Why does Islam oppress women?
We live in a world with different cultures, religions, and beliefs. Some of those may not conform to our standard but then, we need to respect everyone’s point of view. Just like the beliefs of Islam, some of these might be too unusual.
Islam considers its women different in all aspects. Although modern society has already accepted equality between men and women, for Islamic countries, women were given less rights. This is the reason why the issue on women oppression is too prevalent in Islam religion.
Men and women have different rights in Islam. Women are considered to be laid back while men are the more dominant sex. This belief was based in the teachings of their holy book, the Quran. This teaching is sacred because it was believed to be God’s revelation. Muslims abide by their Quran and whatever is written there should be practiced in real life.
People have this impression that Islam oppresses women because of the following traditions:
1. Muslim women are dressed differently than ordinary ladies. They cover their faces so that people could not see their beauty. In marriage, they don’t have the freedom to choose their spouse. It is usually arranged.
2. For married men, they are allowed to marry more than once. Women should deal with the reality that their husband will always commit polygamy.
3. There are instances that Muslim women are being beaten by their husbands. This is to show that men are more domineering and powerful.This act alone is one proof that women are indeed oppressed in Islam.
Muslim women are now educated and liberated and they are opposing with the statement that they are being oppressed.However, no matter how they explain and act that they have equal rights with their fellowmen, the stigma of women oppression in Islam is still visible.
January 26, 2011 3:27 am
1. Muslim women are dressed differently than ordinary ladies. (Right there are some restricted rules in women dressing because Islam respects them, and we can not call Dress Striptease freedom, so we have to differ. and this is better than western societies where Immorality and vice are in common.
They cover their faces so that people could not see their beauty. (this is not true and this is applied just in small segment in the Islamic world )
In marriage, they don’t have the freedom to choose their spouse. It is usually arranged. (that was long time before)
2. For married men, they are allowed to marry more than once. (this is happening just in rich countries such G.C.C (Gulf Countries Council) and if you have a look on the moderated societies such as Syria Lebanon Jordan Iraq and so many others i assure you that you will never see polygamy.
Women should deal with the reality that their husband will always commit polygamy. (believe me it is absolutely not accepted by women in those mentioned countries, and divorce is much more preferred than polygamy.
3. There are instances that Muslim women are being beaten by their husbands. (Sorry but really this is so funny, because women these days are participating in the society like men. so men & women are sharing their life fifty fifty so no oppression ..
This is to show that men are more domineering and powerful. now there are no domination .
This act alone is one proof that women are indeed oppressed in Islam
June 13, 2011 2:23 pm
Ummm wow…where to start… this is absolutely incorrect in so many ways. Starting with the fact that the lack of mutual consent in a marriage renders it null and void under islam. Second…only some women cover their faces th majority do not. Third, that women should be prepared that their husband will practise polygamy…um no. This was done a long time ago and it was permissble only bcuz women were not independent in that era and needed to marry to be financially sound…so in that time and place it actually benefited women. Nowadays no one does that. Finally, muslim men beating women to show domination? Hello? That’s forbidden in the quran! Please get ur facts straight before you mislead more people. I am a proud muslim women and I have never felt opppresed.
July 9, 2011 8:15 am
Islam does not oppress women, it elevated them. The hijab is a necessity because it forces each and every one of us to see a woman as a human being, as an intellect, a soul. Islam refuses materialism and it hates for woman to be seen the way they are in the west: a tool, an object of lust and instinct.
Islam does not oppress woman, it respects them and forces man to respect them.
Islam considers a woman to be equal to men. With equal right and responsibilties but islam states that men and woman are not the same and they cannot be treated the same. They must be treated differently, with equality.
And history proves the value and the degree of rights women had.
Note: the face covering is not so much Islamic as it is cultural. We refuse it.
January 26, 2012 4:48 pm
I don’t know where you got these facts from. Have you ever read the Quran before making up passages and lies??
Also, if Islam oppresses women, WHY ARE THE CONVERTS MOSTLY WHITE WOMEN? FOR EVERY 1 MAN THAT CONVERTS TO ISLAM, 4 WOMEN CONVERT.
Also, the marriage is invalid if a woman is married against her will. She has the right to accept and refuse the proposal.
