Islam and Women
Posted by Moiz Khan in ReligionAug 26th, 2008 | 13 responsesFor the majority of my life I was a Muslim, a child of Muslim parents, a nephew of Muslim aunts and uncles, and so on. Most of the people I spent my childhood were Muslims, and every single one of them repeated a phrase almost verbatim. “Islam is the only religion that gives respect and honor to women.” I personally never really gave the statement much thought, rather, I just accepted it on surface value. So whenever someone from the outside brought up the treatment of women in Islamic cultures, I repeated this mantra like a statement of unquestionable fact. It was not until I looked upon Islam from the outside that I truly grasped just how false that statement was. Islam does not give respect to women, it does the exact opposite. It suppresses and subjugates them. It keeps them down purposely, as Islam truly is a man-made religion. It deprives women of their beauty with veils, their minds with dogma, and their freedom with the law.
One of the most common replies to the oppressive treatment of women is, “it’s the culture, not religion.” The people who say this, either know nothing of the religion they are speaking of, or are purposely lying. It must be one or the other, there is no middle ground in this matter. The Qur’an clearly outlines what rights women have, and which rights they don’t. In fact, the 4th chapter of the Qur’an deals directly with women, as it is titled “Al-Nisa” which translates to “The Woman.” If there were ever a place to prove my point, it would be this chapter of the Qur’an. So, let us explore the claim of whether or not Islam gives respect to women by reading this chapter.
4:3 And if ye fear that ye will not deal fairly by the orphans, marry of the women, who seem good to you, two or three or four; and if ye fear that ye cannot do justice (to so many) then one (only) or (the captives) that your right hands possess. Thus it is more likely that ye will not do injustice.
This verse is often seen as part of the justification as to why men are given the right to marry multiple women. The first claim it makes is that, it is possible for a man to treat multiple women equally. All one needs to evaluate the validity of this claim is to ask any self-respecting woman if such is possible. The next interesting aspect is that, it allows men to marry multiple men, but not women to marry multiple men. Clearly, this verse implies that there is an inherent inequality, as it assumes that only men are in the position to provide for multiple women, but not the other way around.
4:11 Allah chargeth you concerning (the provision for) your children: to the male the equivalent of the portion of two females, and if there be women more than two, then theirs is two-thirds of the inheritance, and if there be one (only) then the half.
Unlike the previous verse that only implies an inherent inequality, this chapter essentially states this supposed inequality outright. Men are given double of what women are given. Again, the Qur’an is creates the justification for inequality and suppression.
4:34 Men are in charge of women, because Allah hath made the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women). So good women are the obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah hath guarded. As for those from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Lo! Allah is ever High, Exalted, Great.
Here is a cluster of sexist nonsense. Now, it clearly says, “men are in charge of women.” Why is this so? Why can’t women be in charge of men? How has god made males better than females? According to any sensible knowledge of modern anatomy, there are negligible differences between the two, so how is a male “made to excel over the female” ? Why is a good woman obedient to god and men? Why can’t a woman be simply obedient to god? Why aren’t good males obedient to god and females? If you had any objection to the other verses, surely there cannot be any mistake here. This passage also states the proper punishment for the women who aren’t obedient. First a male can essentially yell at them, second, send them to another bed and then third you can beat them and not allow them outside the house. This single passage allows men to be in charge of women, forces women to be obedient or else face harsh consequences. It ends off with a praise of god, surely no person of reasonable, or even mediocre ethics could not praise any god which would give such filthy and disgusting passages to be the final revelation.
24:31 And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment save to their own husbands or fathers or husbands’ fathers, or their sons or their husbands’ sons, or their brothers or their brothers’ sons or sisters’ sons, or their women, or their slaves, or male attendants who lack vigour, or children who know naught of women’s nakedness.
One of my main grievances with Islam and the Qur’an is that it states that modesty is a virtue for women in relation to god and men, but modesty is only a virtue for men in relation to god. This passage highlights this grievance of mine. I simply cannot understand the desire to force a woman to wear veils. I also do not see why a woman must lower her gaze, especially in direct submission to men. Surely this passage is convenient for males, as they can continue with their sick desire to subjugate women. However, as a male, I could not participate in any religion which states such blatant falsehoods and obvious sexist non-sense regardless of their convenience to me.
What I hope to have established is that, a person cannot consider themselves a feminist if they protect or even worse, follow Islam. The presupposition that men are inherently superior to women (which clearly exists within the passages of the Qur’an) is the antithesis to feminism. For those who are women and also follow the Islamic faith, my question is, why? Why follow a religion which so obviously against you. It is not the culture that allows for males to assume they can suppress you, but rather, it is the religion itself. For one to consider themselves a Muslim, they must follow every single aspect of the Qur’an, if even a single passage seems wrong, the entire faith falls down. One cannot submit to the word of god and at the same time challenge it. I stand baffled whenever a woman actually allows herself to be suppressed, and even more so, agrees with the logic behind it. For a woman following these filthy Abrahamic religions is similar to a freed slave staying with their owner. To put it as succinctly as possible, the notion of “Islamic Feminism” is essentially a contradiction in terms.
