The Position of Women in Islam and Islamic Society - Article

By Dr. Hassan al-Turabi
http://www.islamfortoday.com/turabi01.htm

The above link is an article that deals with the position of women in Islam and Islamic society that I was invited to read with a group of young ladies in TX. I could not physically make it to join them, but I decided to post my views on my blog and insha'Allah hope that they will be able to integrate them into their discussions.

The article is divided into four chapters: The verdict of faith, the verdict of jurisprudence, women in Muslim society, and the resurgence of women.

The first chapter states that women, in Islam, are their own entity and have the will to choose and submit to their own religion on their own accord. This, for me, was an eye-opener, because forever I have thought that a woman's religion has been a by-product of her male counterpart's religion, whether it was her father, husband, brother. I know that each Muslim in their heart must accept and submit whole-heartedly, but this article brings to light, to me, for the first time that women back in the days when Islam was still new, the trials and tribulations women had to face for embracing Islam but living amongst Kafirs. Several women were beaten and asked to renounce Islam by their husbands, fathers, etc.

Today, you hear of Muslim men being able to marry women of all religions, so as to ensure Muslim lineage, but back in the Prophet's (saw) time women were propagators of Islam. There was one women who infiltrated the Qureish tribe secretly converting women until she was caught.

My personal thoughts: I think its sad when culture convolutes religion and you have to refer back to HISTORY to realize that women back in the time of the Prophet (saw) were treated much more humanely. Isam recognizes women as individual minds capable of making their own decisions and accepting a religion separate from that of their father, or husbands on their own accord and not through a proxy. I have always been told that women must marry Muslim men in order to preserve Islamic principles and ideals in children as if to say women on their own are not enough to circulate Islam but in fact, we are and did. There was a women in the article who married a man on the condition that he become Muslim. We hold a lot more cards then we think.

The verdict of jurisprudence is undoubtedly simple: regardless of gender, each person is responsible in fulfilling their duties as a Muslim: prayer, fasting, pilgrimage to Kabah, remembering God as well as being truthful, pious, and righteous. Where there is distinction of gender, it is in family maintenance, group prayers, and mass conscription of war. Obviously fitting a man more so than a woman; however, if no male is around or is not acting accordingly then a woman can step in by default. Nothing can stand in the way of a woman making achievement in her practice of Islam. Women used to participate in all activities, even going to the masjid. In his collection of authentic traditions Bukhari narrated: "I (the Prophet) like to prolong the prayer but when I hear a child weeping I make it shorter for I loathe to make any inconvenience to the child's mother". The prophet made exceptions, yet, today there are some brothers who would like to keep women out of the mosques.

For the sake of Islam in wars, not only did women do their part by joining in battle to tend to sick and bring water for soldiers but they also fought in the battle. About Umm-Saleem bint Malhan, Sahih Muslim reports that, in the battle of Junain, she had a dagger which she carried about. WOOHOO!

"Safyiah bint Abdul Mattalib, too, was one of those women who actively participated in the battles: "When the people took off for the military campaign of Al Khandaq, the Prophet (peace be upon him) placed his women in a small fortress called Fari, and Hassan bin Thabit was also left with them. Later a Jew came and climbed up the fortress till he was in a position to command a full view of all. Saifyah belted herself around the waist, took a pole and descended upon him striking him with the pole till he died". (Al-Isabah)Nusaybah bint Ka'b is another lady who witnessed the battle of Uhud. She intended to bring water to the wounded, but she in fact took an active part in the fighting, and on that day brought great havoc to the enemy and wounded twelve of them severely. When the Muslims pulled back and exposed the Prophet, she stood her ground firmly in his defence. (Tabaqat). The Prophet (peace be upon him) appreciated her much and praised her. When she heard the news that her son Habib was killed in battle, she swore either she would die in front of Musailamah, or kill him. She participated in the battle of Al Yamamah along with Khalid bin Al Waleed. Her son Abdullah, too, was with her. He was killed in battle while she as well lost one of her arms. (Al-Isabah)"

I'm not surprised, but Im proud that my Islamic heritage includes such strong women.

"On the basis of the uniform principles of Islamic jurisprudence, a Muslim Woman enjoys the same capacity and freedom enjoyed by a man. She too can propose to a man for marriage, orally or in writing, she can freely choose her spouse, reject a suitor she does not like or obtain divorce from an estranged husband against his will. But a male relative normally formalises the marriage contract, and marriage dissolution or divorce on a woman's initiative is only granted by a judge."