BEATING WOMEN IS NOT PERMISSIBLE IN ISLAM!!! You shouldn’t be the one talking. For every 4 women in the United States, 1 women is facing domestic violence and abuse. Violence and crime and hate happen everywhere to everyone.
I wear a hijab in an all Catholic high school and I am proud. I feel like I am wearing a crown of honor. The hijab to me symbolizes who a woman really is: a rare and precious jewel that should be covered up for protection because God loves women and wants the best for them.
BTW, muslims aren’t the only ones that cover. Virgin Mary (peace be upon her) is always portrayed as a pious woman covering her whole body with a loose and modest veil, covering her hair. You also NEVER see a nun wear a bikini.
Next time, when you write an article, get your facts straight or you’ll just embarass yourself in front of the whole world!
June 10, 2012 1:12 am
there is two type of power in the world…divines and devils. Muslims are followers of devil, they are stigma for huminty.Islam teaches muslim to behave inhumanly to the non.-muslim. You muslim the son of devil call us kaffir because we do not belive in your evil way written in quran. Where there is muslim in majority they want to clean the ethencity of non-muslim by killing non-muslim, looting their women, property and raped their women .All of this written in quran to convert non-muslim into muslim ,human into devil.
June 10, 2012 1:58 am
There are two type of power in the world…good and evil. You muslim are worshiping the power of devil. True relligion is humanity. Your rellion is stigma for the mankind.Where there is muslim in majority they want to clean the ethencity of non muslim by killing them,eloping, kidnapping,and raping their women and looting their property and hurting their purity and relligion. All this way written in quran to behave with nonbelievers.
March 3, 2012 4:19 pm
Yes brother Osman you are 100% correct , and to the writter FIRST read the books then write again if you have doubts asks from sisters who are embracing ISLAM.
October 3, 2012 10:58 pm
Sister Salam Osman. Just sayin’.
March 10, 2012 10:36 pm
first of all I know this is just a blog and some one just wrote it from his head or he just heard from some people. in Islam it says” you have to make sure the authenticity of an information before you pass it to the next person. next time when you right something like this you also write the evidence from the source. don’t just say it is from their holy book.
if you really want to know how women are oppressed see bible although most Christians don’t follow it. and surely if they don’t follow it they are no more Christians. do your comparison you will know who really oppresses women, Islam or Christianity
Women’s Original Sin
Bible says:
Genesis 3: 16
16 To the woman he said, “I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing;
with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband,
and he will rule over you.”
When anesthetics came out the Christian church said that it is not okay for women to use it during child birth because that would go against god’s plan that women must feel pain while she gives birth.
1 Timothy 2:11-14
11A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. 13For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.
Quran says:
Surah 7:21-22
And he (Satan) swore to them both, that he was their sincere adviser. So by deceit he brought about their fall: when they tasted of the tree, their shame became manifest to them, and they began to sew together the leaves of the garden over their bodies. And their Lord called unto them: “Did I not forbid you that tree, and tell you that Satan was an avowed enemy unto you?”
Surah 20:121,122
In the result, they both ate of the tree, and so their nakedness appeared to them: they began to sew together, for their covering, leaves from the Garden: thus did Adam disobey his Lord, and allow himself to be seduced. But his Lord chose him (for His Grace): He turned to him, and gave him Guidance.
According to the Quran both Adam and Eve were tempted by Satan. The Quran blames both of them for their sin. However, Adam and Eve prayed earnestly to Allah for forgiveness and He forgave them. So in the Quran we have a story about “original forgiveness” not “original sin”
According to the Bible, Eve was the sinner and because of her sin all humans are born in sin.
Women’s Veil
Bible says:
1 Corinthians 11:3-12
3Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. (This shows a hierarchy of authority, funny notice how Christ is under god. But more importantly notice how the woman is under the man) 4Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is just as though her head were shaved. 6If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head. 7A man ought not to cover his head,[a] since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. 8For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; (this shows that man is glory of God so they don’t have to cover their heads, but not women. They are the glory of men, therefore they have to cover their heads) 9neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10For this reason, and because of the angels (some bible commentaries talk but about an incident in which the angels fell in love with the women and came down to earth and took them as wives. Therefore women should cover their heads in order not to tempt the angels to come down and take them as wives this is supported by
Genesis 6: 1-4
When men began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. 3 Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with [a] man forever, for he is mortal [b] ; his days will be a hundred and twenty years.” 4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of men and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.
