Wait. What rights??
When most Americans think of Muslim women (they refer to themselves as "Muslimahs"), some images come to mind. Perhaps this:
Maybe even this…
Regardless of how we picture them physically, we almost ALWAYS, as Americans, picture them something like this:
...Trapped in some sort of ancient subservient role, where their importance is negligible – they are mostly there to provide food, sexual gratification, and children to the men who REALLY matter in society. This is due primarily to the cultural practices in the “Muslim world” abroad. Truth be told, in Islam, according to the Quran, women are afforded many more rights and must more status than most westerners (that’s us) believe.
Women have historically been creatures of less status than men. At times in history, they were considered property which could be bought, sold, traded, or disposed of on a whim. They were behind men in gaining legal rights, prestige, status, education.
Even in Islam’s so-called “equal” view of women, I found it humorous that they refer to us as “womenfolk” in one article I read on the subject. Islam declares that the rights and responsibilities of women are “different but equal” to those of men. Ah, this is sounding familiar. “Different but equal” is the phrase invented by men to trick us “womenfolk” into thinking that we have the same rights, we just don’t get to do certain things because we don’t have a penis. Like voting, for instance? Or owning property? Or making the same amount of money as a man who has the same job and work experience?Yeah, that “different but equal” stuff has been thrown around a lot by men. Nonetheless, I wanted to know what the actual rights were of a woman. We know because of yesterday’s post that a woman can divorce her husband. We also know that she has the right to refuse marriage to someone that she doesn’t want to marry.
Islam proclaims “equity” rather than “equality” between the genders. Because women are made differently, psychologically and physiologically, they have a different role to play – an equally important role, but a different one. My research leads me to believe that certain statements in Islam actually back up their claim of gender equity, though.
For instance, Islam refutes the idea that Eve tempted Adam, and thus caused the downfall of man. The Quran rightly points out that they both ate the fruit and were equally at fault, regardless of who ate first. This is an excellent point, in my book.
Education: Women have as much right to an education as men. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) declared in AD 600 that the pursuit of knowledge is incumbent upon every Muslim, male and female.
Motherhood: Mothers have a raised status in Islam. More respect and time is to be dedicated to caring for mothers than fathers, according to the Quran. When a man asked the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) who he should spend more quality time with, the Prophet answered “Your mother.” The man asked: “Who next?” the Prophet again answered “Your mother.” The man asked, “who is next?” The prophet answered again “Your mother.” And who is next, the man asked. This time the prophet answered “Your father.” Clearly the mother is given precedence over the father.
The Law: Islam DOES grant women equal rights to contract, enterprise, earn and possess independently. And a woman’s penalty, if she commits any offense, is no less than a man’s. (OFTEN, I would point out, in Muslim Countries, it is WAY more. That is my perception, not necessarily fact. Also, it should be pointed out that this is more of a cultural thing than a religious thing.)
Money: Women are, for some reason, exempt from financial liabilities. This means their husbands or fathers assume all of the liability for raising them and providing for them. If a woman is proposed to, she has the right to ask for money up front (or possessions), and whatever she enters a marriage with, she leaves with – she keeps all of her possessions.
Work: It is emphasized in Islam that if a woman does not want to work outside the home, she should not have to, however, if a woman wishes to, she is free to work outside the home, pursue higher education, etc (provided her security and honor are safeguarded).
Polygamy: I know, this seems out of sequence. But I think polygamy is a women's rights issue, so I'm addressing it here. I was shocked to find out that marrying more than one wife seems to be rather common among Muslims, even American Muslims! However, the current wife must approve the marriage, if the husband decides to take another wife.
An interesting side note, most of the girls I spoke to in my research seemed to be ok with the idea of having a “sister wife.” They said that, should their husbands desire another woman for more children, or any number of other reasons, they would support his decision out of their love for him rather than seek a divorce.
The multiple wife scenario is such that each wife must have exactly the same as the others - they must each have their own home, their own things, their own funds and it must be equal in all respects. Husbands are permitted to take at least four wives, provided they can treat them equally:
Marry of the women that please you; two, three or four, but if you fear you will not be able to deal justly, then only one. (Quran, Surah 4:3)
Imams here in the US are at least not open about being willing to find a second wife for a family, or perform a plural marriage. The ones I have information from claim that they will not perform plural marriage in the United States due to legality, however, any man with ordination in Islam as a teacher or leader can perform a plural marriage. It is also important to note that “different but equal” means women can NOT have multiple husbands.
“There does exist a gap between the rights of women outlined in the Qur’an and the prevalent reality in the Muslim world. However, images of Muslim women as ignorant, oppressed and submissive are stereotypical. They do not do justice to the large number of Muslim women whose conviction in Islamic concepts of family cohesiveness, happiness and individualist ensures their sense of self-fulfillment”
www.WhyIslam.org, 2010
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