My personal thoughts: Islam gives women certain rights equal to men especially where ownership of land is concerned, but also to choose her own spouse and reject suitors where she saw fit and conduct her life as a Muslim dutifully going to Haj and attending mass prayers.

One issue addressed in this chapter that I will give special light to: the statement that women will be in higher numbers in Hell. When asked why the Prophet (saw) made this statement the Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: "Because you curse excessively and are ungrateful to your partners. I haven't seen anything so deficient in wisdom and religion".

I agree. Women are catty, gossipy, and some women take their husbands for granted. Its these women that give the rest of us a bad rep. Not all of us are like this. But certainly, this the reason Islam insists on women being educated. :)

The topic of hijab is interesting: the article states that hijab is a regulation observed by the Prophet's (saw) wives. I have heard this statement twisted to fit either argument, for or against hijab. Some people think: hijab was only meant for the wives of the Prophet (saw) because they had a special distinction. It made them stand out in a crowd. No other women need to wear hijab. Some I have heard say, "Yes, but Sunnis follow the Prophet (saw) and if he veiled his women, then [Muslim men] should veil their women as well."

Who is right, who is wrong? I cannot say.

In the matter of shaking hands, the artcile states, "When greeting a lady, shaking hands in a spontaneous manner may be permissible, especially if it is a customary practice in a chaste setting. One may find in Islamic texts strong admonition against touching strange women. But the word "touch" or the like is, in this context, a euphemism for sexual intercourse." The Prophet (saw) did not shake hands with women. Some text suggest he did so if the woman's hand was covered by a garment.

In regarding marriage, an earlier blog post of mine discussed beauty and what defines beauty when women are covered. It is acceptable, according to this article, for women and men seeking marriage to converse with one another. "Mughirah bin Shubah stated that he proposed to a woman for marriage. The Prophet (peace be upon him) told him, "Have a look at her. that some affection might develop between you two". Mughirah went to the girl's parents and told them about the Prophet's instruction. It was as if they were reluctant. The lady, who was in her private room. having overheard this, called out, "If the Prophet has ordered you to see me, then do so". Mughirah said: "I saw her and married her". (Ahmed, Ibn-Majah, At-Tirmithy, Ibn-Habban and Al-Darimi)."

Divorced couples also have this special distinction of being allowed to converse with one another.
"A case in point is the famous story of Mughith who used to go after his ex-wife Burairah through the streets of Madinah. He would try to appease her with tears flowing from his eyes in order to bring her back; but she would refuse to do so. When Burairah was set free, her husband, a negro, was a slave of Bani al Mughirah. "By God" Ibn Abbas said, "I still recall how he followed her all over the streets of Madinah with his beard bathed in tears trying to please her in vain". The prophet (peace be upon him) himself tried to intercede but the girl declined as long as the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not order her to reconcile (At-Tirmithy)."

WOMEN IN MUSLIM SOCIETY -- finally. The author in the very first paragraph states my very thoughts: Whenever weakness creeps into the faith of Muslim men they tend to treat women oppressively and seek to exploit them. BY GEORGE He'S GOT IT!!!

Its true, most of what was laid down in the Quran as rulings were sent down as restrictions on men to prevent them from transgressing against women. But today these blessings are misinterpreted as punishments and oppressions towards women.

"Weak commitment to religion tends to cultivate unjust and hostile treatment of women. For unlike man, a woman is created and brought up gentle and delicate. Performance of her natural functions keeps her away from the toughening experience of everyday public life. Man, uncultured by religion, tends to oppress her as is common in many a human society. Men normally purposefully keep women weak, and the jealousy which they entertain in respect of women induces them to multiply the means for restraining and monopolising them. They like to dominate the property and life of the female with a view to assert their vanity and arrogance. Male jealousy is but one aspect of masculine capricious tendencies which only godly men are immune from and which inculcated the myth that women, by nature, suffer from excessive incapacity. Men use that fantasy as an excuse to ban women from active participation in the broad spectrum of human life and to deprive them of experience and training - thereby devitalizing and debilitating them in fact. and finding reason for further ill-treatment and prejudice. These male tendencies and the appending customs and ways are manifest in many societies where male arbitrariness runs amok with no religious or human limitation."

Wow, um, ok. No this author is not female. :)

As is with anything, ignorance makes one weaker and foolish. I like how this author is not biased to either gender. He's stating the role of women in Islamic society but also stating that its not all too separate from the role of Muslim men in society. They're two faces of the same coin, the ending result is the value of the coin. The two faces must co-exist harmoniously for the greater good.

