Most Muslims speak with pride in pointing out that women received
certain rights at the time the Quran was revealed to Prophet
Mohammad. Just over a hundred years ago, in England, in 1850, women
were finally allowed the right to own property. In 1857, divorce
became accessible by the formation of the court for Divorce
and Matrimonial Causes. Muslim women have had these rights for
fourteen hundred years.
However, in practical terms, in today's Islamic world, the majority
of women are treated by men as second class citizens. Such a status
for women is not attributable
to the laws in the Quran but to
religious laws other than the
Quran. This is in spite of the fact,
that the Quran came to us
through Prophet Mohammad's mouth and
that God informs us in the
Quran, that it is complete, perfect,
fully detailed and the only
source of religious law for the submitters
(Muslims). An attempt will be made in this article to give some
examples, inshallah, to display the great disparity between what
the Quran advocates versus
accepted practices, which have given
women the low status in Muslim
countries.
EQUALITY OF MEN & WOMEN
Their Lord responded to them: 'I never fail to
reward any worker among you for any work you do, be you male or
female - you are equal to one another. Thus, those who immigrate, and get
evicted from their homes, and are persecuted because of Me, and fight and
get killed, I will surely remit their sins and admit them into gardens with
flowing streams.' Such is the reward from GOD. GOD possesses the ultimate
reward. 3:195
The believing men and women are allies of one
another. They advocate righteousness and forbid evil, they observe
the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat),
and they obey GOD and His messenger. These will be showered by GOD's mercy.
GOD is Almighty, Most Wise. 9:71
GOD promises the believing men and the believing
women gardens with flowing streams, wherein they abide forever,
and magnificent mansions in the gardens of Eden.
And GOD's blessings and approval are even greater. This is the greatest triumph."
9:72
The submitting men, the submitting women, the
believing men, the believing women, the obedient men, the obedient women,
the truthful men, the truthful women, the steadfast men, the steadfast women,
the reverent men, the reverent women,
the charitable men, the charitable women,
the fasting men, the fasting women, the chaste
men, the chaste women, and the men who commemorate GOD
frequently, and the commemorating
women; GOD has prepared for them forgiveness and a great recompense. 33:35
RELIGIOUS LAWS NEVER AUTHORIZED BY GOD
The Quran prohibits even Prophet Mohammad from issuing any
religious teachings other than the Quran or explaining the Quran in
verses 69:43-47 and 75:16-19. The religious scholars, however, in
defiance of the Quran have created religious laws never authorized
by God.
MENSTRUATION
The following verse deals specifically and only with sexual
intercourse during menstruation. However, most women through
teachings of the scholars abstain from their daily religious
practices (fasting, salat) during menstruation.
They ask you about menstruation: say, 'It is harmful;
you
shall avoid sexual intercourse
with the women during menstruation; do not approach them until they are rid
of it. Once they are rid of it, you may have intercourse with them in the
manner designed by GOD. GOD loves the repenters, and He loves those who are
clean. 2:222
DRESS CODE
O prophet, tell your wives, your daughters, and
the wives
of the believers that they
shall lengthen their garments.
Thus,
they will be recognized (as righteous women) and avoid being insulted. GOD
is Forgiver, Most Merciful. 33:59
Tell the believing men that they shall subdue
their eyes (and not stare at the women), and to maintain their chastity.
This is purer for them. GOD is fully Cognizant of everything they do. 24:30
And tell the believing women to subdue their eyes,
and maintain their chastity. They shall not reveal any parts of their bodies,
except that which is necessary. They shall cover their chests, and shall
not relax this code in the presence of other than their husbands,.....They
shall not
strike their feet when
they walk in order to shake and reveal
certain details of their bodies. All of you shall
repent to GOD, O
you believers, that
you may succeed. 24:31
The verses quoted above are the only verses in the Quran giving the
dress code for women - to lengthen the garments and to cover the
chest. The Muslims of today have created unreasonable dress code
for women based on tradition and customs in the name of God and
Islam. There is also, no mention in the Quran, that the head
should be covered for men or women.
POLYGAMY
If you deem it best FOR THE ORPHANS, you may marry
their mothers - you may marry two, three, or four. If you fear lest you become
unfair, then you shall be content with only one, or with what you already
have. Additionally, you are thus more likely to avoid financial hardship.
4:3
You can never be equitable in dealing with more
than one wife, no matter how hard you try. Therefore, do not be
so
biased as to leave one of them
hanging (neither enjoying marriage, nor left to marry someone else). If you
correct
this situation and maintain
righteousness, GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful. 4:129
Verse 4:3 makes it clear that the ONLY condition for polygamy is
for the sake of orphans, while verse 4:129 discourages polygamy
even for that one exception. A law which allows men to marry a
second time without meeting the condition of orphans stands in
violation of the Quran.
TAKING CERTAIN VERSES OUT OF CONTEXT
O you who believe, when you transact a loan for
any period, you shall write it down. An impartial scribe shall do the writing.
No scribe shall refuse to perform this service, according to GOD's teachings.
He shall write, while the debtor dictates the terms. He shall observe GOD
his Lord and never cheat. If the debtor is mentally incapable, or helpless,
or cannot dictate, his guardian shall dictate equitably. Two men shall serve
as witnesses; if not two men, then a man and two women whose testimony is
acceptable to all. Thus, if one woman becomes biased, the other will remind
her. It is the obligation of the witnesses to testify when called upon to
do so. Do not tire of writing the details, no matter how long, including
the time of repayment. This is equitable in the sight of GOD, assures better
witnessing,and eliminates any doubts you may have. Business transactions that
you execute on the spot need not be recorded, but have them witnessed. No scribe
or witness shall be harmed on account of his services. If you harm them, it
would be wickedness on your part. You shall observe GOD, and GOD will teach you.
GOD is Omniscient." 2:282
Financial transactions are the ONLY situations where two women may
substitute for one man as witness. This is to guard against the
real possibility that one witness may marry the other witness, and
thus cause her to be biased. Unreasonable laws have been made and
continue to be made abusing this verse, giving women a lower status
in society.
WOMAN AS LEADERS
One of the controversial issues in Islam is the woman's role in the
political system. Can a woman
take the leadership role? Is it
prohibited? The Quran provides clears answer to thses
questions.
The God gives the story of Belquees or the Queen of Sheba (27:22-44)
in the Quran. Her history in the Quran is of woman in a leadership position.
She was democratic ruler who consulted with her people before
making decisions (27:29).
After witnessing what God gave Solomon, Sheba became a submitter
(Muslim), while still the Queen of Sheba.
She was told, "Go inside the palace." When she
saw its interior, she thought it was a pool of water, and she
(pulled up her dress) exposing her
legs. He said, "This interior
is now paved with crystal." She said, "My Lord, I have wronged my soul. I
now submit with Solomon to God, Lord of the Universe."
27:44
The Quran thus provides us a precedent that a woman can be in a leadership
position including the head of a nation.
CONCLUSION
Belief in God mandates that we believe God. God has stated in his
proven, final scripture, the Quran, that it is complete, fully
detailed and the only source of religious guidance. As submitters
(Muslims) we have to accept God's assertion and look to the Quran
and God for guidance.
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