2 Peter 2:4
4For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell,[a] putting them into gloomy dungeons[b] to be held for judgment;
This article proves it was angels http://www.gotquestions.org/sons-of-God.html ), the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head.
Quran says:
Surah 33:59
O Ye who believe! Enter not the dwellings of the Prophet for a meal without waiting for the proper time, unless permission be granted you. But if ye are invited, enter, and, when your meal is ended, then disperse. Linger not for conversation. Lo! that would cause annoyance to the Prophet, and he would be shy of (asking) you (to go); but Allah is not shy of the truth. And when ye ask of them (the wives of the Prophet) anything, ask it of them from behind a curtain. That is purer for your hearts and for their hearts. And it is not for you to cause annoyance to the messenger of Allah, nor that ye should ever marry his wives after him. Lo! that in Allah’s sight would be an enormity.
Surah 33:53
Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them (when they go abroad). That will be better, so that they may be recognised and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.
Just compare the reasons for the veil in each scripture and then tell me which women have honor.
Women’s Role
Bible says:
Colossians 3:18
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
Exodus 21:7
“If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as menservants do.
1 Timothy 5:9,10
9No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband,[a] 10and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.
Quran says:
And women shall have rights similar to the rights against them, according to what is equitable; but men have a degree (of advantage) over them. And God is Exalted in Power, Wise.
The bible and Quran are in agreement on the headship of the man over the family. Yet, Christians criticize Islam for this. They are basically shooting themselves in the foot because their own scripture teaches the same thing.
Islam treats the man and woman equally. The woman has rights similar to those of the man. However, Islam assigns to the man and the woman responsibilities which suit their physiological and psychological qualities. The man as a head of the family has a duty to earn money to provide his wife and children with all the requirements of life such as accommodation, food and clothes. The woman is assigned the task of keeping house and bringing up future generations. The woman in Islam is not responsible for any financial obligations. She is not burdened with any duties other than her house and children.
Since no organization can work successfully without a leader, the husband is appointed as leader of the family which is a small organization. Without, a leader, the family will be in complete disorder and marriage may end in divorce.
Women’s Testimony
Bible says:
Numbers 5:11-31
The Test for an Unfaithful Wife
11 Then the LORD said to Moses, 12 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man’s wife goes astray and is unfaithful to him 13 by sleeping with another man, and this is hidden from her husband and her impurity is undetected (since there is no witness against her and she has not been caught in the act), 14 and if feelings of jealousy come over her husband and he suspects his wife and she is impure—or if he is jealous and suspects her even though she is not impure- 15 then he is to take his wife to the priest. He must also take an offering of a tenth of an ephah [a] of barley flour on her behalf. He must not pour oil on it or put incense on it, because it is a grain offering for jealousy, a reminder offering to draw attention to guilt. 16 ” ‘The priest shall bring her and have her stand before the LORD. 17 Then he shall take some holy water in a clay jar and put some dust from the tabernacle floor into the water. 18 After the priest has had the woman stand before the LORD, he shall loosen her hair and place in her hands the reminder offering, the grain offering for jealousy, while he himself holds the bitter water that brings a curse. 19 Then the priest shall put the woman under oath and say to her, “If no other man has slept with you and you have not gone astray and become impure while married to your husband, may this bitter water that brings a curse not harm you. 20 But if you have gone astray while married to your husband and you have defiled yourself by sleeping with a man other than your husband”- 21 here the priest is to put the woman under this curse of the oath-“may the LORD cause your people to curse and denounce you when he causes your thigh to waste away and your abdomen to swell. [b] 22 May this water that brings a curse enter your body so that your abdomen swells and your thigh wastes away. [c] ”
” ‘Then the woman is to say, “Amen. So be it.” 23 ” ‘The priest is to write these curses on a scroll and then wash them off into the bitter water. 24 He shall have the woman drink the bitter water that brings a curse, and this water will enter her and cause bitter suffering. 25 The priest is to take from her hands the grain offering for jealousy, wave it before the LORD and bring it to the altar. 26 The priest is then to take a handful of the grain offering as a memorial offering and burn it on the altar; after that, he is to have the woman drink the water. 27 If she has defiled herself and been unfaithful to her husband, then when she is made to drink the water that brings a curse, it will go into her and cause bitter suffering; her abdomen will swell and her thigh waste away, [d] and she will become accursed among her people. 28 If, however, the woman has not defiled herself and is free from impurity, she will be cleared of guilt and will be able to have children. 29 ” ‘This, then, is the law of jealousy when a woman goes astray and defiles herself while married to her husband, 30 or when feelings of jealousy come over a man because he suspects his wife. The priest is to have her stand before the LORD and is to apply this entire law to her. 31 The husband will be innocent of any wrongdoing, but the woman will bear the consequences of her sin.’
