Women in Islam
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- Zanzi
- Pinky102
- Binte
- Spooky0471
- Binte
This archived discussion is "read only".
» Zanzi - Mixed feelings
This is a very well-written article, yet I must confess that I have mixed feelings regarding its message.You state:
The equality of women in Islam is everywhere you look.Yet, critics claim
We encounter the following dialogue in the Sahih of al-Bukhari (Vol. l, p. 83) and in the Mishkat al-Masabih (p.15) which took place between Muhammad and some women:(source: http://www.answering-islam.org/BehindVei... )"Muhammad said: ‘I have seen that you, in spite of being deficient in mind and religion, rob even a wise man of his senses.’ They said: ‘Allah’s messenger, where lies our deficiency of reason and faith?’ He said: ‘Is not the evidence (testimony) of a woman equal to half the evidence of a man?’ They said: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘This is because of the deficiency of your minds (mental status). Is it not a fact that when you enter the period of menses, you neither observe prayer nor observe fast?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ Then he said: ‘This is the deficiency in your faith."’
So I must confess that I am confused. Is the truth that Islam holds women in high regard, but many Muslims fail to live out this command? Or is the truth that stories of gender-specific illtreatment of women are made up? Or does the truth lie elsewhere?
-- posted by Zanzi
» Pinky102 - Great.
.I agree with Sylvia that your article is well written and I predict you will do very well in your chosen field of journalism.
I see that Muslims suffer from the same problems visited on Christians by the fanatics in their midst. I have known some people who have lived in Muslim countries and others who are closely related with Muslims. I know that the the Q'ran teaches what your article re-presents.
Christians are taught that there is no difference between man and woman in God's sight. I cannot speak for Judaism as there doesn't seem to be a strong central view of it here in America. Perhaps due to the ideas Secular Judaism has spread across our view. But, I do know that within Christianity, within Judaism and within Muslimism there are strands who have picked up on particular attitudes that women are specifically under the husbandry of their men. The strands range from the husbands duty is to guide "his" woman through gentle pastoring to the teaching that women are to do the physical work and men are to pray, worship and study Scripture on to the idea that a man has the right to kill "his" woman if she gets far enough out of line.
When we show support for those fanatics in that they have some ability to bring certain ideas into line, we do the greatest diservice to our faith when we do not stand against the Wahabi sects, the Orthodox Jews of Binational Zionism who are building the settlements on Palestinian land based on their ideas they are superior to the less human among them, and the Fundamentalist fanatics in America who support Jewish Orthodoxy and are trying to take over the decision making of our Constitutional government that forbids such action. In each case, the fanatic sees it as their calling to control the government of the societies in which they exist as they say, it is God's will.
Normal Muslims, Normal Christians and Normal Jews uphold the good teachings. The fanatics in each faith make it their business to always speak on behalf of God. In my way of seeing things, that makes a mockery of God and is the worst form of blasphemy. The cause of all the unrest in the western world today.
Nice article, Fatima. Keep up your good development.
-- posted by Pinky102
» Binte - RE: Mixed feelings & Great
It always gives me a thrill when someone enjoys reading something I enjoyed writing so thanks
You'll excuse me for answering boths posts together but dial up connections do that to you ...
Sylvia, I can understand why you'd be confused. Much of what the answering islam site has in the way of quotes though is from Sunni sources. Most of these are not accepted by the Shia historians as being authentic or reliable.
Under Shia study of traditions, there is a branch called the Study of the Chain of Narrators where the life of each person through whom the tradition was quoted is scrutinised. Sahih Bukhari and Mishkat al-Masabih do not live up to these standards
When looking for an authentic tradition, like PJ says, go for the main source book - The Qur'an. anything contradicting that is not acceptable. But again each verse of the Qur'an has to be studied keeping in mind in the complex Arabic grammar, context and occasion of delivery - all of which many Islam bashing sites totally ignore.
Also, under the Shia, I am addressing Islam from the point of view of the Shia Ithna Asheri - whom many Sunni look down upon so you won't find much about us and our ideals/opinions in their books or sites. There is a great difference between us though and I'm working on a piece about that.
That said, the (mis)quotation about women being deficient in faith because of the fact that they do not pray on certain days has been clumsily translated. It is looked upon more as a factual statement because when compared in amount, yes, we do perform less than men, but then God looks at Quality not Quantity
Women have done great things in Islam and there are women whom all Muslim men have to look up to as being of a higher status in piety and intellect than them - Mariam mother of Isa, the Pharoah's wife, Khadija, wife of the Prophet (pbuh) and his daughter, Fatimah being the main amongst them in history.
I guess what I'm trying to say is there is no doubt that Islam, a person is judged on their faith not on their gender
-- posted by Binte
» Spooky0471 - Re: RE: Mixed feelings & Great
We forget that a woman can be perfectly happy in either position as long as she understands why she made that choice and is confident about it.very well writen, thank you for that article.
to comment on Islam and Christianity...and of all religions in general: there will always be some fringe groups that take one verse or one passage to mean something entirely different. some Christian
(and when i say this, i mean that they are saved through Christ, have accepted them in their life, regardless of the church they go to currently or the beliefs they have currently, at one point they got salvation)
...some Christians take the bible, misconstue some of it, and before you know it, they are telling women that they are inferior. that happens with all cultures. Islam is no different. just because it tells everyone that women are equal does not mean that men (i mean "men" as in humans, not gender) will follow it. the bible tells us to not lie, or steal, or covet another man's wife, or murder. we do all of those things, and the worst of us do it with a song in our hearts. mankind will never follow the rules set for them, or the good advice. it's not the bible's (or God's) fault that mankind does more harm sometimes than good. it's the fault of mankind, and you will find that everywhere, religion or no.
-- posted by Spooky0471
» Binte - Re: Re: RE: Mixed feelings & Great
In response to message posted by Spooky0471:How right!
It's the fringe groups that provide perfect ammunition for those who want to attack any faith - I think we'd find we could all get along pretty well if we just stuck to what our faiths really said, because then we'd have much more in common.
Also, I find most faiths advise their followers to respect the rights of others to their beliefs. At the end of the day, each person faces God alone.
We really could do without the fringe groups, but then again, if they're there they must serve a purpose - even if it is to show us what way NOT to go!
-- posted by Binte
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