(By the way, for my blog audience this article is a must read for active participation, its a shame this cannot be done in person, but I am reduced to highlighting but a few mere parts of this article and it does it no justice. Its not even Cliff's notes standards, you must read on your own.)

This section begins the talk of misunderstanding culture and tradition for Sharia and incorporating anti-feminist sentiment as a ways and means of control.

What men cannot explain, they call God's law? This is not the way it is supposed to be. There is supposed to be a sense of balance between men and women from the risk of temptation to the benefit in social intercourse. The greatest injustice on women is to keep them in isolation from the rest of society.

Women is Islamic society play very important roles, women who give birth to believers iA being one of them. Children spend the majority of their formative years with their mothers. It is important for Muslim women to be educated so that they can pass on Islamic ideals, beliefs and practices to their offspring.

Men, today, in a society that is not entirely Muslim can have daily relations with non-believing women in business and academics but at home they snub their own spouses, spouses who bow down in submission to Allah (swt)? Why? Muslim men should, whenever possible, try and educate and raise their Muslim women to higher standards. Men today say they want someone meek, and submissive who will not have her own mind to question his actions, but what is the good in that? When are humans every completely right in their thoughts and perfect that they need not be challenged? Women are not just for bearing young and making chai. Women are companions, intelligent creatures with thoughts and ideas that are capable of, I dont know, finally figuring out a solution to the Palestine/Israel conflict perhaps.

THE RESURGENCE OF WOMEN

"A revolution against the condition of women in the traditional Muslim societies is inevitable. The Islamists are urged by their own ideals to reform the traditional society and to close the gap between the fallen historical reality and the desired model of ideal Islam. This is even more urgent with respect to the present state of women. Contemporary social trends in an ever closer world require an early initiative to take the direction of change in hand before it takes its free course, when the alien trends take root and are assimilated, and it becomes too late to undertake right-guided Islamic reform. The Islamists should beware of an attitude that seeks refuge from the invading liberating western culture in the indigenous past as a lesser evil that should be preserved with some accommodation. Conservation is a wasted effort. The Islamists are worthy of the leadership of the movement of women's liberation from the traditional quagmire of historical Islam, and that of their resurgence towards the heights of ideal Islam. They should not leave their society at the mercy of the advocates of westernization who exploit the urgency of reform to deform society and lead it astray. The teachings of their own religion call upon Islamists to be the right-guided leaders for the salvation of men and women, emancipating them from the shackles of history and convention, and steering their life clear of the aberrations of mutative change."

First of all, history will tell you that history will repeat itself. What once was, will be again. I dont think radical change is necessary to move with modern times. If women back in the day had more freedoms than us, than we havent taken a step back but we've not moved forward either. We're stationary, blind fools running exhaustingly but in place. We need to take a step back, individually at first, and re-establish who we want to be and what face we want to show as Muslims. Then slowly these individualistic ideals can come together to form the face, union Islam once was, back when it was thriving.

We're on the same team! TEAM ISLAM. The main point is to live in submission to Allah (swt) peacefully in a manner that makes others want to emulate your positive actions. Have you ever noticed someone's car and home and said to yourself, I want that car, I want that home. We do, but we don't realize the everyday trials and tribulations it takes for that person to achieve all of that. We need to live like better Muslims, yes, but it starts with us not someone else. Brothers, your wives being excellent hijab-wearing Muslims will not automatically make you the best Muslim. Sisters, you are your own person: you are accountable for your actions, your words and your body. It is severely important that Muslim women know their rights, duties and roles because only then will we know our true worth as it was intended. Don't lose faith, never lose control. Reading this article makes me realize just how very simple it is to follow Islam. Why are we making it so difficult?

One of the amazing things about this article is that it was written in 1973. If you did not know that, you would think the article was written in present day. I think that is the beauty of Islam and Islamic ideals -- they apply to every generation and any time period.

In closing I will say, I enjoyed reading the article. It is an eye-opener. As is with everything regarding Islam, you must do your own research to be satisfied that what you have read is correctly cited and stated and under what contexts it was intended. There is so much literature out there to examine and discuss. Dont limit yourselves in reading only one viewpoint. Read as much as you can. This is your life. Your journey. Make it worth your while.

Our souls belong to Allah (swt), we're merely renting, like leasing an apartment. This life is the condition of that apartment and everything we put it through. Do we choose to keep it clean, or do we choose to run amok and let everythig go to Hell, so to speak. Let's, insha'Allah, return our soul in excellent condition so that our security deposit, in return, is Jannah.