This just shows that the woman is guilty unless proven innocent.
Deuteronomy 22:11-21
Marriage Violations
13 If a man takes a wife and, after lying with her, dislikes her 14 and slanders her and gives her a bad name, saying, “I married this woman, but when I approached her, I did not find proof of her virginity,” 15 then the girl’s father and mother shall bring proof that she was a virgin to the town elders at the gate. 16 The girl’s father will say to the elders, “I gave my daughter in marriage to this man, but he dislikes her. 17 Now he has slandered her and said, ‘I did not find your daughter to be a virgin.’ But here is the proof of my daughter’s virginity.” Then her parents shall display the cloth before the elders of the town, 18 and the elders shall take the man and punish him. 19 They shall fine him a hundred shekels of silver [a] and give them to the girl’s father, because this man has given an Israelite virgin a bad name. She shall continue to be his wife; he must not divorce her as long as he lives.
20 If, however, the charge is true and no proof of the girl’s virginity can be found, 21 she shall be brought to the door of her father’s house and there the men of her town shall stone her to death. She has done a disgraceful thing in Israel by being promiscuous while still in her father’s house. You must purge the evil from among you.
This just shows that the woman is guilty unless proven innocent. This also shows that the man who falsely accused his wife only pays a hundred shekels and must be married to her forever. Look at this from the woman’s point of view, her honor is taken away and she is forced to stay with her rapist.
Deuteronomy 22:28
28 If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered, 29 he shall pay the girl’s father fifty shekels of silver. [c] He must marry the girl, for he has violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives.
So now she is forced to marry him! She did nothing wrong! Why would she marry the rapist? The 50 shekels also don’t go to her, they go to the father. Because at that time the woman was considered her father’s property and if the man damaged that property he is to go and pay the owner the fine. Unlike in Islam when the woman gets the dowry she keeps it for herself and it is her property.
Numbers 30: 4-8,16
4 and her father hears about her vow or pledge but says nothing to her, then all her vows and every pledge by which she obligated herself will stand. 5 But if her father forbids her when he hears about it, none of her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand; the LORD will release her because her father has forbidden her.
This shows that the father can cancel his daughter’s oath.
6 “If she marries after she makes a vow or after her lips utter a rash promise by which she obligates herself 7 and her husband hears about it but says nothing to her, then her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand. 8 But if her husband forbids her when he hears about it, he nullifies the vow that obligates her or the rash promise by which she obligates herself, and the LORD will release her.
This shows the husband can cancel his wife’s oath.
This also means that it is difficult for a woman to conduct business, because no one would trust her. Because if she made an agreement, then her father or husband can just easily come and annul it for you.
In Surah 24, we read that if a man wants to accuse his wife of adultery then he has to bring 4 witnesses forward and if he cannot provide those 4 witnesses than he has to take 5 oaths. Then if the wife wants to negate that evidence of his then she does the same. That shows that the woman’s testimony is equal to that of a man. If a man also wants to accuse a chaste woman of being adulterous then he must provide witnesses, they wont just take his testimony because he is a man. If he doesn’t provide that testimony then he is to be lashed 80 times. Look how Islam protects the women from being falsely accused. If both of them testify then the judge will declare that they should separate and not be married together anymore because of the tension between them.
Quran says:
Surah 24:6-9
As for those who accuse their wives but have no witnesses except themselves; let the testimony of one of them be four testimonies, (swearing) by Allah that he is of those who speak the truth; And yet a fifth, invoking the curse of Allah on him if he is of those who lie. And it shall avert the punishment from her if she bear witness before Allah four times that the thing he saith is indeed false, And a fifth (time) that the wrath of Allah be upon her if he speaketh truth.
