Islam and Women's Rights

[qatarperegrine]

Since Islam's position on women's rights is such a hot topic in the West, I thought I'd post a leaflet on the topic that was given to me by one of our students, part of a packet of materials produced by Qatar Guest Center.


Women's Rights
The following are some of what Islam requires of the individual and society concerning the rights of women.

1. Have you ever seen a jewel? Why is it that people love it while it is simply a piece of stone? The reason for this is that it is not easy to see or touch without first paying an exorbitant price. Similar is the case of the woman: to retain her honor and purity, Islam does not allow any man who is not a near relative (MAHRAM)* to see her or touch her. She is like an untouched, delicate jewel that needs protection and care.


2. Have you ever seen how a rose wilts, withers, and loses its luster and beauty if it is touched too much? Likewise, a woman is not allowed to be touched except by one in a lawful relationship of marriage. And whoever attempts to touch her unlawfully will earn a severe punishment or death.


3. Do you know the punishment for one who violates the marriage trust and cheats on his wife? The penalty is death, since he has failed to preserve the jewel that is in his possession in addition to encroaching on the rights of others.


4. Have you ever seen a jewel searching for someone to possess it? The same is the case of a woman. Like a precious jewel, she is the one who is sought out. Therefore, it is always a man who seeks her hand. And if she agrees to marry him, he will have to give her a marriage dowry and some portion of his wealth.


5. It is obligatory upon a man to spend his wealth for the maintenance (accommodation, food, clothing and general care) of those under his care, including his mother, wife or daughter, even if he does not desire to do so.


6. Consider a ruler or head of state. If everyone were able to speak to him directly and sit in his presence, he would not be held in awe, nor would he possess the same prestige and status amongst people around him. Similarly, a woman is like a noble queen. It is not the right of every man to speak to her directly or sit in her presence; this is allowed only to a select few, namely her near relatives with whom it is unlawful to marry (i.e. MAHRAM)


7. The Supreme Being created men and provided them with strong bodies so that they may go out and earn their livelihood even in difficult circumstances in order to maintain their wives and children. Women, on the other hand, were created gentle, soft and sensitive in order to educate the future generations and bring them up in the best possible manner. Men go out and work with the world outside, while women deal with human beings (i.e. raising children).


8. What do you think would happen if a lion and gazelle were kept together in th same place? Would it be possible for them to co-exist? Obviously not! Likewise, it is only in the interest of a woman to be in the company of a man who is not [sic] a MAHRAM. She is beautiful, attractive and delicate. Hence, an immoral man will certainly try to overcome her, oppress her and even violate her chastity even if she were not willing.


9. A woman who performs work equal to the work of a man is entitled to the same salary as a man.


10. A woman is allowed to engage in any occupation she is capable of as long as it suits the nature of her physique.


11. Just like men, women are required to perform certain religious obligations for which both will be equally rewarded.


12. Women are exempt from certain religious obligations during their post-child birth and menstrual periods, since these conditions cause them a great deal of weakness, and in some cases depression, and hence they need rest and relaxation.


13. If a woman dies while giving birth to a child, she will be rewarded with the highest station in paradise.


14. The person who is killed while defending his mother, wife, daughter or sister will be rewarded with the highest station in paradise.


15. It is permissible for a woman to seek a separation from her husband if he fails to fulfill her marital rights.


16. Is there anything more valuable to the human being than his life? Well, the honor and dignity of women is more valuable and important to a Muslim than his own life.


17. It is permissible for a woman to remarry whomever she desires if she is divorced her husband or is widowed.


18. If a woman possesses wealth, she is free to dispose of it in any lawful way she likes without permission of anyone, be he the father, husband or any other person.


19. Women have a right to the inheritance of her relative -- at the time of his/her death -- even if he/she does not desire that she receive it.


20. A mother has been given preference three times over a father as to their right to kindness and benevolence from their children.


21. Whoever truly desires Paradise, know that paradise lies at the feet of the mother, for the one who pleases her.


22. Whoever has daughters and treats them well will be screened from Hell-fire as a result on the day of Judgment.


23. If a man kills a woman intentionally, he -- under Islamic law -- incurs the death penalty, even if the victim was his wife.


24. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) advised us concerning women: "Treat women well." He also said, "The best of you are those who are the best in the treatment of their wives." He also said, "No one honors the woman except an honorable man, and no one humiliates her or holds her in contempt except one who is evil, wicked and depraved."

With these words, I address you, as an intelligent person: Is there any greater honor than this?

* A MAHRAM is a man with whom woman is not allowed to marry.

#23 is my personal favorite: "If a man kills a woman intentionally, he -- under Islamic law -- incurs the death penalty, even if the victim was his wife." The "even if the victim was his wife" seems like a rather telling phrase. Apparently the author assumes that the default position is that men do have the right to kill their wives, and Islam is to be applauded for saying otherwise. Hmm.

Now don't get me wrong, I think that Westerners tend to overstate the oppression of Muslim women. Women's rights are nowhere close to Qatar's biggest human rights problem, and we should never forget that the advent of Islam was radically feminist. Still, I am very much bothered by the objectification of women that underlies brochures like these. I don't want to be a jewel, a rose or a gazelle. I am unimpressed that men are killed for "fail[ing] to preserve the jewel[s] ... in [their] possession." If the author was trying to give me warm, fuzzy feelings about Islam, he failed pretty spectacularly.

Comments

Re: #6

[qatar.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think casting of the metaphor backwards is acceptable. My parents made a similar comment: that #6 is especially unpersuasive to a Westerner because this view of leadership is so antithetical to ours.

My first thought when I read #6 was along different lines. It's weird to say that both rulers and women have their "power" preserved by not letting anyone meet with them. However, rulers presumably have at least some control over who they meet; Joe Schmoe may not be able to approach Queen Elizabeth, but if Queen Elizabeth wants to meet Joe Schmoe then nobody's going to stop her. So if women were really queens, they wouldn't be told that they aren't allowed to be in the same room as a non-mahram. They'd have that choice. Otherwise the "status and prestige" mean nothing.

Re: #6

[rockinhejabi.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Qatar Guest Center, although they wholeheartedly believe they are sooo good at "dawah" (presenting Islam to non-Muslims to convert them) to Westerners, have once again made HUDGE fox-passes and mistakes!

I encourage you all to write to them and try to explain how these metaphors and whatever else just aren't convincing in the least bit to a Westerner and why!

Thanks!