So how come 2 of 3 fatwas shown here are for women – posted by a male?
And how come “religious men” much prefer to discuss Islam as it pertains to the duties and obligations of women?
Because we all have mothers and sisters. And Prophet Muhammed (SAW) has told us that the women will be the highest number of occupants of the Hell Fire.
Wouldn't you want to save you Mother or Sister too?
Abu Muhammad
As-salam alaikum. I think we should focus equally on the rights and duties of both men and women.
As-Salaam 'Alaikum,
Special2,
You are quite right. However I was simply answering "Cats Meow".
Cats Meow,
Apart from a cat, what else "Meows"?
[This message has been edited by Abu Muhammed (edited February 12, 1999).]
My first post in religion, and I'm reluctant. Here's my take on the subject:
Women have become a symbol of cultural authenticity in Islam. The Muslim ulama's concentration on issues dealing with women signifies a response to many external forces affecting our societies - social, economic, political and cultural. If you examine history, every interaction Islamic cultures have had with outside forces has resulted in a powerful change in the way women's roles are viewed. The present infatuation with women is a response to the forces of globalization and neo-imperialism. They have little to do with Islam (not to say they don't have anything to do with Islam). Muslims are resisting change, and women and the family has become the last line of defence for the Ulama. The message is simple - the neo-imperialists have touched and polluted everything else in our societies, but our women and the role they play in our familes are off limits.
[This message has been edited by Achtung (edited February 12, 1999).]
Assalam O Alaikum
I believe mother's lap is the first school of any child. If the mothers of Muslim ummah are pious and good, our next generation will be inshallah definetly good.
Moreover, the FATWAS about women are actually not only for women, this is for men also, after reading these they are responsible to save their mothers, sisters and wives.
Wallah i am very disappointed to see the women of Muslim ummah today, be it Pakistan or be it any Arab country, all are alike. It seems that "haya" has never touched them and to my surprize, the fathers / brothers / husbands of the women have lost their "ghairat" (i don't know the english word for it). They can watch their women inviting everybody towards zina and the whole world staring their women but cannot stop their women. If you ask them, they say "come on we should not be old fashioned" and talk about modernization, advancement and women rights.
The fact remains there, Islam does not changes itself, and neither allows to, that is why it was said by Prophet SAW that whoever brings a new thing to Islam is a mardood.
Now it is up to ourself that we want to save our sisters / mothers / wives from the fire or let them go towards it and invite others also.
Assalam O Alaikum
Cat’s Meow
It doesn’t. I also believe as Actung has stated, it may be defensive posturing of our people because of the West. Because those outside of us focus on woman, our emphasise is also woman. I know every time I’m asked about the Islam 100% of the time I’m also asked the status of woman. Muslims as a whole are usually defending the status of woman constantly.
Achtung
…The message is simple - the neo-imperialists have touched and polluted everything else in our societies, but our women and the role they play in our families are off limits….
stud is right you are an anti-colonialist. What fun.!!!
One last comment about how Muslims respond to the west and Woman’s issues. I read an article that stated the cause for the resurgence of the hijab head scar,f in Egypt and the Arab world, was not so much a renewal of religious belief but more so departure from western ways. Not anti-West movement but Westernization didn’t get us anywhere lets return to our roots. When Muslim countries were going through so called modernization periods earlier in the century much attention was placed on the freedom of woman and the removal of the pardah because that was perceived as modernization etc. So a return to Islam and Technologyization through Islamic ways in an old but new alternative.
KashmiriGirl wrote: "stud is right you are an anti-colonialist. What fun.!!!"
It really is fun :) Its relatively easy to examine the developing world and see the profound impacts colonialism has had on these societies (and is continuing to have).
"...the resurgence of the hijab head scarf in Egypt and the Arab world, was not so much a renewal of religious belief but more so departure from western ways."
I completely agree, in Iran women wore the scarf as a political symbol - as a statement against the pro-western reform policies of the Shah. In Algeria women donned the scarf during the French occupation to hide explosives - the scarf here also became a political symbol.
Unfortunately, the struggles these women went through to better their societies resulted in little change in issues dealing with gender equity in their own homes.
Assalam O Alaikum
I think we as Muslims should not complaint about the wrong image the West and other religions has about Islam. Because, we Muslims even do not know our religion, which is obvious from the way we are confused over the status of woman in Islam.
Islam is normally attacked for two things
- Jihad
- Status of Women
The people who attack Islam for the status of woman always complain about the restrictions on woman, mainly parda. Now this attack becomes stronger when we Muslim starts thinking that the women in Iran or Algeria has covered themselves for political reason, or the women in Palestine or Pakistan do not observe veil. This confusion leads them to be a part of that attack.
A man who wants to drink alcohol will always say that its no where written in Quran that Alcohol is Haram or if i drink alcohol, i will be a Kafir, so he makes it a justification and drinks alcohol as if it is halal for him.
Similarly, we have made concession for our women to ignore veil. But which is obviously against Islam. But for those who sing the song of moderization and advancement and say we need to change ourselves, Prophet SAW has said, Who ever adds a new thing to this religion of ours, is a mardood.
Nowadays, even in Muslim countries, when we see a family who are living an Islamic life, we start labelling them, old fashioned, illiterate (without knowing their educational levels) and some very inferior creature. While a family in which the women does not observe veil, immoral acts are on extreme, will have a very high status in the society.
The reason for this is we do not want to be restricted. We want to be a Muslim but want no restrictions, we do not want parda, we do not want beards, we do not want the prayers, etc. etc. What we want is be confused with our Islam and make others also confuse. We do not want to see what Quran says about women, we do not want to see what Sunnah says about women.
What we want is a shame proof life.
Astaghfirullah Al azeem
Assalam O Alaikum
Abdulla jee
Exactly. We are attacked for those reasons.
One comment. I do understand the labeling you are speaking about. In America from what I’ve observed, there has been a change from labeling "Islamic" people or families as old-fashioned or illiterate. Many of these families and individual have become leaders in our immigrant/Muslim communities and are seen as progressive activist. It is a different perception because we are in a non-Muslim country, therefor religion has some different impact for us daily.
Muslim countries perceive being western as being "modern" and educated because of colonialist rulers. This I honestly believe is changing.
Achtung
Its fun cuz my 2nd Bachelors was in International studies with a middle east focus. I haven’t been involved in anti-colonial/middle east political, social-economical discourse for awhile, it’s a blast to read again. However, I’m a little rusty… :)