Surah 24:4
And those who accuse honourable women but bring not four witnesses, scourge them (with) eighty stripes and never (afterward) accept their testimony – They indeed are evil-doers –
Surah 24:23
Lo! as for those who traduce virtuous, believing women (who are) careless, cursed are they in the world and the Hereafter. Theirs will be an awful doom.
According to the judgment of the Bible, if a man accuses his wife of not being a virgin, the wife’s father and mother have to bring porrf that she was a virgin, otherwise, the wife will be stoned to death! The wife’s testimony carries no weight!
According to the judgment of the Glorious Quran, if a man accuses his wife of committing adultery, the wife can nullify the accusation as her testimony is accepted, consequently, the wife will not be punished. However, if the accuser is not her husband, then he has to bring four witnesses. If not, he will receive eighty lashes and his testimony will be rejected forever.
Look how the Quran uplifts the woman!
Women’s Inheritance
Bible says:
Numbers 27:8-11
8 “Say to the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and leaves no son, turn his inheritance over to his daughter. 9 If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers. 10 If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. 11 If his father had no brothers, give his inheritance to the nearest relative in his clan, that he may possess it. This is to be a legal requirement for the Israelites, as the LORD commanded Moses.’ ”
This shows that the daughters would not get anything if the sons were alive unlike Islam, which would give her half of the son’s.
Numbers 36:6-9
6 This is what the LORD commands for Zelophehad’s daughters: They may marry anyone they please as long as they marry within the tribal clan of their father. 7 No inheritance in Israel is to pass from tribe to tribe, for every Israelite shall keep the tribal land inherited from his forefathers. 8 Every daughter who inherits land in any Israelite tribe must marry someone in her father’s tribal clan, so that every Israelite will possess the inheritance of his fathers. 9 No inheritance may pass from tribe to tribe, for each Israelite tribe is to keep the land it inherits.”
This shows that if a woman did inherit and wanted to get married she had to marry someone from with in the tribe in order not to transfer that inherited money to another tribe. The money must stay in the tribe, unlike Muslim women who can marry whom ever they please.
Quran says:
Surah 4:7
Unto the men (of a family) belongeth a share of that which parents and near kindred leave, and unto the women a share of that which parents and near kindred leave, whether it be little or much – a legal share.
Surah 4:11
Allah chargeth you concerning (the provision for) your children: to the male the equivalent of the portion of two females, and if there be women more than two, then theirs is two-thirds of the inheritance, and if there be one (only) then the half. And to each of his parents a sixth of the inheritance, if he have a son; and if he have no son and his parents are his heirs, then to his mother appertaineth the third; and if he have brethren, then to his mother appertaineth the sixth, after any legacy he may have bequeathed, or debt (hath been paid). Your parents and your children: Ye know not which of them is nearer unto you in usefulness. It is an injunction from Allah. Lo! Allah is Knower, Wise.
The woman in Islam has a share of inheritance. The daughter’s portion is half that of the son. This share is very generous given that, in Islam, the man’s financial obligations are by far more than those of the woman. The man gives the dowry to his wife. He pays for all the necessities of life such as accommodation, food and clothes. He supports his parents in addition to his wife and children. On the other hand, the wife does not have to support anyone even herself because her husband is responsible for maintaining her, no matter how rich she is. It is worth noting that in some cases the woman’s share of inheritance is equal to that of the man.
Recommended reading
http://www.islam101.com/sociology/inheritance.htm
Women’s Cleanness
Bible says:
Leviticus 15:19-22, 25-30
19 ” ‘When a woman has her regular flow of blood, the impurity of her monthly period will last seven days, and anyone who touches her will be unclean till evening.
20 ” ‘Anything she lies on during her period will be unclean, and anything she sits on will be unclean. 21 Whoever touches her bed must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean till evening. 22 Whoever touches anything she sits on must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean till evening.
25 ” ‘When a woman has a discharge of blood for many days at a time other than her monthly period or has a discharge that continues beyond her period, she will be unclean as long as she has the discharge, just as in the days of her period. 26 Any bed she lies on while her discharge continues will be unclean, as is her bed during her monthly period, and anything she sits on will be unclean, as during her period. 27 Whoever touches them will be unclean; he must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean till evening.
