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Why Islam is really a women-friendly religion
jannah
10/02/00 at 22:13:36
Why Islam is really a women-friendly religion By Ahmed Versi The media has portrayed an image of the Taliban's oppression of women which Westerners have found fascinating and horrifying. What is overlooked is the long history of Islam's gender equality and the many examples around the world of how Islam continues to promote women's opportunities. When Imam Zuhri, a Muslim scholar of the Sunnah (life and practice of the Prophet), in the eighth century, told Qasim ibn Muhammad, a scholar of the Qur'an, that he wished to seek knowledge, Qasim advised him to join the assembly of a well-known woman jurist called Amra bint al-Rahman. Early Islamic histroy is replete with famous women jurists and scholars. Muslim women were famous in all fields of knowledge. Shaykha Shuhda, known as Fakhr al-Nisa, living in the eleventh century, was well known in lieterature, rhetoric, poetry, and history. She gave public lectures in the mosque of Baghdad attended by many 'ulama (scholars). Shaykha Shuhda granted diplomas to many famous men of her time. In the spiritual field, Rabi'a al-Adawiyyah, a great sufi of Basra, in the eighth century, infused the concept of divine love with such intensity that she devoted her whole life to contemplation of God. Khadijah, wife of the Prophet, was a very successful trader. She used her wealth in the way of Islam by helping the poor, in freeing slaves, and propagating the message of the nascent religion. Khadijah was one of many women at that time who ran their own businesses. Women were consulted in the conduct of political affairs by the caliphs (khalifah) from the seventh century right through to the end of the Ottoman empire. For example, Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second caliph, consulted both Shifa bint Abdallah and Samara bint Nuhayk, who worked as inspectors in the market of Madinah. Women were among the first Muslims who were forced to leave their homes because of persecution and then spread the message of Islam. They were also among the first martyrs. In the Qur'an, the main source for Islamic teachings, men and women have absolute parity: "The true believers, both men and women, are friends to each other, they enjoin what is just and forbid what is evil, they attend to their prayers and pay the alms-tax and obey God and his Apostle." The only characteristic which distinguishes and differentiates between human beings in the Qur'an is piety. "Men and women, we have created you from a male and female and divided you into nations and tribes that you might get to know one another, the noblest amongst you in God's sight is he who fears Him most." Both men and women are encouraged to acquire knowledge. The Prophet has said: "The quest for knowledge is obligatory for every Muslim (men and women)." Do we find the high status and equal treatment of women that Islam prescribes? Not in the Western-created and sponsored Taliban where women are barred from participating in public life. Nor can we find it in the pro-Western secular state of Turkey, a country which prides itself on more than 70 years of secularism and "women's emancipation". Muslim women are not allowed to work in government offices, the civil service, government hospitals and judiciary. They are also forbidden from teaching in the government universities. Nor can they take up a seat in the parliament. Why? Because they wear the hijab (head scarf). Yet there are countries where Islamic Law is implemented where the women are empowered. In Sudan, there are 21 women in the parliament. The Federal Supreme Court - the highest judiciary body in Sudan - has three female judges; in the British equivalent body, there are none. These women earn the same pay as their male counterparts; a total of 70 women work in the judiciary. Nor is there any bar against women obtaining positions of power and serving in government. Professor Sit el Nafar Badi, for example, chairs the Industrial Committee of the National Assembly, with 40 men working under her. Yet this is a country where Islamic Law is implemented. So where does the stereotyping of Islam as oppressive to women originate? Why does it receive such attention in the Western media? And why is so little attention given to Islamic countries where women do participate fully in public life? Could it be that the answers to these questions lie in political expediency and a historical desire for the West's political hegemony over the resource-rich Islamic world rather than in a genuine desire to see women uplifted? Ahmed Versi is the Editor of the national newspaper, The Muslim News. The above article appeared in Face to Faith section of The Guardian. Saturday, November, 16, 1996.
NS

