!
Now we come to the
sensitive issue of polygamy,which everyone believes that it started with
the Arabs. The Bible never condemned the issue of polygamy, having
multiple wives. Let the Bible speak: EXODUS 21:14" if he takes
him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall
her not diminish." 2 SAMUEL 5:13 "After he left
Hebron David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem and more sons
and daughters were born to him." GENESIS 4:19 " And Lamech took
unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other
Zillah." 1 KINGS 11:3 " He (Solomon)
had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines..." Abraham, Jacob, the
Judges, David, and Solomon all had more than one wife. In Deuteronomy
17:17, the king is warned not to multiply wives;later, the regulations
fixed the number at eighteen for a king and four for an ordinary man.
The Mormons regard
polygamy as a divine institution. They feel it helps to have both a career
and family and the second wife can assist with the upbringing of the children.
Jesus, in the New Testament,
has not spoken against polygamy through the Jews of his society who practiced
it. Jesus himself observed the law strictly. Furthermore, the Talmud advises
a maximum of four wives.
From the above facts
one can deduce that polygamy did not originate from either the Muslims
or the Arabs. It was practiced and accepted by other religions and cultures
way before Islam. Also, polygamy was considered to be a solution for Germany
in 1948. At that time, there was a high unbalanced ration in Germany after
World War II between male and female.
Many African societies
today still practice polygamy. Many women there feel happy and feel that
polygamy is a beneficial experience of co-wives cooperates with each other.
Because Islam is a
universal religion, polygamy is considered a remedy. It can solve many
of societies' problems with unbalanced sex ratios, orphans, and widows.
I ask the world," Which is more dignified to a woman in a civilized society,
to have an accepted and respected second wife or to have adultery, fornication,
and a thousand illegitimate children running around?"
Because of these moral
reasons, Islam accepted polygamy, but with a restriction.
"If ye fear ye shall not be able to
deal justly with orphans, marry women of your choice,two, or three, or
four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them),
then only one, or (a captive) that your right hand possess. That will be
more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice."( The Women:
3) The occasion that warranted
the promulgation of this verse was the Battle of Uhud. The Muslim community
was left to deal with the aftermath of war, mainly orphans and widows.
However, in Islam, polygamy (as said before) exists with a restriction.
"Ye are never able
to be fair and just as between women, even if it is your ardent desire:
but turn not away (from a woman) altogether, so as to leave her (as it
were) hanging (in the air). If ye come to a friendly understanding, and
practice self-restraint, God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (The
Women:129) This means you may
marry up to four but must treat all of your four wives with equality and
fairness. If you buy a dress for one you must buy one for the others.There
is even a hadith, that says:"Anyone who has two wives and does not treat
them equally will come on the Day of Resurrection dragging one part of
his body which will be hanging down." (Ibn Habban, Hakim). Before Islam,
women were deserted and disposed of right and left.Islam made the marriage
service into a firm contract giving them security.
When does a man have
the right to marry a second, third or fourth wife in Islam? If the first
wife has a sickness that was incurable and deprived the husband from having
a family as well as a decent life, marriage to a second is possible. If
there was a fertility problem and she could not have kids is another time
when a man has the right to marry another. Allah really discourages polygamy.
He did not intend for polygamy to be for individuals seeking lust. Furthermore,
Allah knew that materialistically, fairness could be accomplished by a
husband towards his wife. However, with regards to love, fairness could
never be accomplished.
For this reason, you
will find that the practice of polygamy within the Muslim community is
very rare. Muslim men are more strictly monogamous. One can safely say
that the proportion of polygamous Muslim marriages is far less than the
rate of extra-marital affairs in the West.
In conclusion, we see
that women in Islam are really not oppressed. The Western media is merely
trying to destroy Islam with negative propaganda. Insha'Allah (If God wills)
they will fail.