28 ” ‘When she is cleansed from her discharge, she must count off seven days, and after that she will be ceremonially clean. 29 On the eighth day she must take two doves or two young pigeons and bring them to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 30 The priest is to sacrifice one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. In this way he will make atonement for her before the LORD for the uncleanness of her discharge.
Quran says:
Surah 2:222
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.”
The Bible describes woman’s period as if it is a highly contagious disease which can be passed to other people by touch. In addition, woman’s discharge of blood is considered a sin of which a woman has to repent!
In Islam, woman’s period or discharge of blood is neither considered a sin or transmittable uncleanness. The husband and the wife can do everything except sexual intercourse, as it is harmful according to the Quran.
Women’s Right To Worship
Bible says:
1 Corinthians 14:34-35
34women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. 35If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.
Quran says:
For Muslim men and women, – for believing men and women, for devout men and women, for true men and women, for men and women who are patient and constant, for men and women who humble themselves, for men and women who give in Charity, for men and women who fast (and deny themselves), for men and women who guard their chastity, and for men and women who engage much in God’s praise, – for them has God prepared forgiveness and great reward.
This verse indicates that the spiritual duties, the moral duties, for the men and women in Islam are the same – Both have to believe, both have to pray, both have to fast, both have to give Zakat, etc, etc.
Women’s Right For Divorce
Bible says:
1 Corinthians 7:13
“And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.”
So a believing woman is forced to stay with her unbelieving husband. She has to risk getting her spiritual beliefs affected by her unbelieving husband.
So it’s the unbelieving man’s choice to leave the believing woman. She can’t leave him, even if she feared that the kids were going to be negatively effected by the father’s “non-Christian” spiritual beliefs.
So according to Christianity, women are not even allowed to protect their little kids’ spiritual beliefs from their unbelieving husbands!
In Islam a Muslim woman is only allowed to marry a Muslim man in order to protect her spiritual beliefs.
July 19, 2012 5:01 pm
Abdurahman,
Lay off of Bible, please. It’s not the Christian world that forces women to cover themselves up, or submit to the laws of Sharia.
I don’t have time to reply to all the incorrect statements above one by one, but I will say one thing – gender equality means:
-promoting the equal participation of women and men in making decisions
-supporting women and girls so that they can fully exercise their rights
-reducing the gap between women’s and men’s access to and control of resources and the benefits of development, etc.
Let’s begin by asking why do muslim female students in Saudi Arabia show their father’s or husband’s name on their ID instead of theirs?
I have many more questions, but I’ll come back to them once I get a valid answer to the question above.
July 19, 2012 5:04 pm
Salam Osman,
Hate to burst your buble, buddy, but here is something for you straight from the Quran (check for yourself, please!):The Qur’an:
Qur’an (4:34) – “Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend out of their property; the good women are therefore obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded; and (as to) those on whose part you fear desertion, admonish them, and leave them alone in the sleeping-places and beat them; then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them; surely Allah is High, Great.”
Qur’an (38:44) – “And take in your hand a green branch and beat her with it, and do not break your oath…” Allah telling Job to beat his wife.
August 4, 2012 2:52 pm
Some muslim women are living a good life with a degree of independence but that definitely does not apply to all muslim women. Some women are forced to wear veil some want to, yes there are women who are beaten and told to submit to their husbands will and it is all justified in the religion. From what I see pretty much anything can be justified by religious men they will always find a way to justify what they do and say. At the end of the day it is up to muslim women to defy their oppression and bring justice for themselves instead of just complaining and relying on others.
August 15, 2012 1:17 pm
Actually, as a Muslim woman I can tell you that I am quite independent and rely on nobody. Why don’t you try befriending one of us before you pass judgement?
January 21, 2013 3:58 pm
please sofi set up your facts straight, check out this website about violence http://www.clarkprosecutor.org/html/domviol/facts.htm
first of all, in islam we do what is the best for our girls and women. girls put on viels when they become 9-10 yrs old because before then they do not know what those viels means spiritually and in religion.
i want to ask you a question, have you ever seen a statue of marry without a viel or anything that shows her hair? ofcourse not and you cannot because viels is pre-islamic and not islamic.
we protect our girls and women from strangers body and soul.
second we do not discriminate our women or wives we encourage them to be educated either in quran studies or anything else to help raise our kids properly, because it our job as men to provide comfort and spoil them to the max.