Re: Why Islam is really a women-friendly religion
widad
10/02/00 at 23:56:02
slm I have a question here: Why is it that women have to prove that they can participate fully in public life??? I mean no offense Jannah,but this subject has been bothering me for a long time,OK we have to prove to the world that Islam does not oppress the muslim woman and that a muslim woman under Islam does a lot of things,but to ourselves (the women) why is it such a big deal to go public?? We are public figures since Islam has given the mother all the respect and care from her children and we have been given recognition when we got our islamic rights as to marriage and choosing the right man,and we got our rights when Islam prohibited the burying of girl infants. Allah subhanahu wataala has given the muslim women the best Public Figure:as a wife and as a mother and has encouraged our education,for a very important reason,that reason is that a muslim woman is the mentor and the maker of the Ummah. If every mother left the house to become a judge and a teacher and a member of the parliament,who will stay at home to make the mujahids and the leaders of the islamic ummah. Here, there are no half measures you can't have it all:I can have  a job and take care of the kids. If you have kids,stay with them until they are at least of an age to got to school,when they at least have taken all the rights of bringing-up they have on you. I have been a housewife(at-home mom),and lately an accountant.I'm telling you this from experience,you cannot be the perfect mother when you have a job, there are a lot of important things you miss by being out of the house,the world is not a simple place any more it is complicated and kids need all the attention a mother can give,so please wake up ya ummahat al-(mothers of muslims)have a huge responsibilty,do not turn away from it to gain materialistic goals. **Girls,please do not get me wrong,we need mothers who can make the new ummah as Allah wanted it to be,think about what I just wrote before you answer. **Boys don't be so happy ,I have word or two for you too.I have to go to work now,inshallah later.
NS

Re: Why Islam is really a women-friendly religion
Saleema
09/09/01 at 20:16:41
[quote]slm I have a question here: Why is it that women have to prove that they can participate fully in public life???[/quote] I think we have to prove it over and over again because Muslims tend to oppress women. Forget about how the westerner who are non-Muslim think of us. Muslims who are ignorant about Islam or aren't really practicing, they tend to take away these rights. Even if the Some Muslims are practicing and do have knowledge, they tend to go along with what their cultural values are. It was hard for my mother to change her views in teh beginning because she never thought about it i guess. But now alhamdullilah, she encourages me to do things that she didn't like me doing before. I thought shew as just being nice at first but then I overheard her talking to a friend of hers and I found out that she is actually ver proud of me.  :) When I read stuff like that, it makes me fell good about myself and being a women. I thank Allah that he had made me a Muslim and a woman. I also find this to be useful in Dawah. It is also educational, for my benefit, I know my Islamic history. That's my input.  :) Wassalam, Saleema

Re: Why Islam is really a women-friendly religion
mahsou411
10/08/00 at 12:18:58
As Salaam Alaikum. I agree that we need to prove to muslims and non-muslims that we can participate fully in public life without going against Islam but we also need to teach people that the most important role a person can play is not only a servant of Allah but a spouse and parent. This goes for men and women obviously. Men have to play that role differently than women as commanded by Allah (ie supporter and maintainer) and women  have to realize that it's not an insult to be a stay-at-home mom. It is one of the hardest and important (and underappreciated) positions in the world. But I think at the same time women have the ability to serve the public, take part in dawah etc. There are sooo many examples of this in history. Look at Aisha(raa) . She was the most learned woman of her time and possibly more learned than all the men in the Islamic world. She was sought for religous rulings and not oly known for her hadith recollection but also her sound and fair judgement. The Prophet (saws) said that you could learn half your religion from this rosey-cheeked girl. And that was when she was still a child or teen. Alhumdulillah!!! We have so many abilities as muslim women. Allah liberated us centuries before the kuffar liberated their women in the west:) As mothers and shapers of the ummah as well as scholars and jurists; muslim women have so much to contribute to the world that we should not ignore one for the sake of the other. Allah Knows Best. -Aminah

Re: Why Islam is really a women-friendly religion
widad
10/08/00 at 12:26:16
slm Aminah ,Aisha was called by the prophet(sala ALlahu alyhi wasllam) :"Al-humayraa" meaning the one with red hair.
NS

Re: Why Islam is really a women-friendly religion
mahsou411
10/08/00 at 21:09:37
AS Salaam Alaikum, Widad, I apologize if I miss-spoke/typed. I was reading a book called "Muslim Marriage Guide" by Ruqayyah Waris Maqsood and she had this hadith in it that said "rosey-cheeked girl" Maybe it is not a sound hadith. I could try and look it up to clear up the issue. thanks for pointing that out:)
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