The Koran! well, come put me to the test–
Lovely old book in hideous error drest–
Believe me, I can quote the Koran too,
The unbeliever knows his Koran best.
- Omar Khayyám
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13 Responses to “Islam and Women”
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Great post. I was happy to submit this one to StumbleUpon. I just finished Infidel and realize I need to learn more about Islam and the danger it poses to women.
Very good post. I do not understand why people who live by such filfth are allowed into my country (Australia). Those beliefs completely contradict what we believe in, equality for women and respect for their freedom to live life as they wish, be successful in a career or in a sport or as a successful mother of children. These books teach people to oppress women and there is no place for this in the modern world. But countries like mine are too tolerant, and so people take advantage of this.
vjack – Thanks, I appreciate it very much.
justbgood – What shocks me is that if it wasn’t so widespread, most people would never for minute try and rationalize or stand behind it. But because religion has the tool of childhood indoctrination, it continues to be such a major problem.
Isn’t that more or less true in all three of the Abrahamic religions? The Old Testament and New Testament don’t give many rights to women either
Isn’t that more or less true in all three of the Abrahamic religions? The Old Testament and New Testament don’t give many rights to women either
Yes, that is true. However, my main reason to post this is to counter the notion that “Islam gives respect to women.” Most Jews and Christians I know don’t try to make the OT and NT seem as if those passages actually are positive. Muslims on the other hand actually do.
Ask most women who wear the veils (many do it voluntarily), why they wear them…and if you don’t get some sort of Monty Python-esque response, they will probably say words such as “respect, modesty and even beauty.”
[...] Christ be born through the normal processes that a woman goes through? Islam has an even more intense hatred of women. Women can’t even look a man in the eye who isn’t part of their family. A woman is [...]
Justbgood-although the religion is sexist, we should not be blindly racist towards it.
I don’t see how one can be racist towards religions…Islam is a combination of many different races…
See also http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnKxefgI15A(10 min 52 sec)
I beleive you have CULTURE and ISLAM confused. You mention Islamic Cultures, they are not Islam, they are just cultures which follow Islam. As you mention “Islamic Cultures” several times.
I am a Muslim, and i have thorght of this many times, the treatment of women i mean. And I beleive many people (like yourself), read quotations from the Qur’an, Sunnah etc plainly. And do not look into their true meaning. The Qur’an is guidelines to life, you can’t pick the quotations you want but others you dont from the Qur’an to proove your point. That’s like following only half a guide. And trust me, i wouldnt be Muslim if Islam taught nothing but treating woman with the most respect!
Here are some more quotations which maybe you could have a look at:
“And among His signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves that you may dwell in tranquility with them and He has put love and mercy between your hearts: verily in that are signs for those who reflect.” (Surah Al Rum 30:21)
“Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that will make for greater purity, and God is well acquainted with all they do. And say to the believing woman that they should lower their gaze, and guard their modesty.” (24:30-3 1).
“Do not go near to adultery. Surely it is a shameful deed and evil, opening roads (to other evils).”(17:32)
“Allah created male and female from a single soul in order that man might live with her in serenity.”(Quran, 7:189)
“They are your garments and you are their garments.” (Surah Al Baqarah 2:187).
“The best of you, is the one who is best to his wives, and I am the best of you toward my wives.” (At-Tahaawi: Saheeh )
____ Men are allowed to marry multiple women. Women are not allowed to marry multiple men. ALTHOUGH the Qur’an is the only religious scripture in the world that says, “marry only one”.
“Marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one.”
[Al-Qur’an 4:3]
Meaning: A Mulsim can only marry more than one, or even one wife if he can treat them ALL justly, evenly, and of course the women allow it.
Men should lower their gaze when looking at a women, as should women when looking at men.
Women dress in Islam with the vail – as if they didnt, men will find it harder to lower their gave: If they walked around half naked like alot of women in most westernised countries! Men also have to dress modestly (cover from knee to the belly button), i know they dont have to cover there hair but come on, no women i know have stared at a mans hair because it looks nice.
Please get back to me. I am curious to know your opinion more.
Thank you for your comment.
I’ll respond to each quote in order…
“And among His signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves that you may dwell in tranquility with them and He has put love and mercy between your hearts: verily in that are signs for those who reflect.” (Surah Al Rum 30:21)
Just look at the inherent nature of the sexism involved. Why is god a “he”?
“Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that will make for greater purity, and God is well acquainted with all they do. And say to the believing woman that they should lower their gaze, and guard their modesty.” (24:30-3 1).
I found it interesting that you didn’t finish the passage.
This is the entire 24:31…
24:31 And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment save to their own husbands or fathers or husbands’ fathers, or their sons or their husbands’ sons, or their brothers or their brothers’ sons or sisters’ sons, or their women, or their slaves, or male attendants who lack vigour, or children who know naught of women’s nakedness. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And turn unto Allah together, O believers, in order that ye may succeed.
Now, I am pretty sure the passage in full makes the my point for me.
“Do not go near to adultery. Surely it is a shameful deed and evil, opening roads (to other evils).”(17:32)
I don’t see how this has anything to do with Islam & Women. This has to do with the sin of adultery which is of course equally sinful for both sexes.
“Allah created male and female from a single soul in order that man might live with her in serenity.”(Quran, 7:189)
The full passage…
7:189 He it is Who did create you from a single soul, and therefrom did make his mate that he might take rest in her. And when he covered her she bore a light burden, and she passed (unnoticed) with it, but when it became heavy they cried unto Allah, their Lord, saying: If thou givest unto us aright we shall be of the thankful.
I don’t really see how this relates… perhaps you can articulate this one a bit more?
Meaning: A Mulsim can only marry more than one, or even one wife if he can treat them ALL justly, evenly, and of course the women allow it.
Right, but why can’t a woman, do the same? Why is it that only a man is given this right? And, the statement itself is quite the contradiction. It is impossible to treat multiple wives equally. Flat out impossible. Ask any woman who has an ounce of self-respect.
Men should lower their gaze when looking at a women, as should women when looking at men.
Physically, if both power lower their gaze, it won’t have an effect at anything. In fact, both people lowering the gaze would just create the same situation as if they didn’t lower their gaze. And, I don’t see how you can say that the commandment is equal. The passage says, men should lower their gaze, and women should lower theirs AND women should do…(insert sexist nonsense)
Women dress in Islam with the vail – as if they didnt, men will find it harder to lower their gave: If they walked around half naked like alot of women in most westernised countries! Men also have to dress modestly (cover from knee to the belly button), i know they dont have to cover there hair but come on, no women i know have stared at a mans hair because it looks nice.
Why should women wear the veil? If Islam pushed equality between the two, then, shouldn’t a male wear a veil too? I am sorry, but, to state that women walk around half-naked in the Westernized world is to me, a gross misunderstanding of western society. It is a common mistake, but, perhaps you should engage in discussions with women from the Western world.
And the thing about the hair is downright bizarre. I am not sure I can really comment on that, other than, I feel you buy into “progressive islam” which I feel to be a contradiction in terms.
I beleive you have CULTURE and ISLAM confused. You mention Islamic Cultures, they are not Islam, they are just cultures which follow Islam. As you mention “Islamic Cultures” several times.
Actually, the entire point of this essay was to point out that it is NOT the culture but rather the theology itself. I mention Islamic Culture often, not Middle Eastern Culture, there is a vast difference between the two.
I am a Muslim, and i have thorght of this many times, the treatment of women i mean. And I beleive many people (like yourself), read quotations from the Qur’an, Sunnah etc plainly. And do not look into their true meaning.
I read it plainly because it is written plainly and directly. There are no metaphors in the Qur’an. It is the direct revelation of god to Muhammed. Do you really think god was sitting around thinking of fancy metaphors to make his revelation harder to decode? I am sorry, but I could never bring myself to believe that.
The Qur’an is guidelines to life, you can’t pick the quotations you want but others you dont from the Qur’an to proove your point. That’s like following only half a guide.
Actually this analogy you use is VERY good. I compare the Qur’an to sort of like a manual to life. Now think of the manual as telling you how to build a desk. If even part of it is wrong, one might as well dismiss the rest. You can’t build a life on shaky foundations. And, the Qur’an on the basis of that analogy is similar to quicksand.
The Qur’an is supposedly the exact word of god. The creator of the universe and life on Earth. If one does not follow every single word of the Qur’an, then one might as well not follow it at all. Sure it may have passages that support women at points, but it also has, at the same time, the justification of the subjugation of women. And, that is far more important and influential.
to Moiz khan, DO you know why islam calls you kafir? It doesn’t mean unbeliever. It’s root word comes form the word kfr, which means one who seals or hides the truth. Your response to Sean was so stupid, that you literally made up verses to prove your stupidity. Live well now, because next is not good for you.
@Alamain Ahmed
I am fully aware of the definition of kafir.
I challenge you to quote the proper passages if my passages are “made-up.”
What a condescending and disgusting attitude, it is a shame there isn’t a hell for fools such as you to go to.