August 5, 2012 1:29 am
As you can see, Islam does not opposed women. It’s just for some countries , they treat women in traditional and conservative ways. For example, in my country – Malaysia, muslim and muslimah are treated equally . We can further our education to universities in any field and it is based on our ability. not gender. or religion. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bSTyspUZmMk/UB4BHwBqRJI/AAAAAAAAAEU/gIdzx-wugPE/s640/adek.JPG
August 9, 2012 8:56 pm
Why does it seem to me that this article is written in the 1800s by an ignorant commoner?
August 15, 2012 1:18 pm
Because it is!
August 26, 2012 4:07 am
Women in Muslim lands suffer increasing discrimination and violence.Across the Islamic world, they endure restrictions on their movements, their marital options, their professional opportunities, and more. In Kuwait and elsewhere, women cannot vote or hold office. According to Amnesty International, in Saudi Arabia “women…who walk unaccompanied, or are in the company of a man who is neither their husband nor a close relative, are at risk of arrest on suspicion of prostitution or other ‘moral’ offences.”In many Muslim countries, women cannot leave the house without written permission from their husbands, and cannot drive automobiles. In northern Mali, there have been reports of rape by armed Islamist Tuareg groups, who are attempting to impose the veil and religious law. The Nigerian Islamist movement, Boko Haram, is engaged in a sustained brutal insurgency, with the aim of implementing a full Islamic state. Religious police in Aceh order women to wear headscarves, and they recently caned a couple for having premarital sex.Men are permitted to beat their wives. (Quran, chapter 4, verse 34). In Turkey, the Justice Ministry figures showed that premeditated homicide against women had risen from 66 in 2002 to 953 in 2009. Women are greatly burdened in many Muslim countries.A woman’s testimony in court is considered to be worth only half that of a man’s, according to the Quran. Unlike a man, she must also cover her head – and often her face.If a woman wants to prove that she was raped, then there must be four male witnesses to corroborate her account. Otherwise she can be jailed or stoned to death for confessing to “adultery.â€Often after a woman has been raped, she is returned to her family and the family must return the dowry. The family has the right to execute her (an honor killing) to restore the honor of the family. It is no accident or coincidence that Muslims commit 91 percent of honor killings worldwide.Sharia law says that girls can be married from the age of 9 or at the onset of the first menses.The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah has given the official thumbs-up for Muslim men to marry girls as young as 10.The widespread practice of marrying minors continues to be one of the most incendiary legal and political issues in Morocco today. UNICEF reports that the majority of girls in Afghanistan and Bangladesh are married before age 18..
October 3, 2012 11:12 pm
All of this is true. They are living according to their book, which promotes these things. Are Christians living according to their book, too? Or is it in fact that Christians are no longer Christians?
These ‘good guy’ Christians around here are just little kitties declawed by secular rule. Or they don’t even read their books, or they just handwave what’s not convenient by current day _secular_ law and norms.
The only reason Muslims today look worse than Christians is that they are still living by Islam while Christianity was neutered in countries were it used to be a prominent force. Just take a look at Christian literalists in the US and you see what it would be like for them to rule. It’d be as bad, if not worse, than Islam’s rule.
In short, no, Christians, you don’t have the upper moral hand, and especially those of you who are most fervent in hating Muslims out of your typical religious zeal.
P.S. Atheist here.
October 15, 2012 5:22 pm
Many Muslims leave Islam daily , but they won’t admit that , of course.
No group wants to admit their faith is not what it appears to be and is corrupted from the first day.
No point in trying to reason with a Muslim , your wasting your time.
December 12, 2012 4:47 am
Everybody,
You are only representative of the developed countries. Since you are developed, your views are progressionist. You want to see Muslim oppression of women, then come to India, Pakistan or the Middle East. Religion itself was conceived by Man to bring about social order and conformity in society to basic norms. That is why there are sanctions in each and every Religion to impose such conditions on masses. Do not try to find Logic in such rules. And learn to ease up. What you yourself practice is your religion and not someone else’s Religion. The Taliban in Pakistan and Afghanistan do not give the rights you speak of to their women; whereas, they proclaim themselves to be truer Muslims than you living in more developed countries. Your views about Muslim women being equal to their counterparts would probably earn you “beheadings” in such countries. So speak for yourselves. Finally, your attitude of taking offence even to truths is reflective of the biggest problem in society which leads to illogical fanaticism and violence. Instead of chasing illogical religious norms and rules, dedicate your life to Morality and helping others….you have a better chance of getting 72 virgins and reaching so-called Heaven… After all, Science teaches you to fly whereas Religion teaches you to crash into buildings !!!!
January 8, 2013 2:02 pm
amen
December 12, 2012 4:58 am
Again, do not justify your own Religion to be better than others. Coming from developed countries which boast of better education, do not talk like you come from the slums in Mumbai or the deserts of Taliban territory. Christianity is the embodiment of the greatest corruption itself. I need not remind you of the Catholic Church and its corruption, its illogical and iron-hand techniques against Science in the Medieval times and Lutherian Protestantism. The Bible itself is a work of fiction. You think people can seriously walk on water? refer to how the Gospel and the New Testament was written. How several Apostles were ignored, and their writings not published because their views could not conform to the Church’s views. if you relly believe what you wrote then, you live in the Medieval Times and not the 21st century….
December 21, 2012 9:48 am
By the Owner of the Universe, thru HIS mercy may HE guide all of us and make us the best of Human Being and strive to do good deeds and charity.
We should not judge a religion by its people instead go to the origin and understand the fundamental of its core belief. At this current time the Muslims are being brought down to its lowest and despite all of them blaming the non-Muslims they should blame only themselves.
The Muslims have left their religion and their Prophets teaching, they have incorporate the love for this life more than their love for the Here-after.
They are being punished by GOD as how the Jewish were punish by GOD for neglecting and altering their religion according to their own whims and desires. The Quran is a book where the Muslims only strive to perfect its recitation not to deeply understand its meaning and do incorporate it within their life.
WOE to the Muslim!!How can they have deserted Islam which GOD has perfected it thru the Final Messenger Mohammad PBUH. WOE to the Muslims!!!When the Creator of The Universe blessed us with success we instead neglect HIS religion and opted for life’s little gain.
Prophet Mohammad PBUH promised have came true, in which he said when end of time approaches, the Muslims will be like sheep surrounded by hungry wolves waiting to pounce on them because their hearts are so embedded in the luxury of this life and their never-ending struggle for wealth, hence GOD punishes the Muslims by removing fear from their enemies.
My advice to all Muslims, do your topmost best to emulate the first generation of Muslims under the guidance of the beloved Prophet Mohammad PBUH.
Reflect Islam thru your deeds, start with yourself , immediate family, neighbours and friends. Occupied yourself with this and GOD willing,HE shall guide the rest of humanity to Islam.
February 23, 2013 7:08 am
Dear to Mankind,
I believe that heaven is something which has no religion and politics.
I believe that the world is in darkness because of the two inhuman religions (christian and islam).
I believe that these two religions are from the same source(jewish religion);
I believe that our history, knowledge, culture, believe is totally get rid off caus of these two brutal religion. I don’t accept that God could send messengers to mankind of same place, one race, one color, one language, at certain time and mentioning his name Allah or Justis . because of these two , we Africans are in suffered, agony, hatred, humility….
when I was born, I will not fail to notice my mother nipple just so survive for these twinkling of an eye (less than 100 years), but I am not conscious about the eternity, who brought me to this Earth. but my parents daily persist in chartering which book and which God should I follow.
So, you, mankind don’t be curios on what is not on your hands. God and Devil are the two faces of a coin. we give all bad to devil and good to God. we can see magicians or super natural that they can deceive us, it is not because of they are the follower of these or that religion, but it is because of his personal performance. If we give a time and exercise we can be like them, those who fly on the sky, who remotely listen, cure diseases…
Africa, Ethiopia.
February 23, 2013 8:08 am
just so survive=just to survive
chartering=chattering
November 11, 2013 1:18 pm
islam is aprove for women because the had benen picking up on their skills more
November 16, 2014 11:18 am
I have no knowledge of Islam, or most religions and their beliefs, but one thing stuck with me from the article and the responses I have read. The beating. It’s not strictly Islam, you can find abuse in homes in every country around the world. It can be towards a wife, a child, a disabled parent or grandparent, a sibling, even towards a husband. It’s not just in a single religion or culture or gender, it’s an issue with humanity as a whole. Some of the replies on this form says Islam supports this action, but doesn’t everyone who turns a blind eye support it?