Thursday, July 1, 2010

Women's Issue

(This article is a combination of Brother Omar Baloch’s talk on Women’s Issue and some addition of my own opinion and suggestion and a few infos from Famous Women in Islam: Women in Battlefield, with regard to this issue. I am not a Muslim scholar as I myself am a learning Muslimah. Anything that is good is from Allah and bad is from my own fault by Allah’s decree.)

Women’s Issue
by Sheikh Omar Baloch

Sheikh Omar Baloch is Resident Scholar at Furqaan Institute of Quranic Foundation (FIQE), Chicago. His expertise on the Message of the Qur’an makes him a well-respected speaker at lectures and events across the country. His knowledge of world religions allows him to engage in dialogue across many faiths and is often a speaker at many dawah events. His aggressive Khutba schedule takes him around the US, where he not only focuses on reviving the spirit of Dawah through the Qur’an, but also raises funds for the purpose of delivering a copy of the translation of the Qur’an to everyone in America. His fluency in Arabic, English and Urdu makes his khutbas, lectures and speeches unique and well attended.

Born and raised in Chicago, Sheikh Omar has a Shahada from Jamia thul Azhar (Al-Azhar University) in Egypt. He got his Shahada in 1994 with an emphasis on the Arabic Language and Minhaj ad Dawah. He also obtain his Master in Psychology at George Washington University.

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim


Yesterday a talk was held at IIS Setiawangsa; about an issue that's very interesting, so much so as were jokingly mentioned by Sheikh Omar Baloch, almost 50% of the FAQs often asked by non-Muslims were about Muslim women do’s and don’ts. And the other half was about terrorist issue. :p

Initially Sheikh talked about the rise of feminism in the west. What triggers feminism, how many waves of feminism and the fact that there are numerous groups within feminism that were fighting for different causes.

Feminism started due to the inferiority that a certain group of women felt towards men, as these women strongly believed that women are equal and similar to men, and they hated men for looking at women as an object/ as a lesser being (quotes and key issues from most of the famous outspoken feminists clearly show how they detest men). These so-called feminists are only fighting for their personal interests; so, many of them are from the upper class and only some are from the middle class family. At this point, I realised how ironic and unfortunate these women were! Probably because there are no specific laws in their religion/beliefs (as Syaria' law is, in Islam), the fact that these women are fighting for their rights seemed to be recurring because in reality, feminism is not clearly defined.

Feminism starts around 1960’s during the time where women can be ‘sold’ by their husband (in the west). They decided to put an end to their misery and fight for their rights. However, today, the modern feminism began to realise that women are equal to men, but not the same. For Muslim women, we are aware of this, alhamdulillah. Women and men have different anatomical structures, different way of interact with each other and different way of showing our strength and sympathy.

This is where the beauty of our Islamic Deen (way of life in accordance to Islam) comes in. The beauty that Allah knows women and men have different perspective in looking at a certain issue, but both are equally intelligent. Unfortunately for these western feminists who clearly unaware of this, sees Muslim women as being oppressed just because of hijab and other petty misunderstood issues that we Muslim women have no/minute problem with. May Allah make them realise that a women cannot be judged by what she wears on her head but what is IN her head. And hijab is an obligation by Allah our Creator, the Guardian of Faith, the Giver of Honour, not forced by Muslim men!

Also, Sheikh talked about a very interesting issue where he relates the rise of feminism and their strong influence in the media (movies, tv series, etc.). It is very logical since feminism can be seen (for those who are aware of it) in almost all American movies and tv series (Spiderman, Batman, The Simpsons, Bill Cosby, etc.) where the leading men are shown to be silly and oblivious; often comes from a dysfunctional family background or an orphan and the leading women are more intelligent, organized and more capable. These media indirectly desensitize men.

It seems very clear now how these media affect our globalised modern day world. In reality, men are often seen as clowns, reckless, and they often view women as an object. We even see some of our Muslimah sisters, who unfortunately are the victims of corrupted Muslim family, accepted these feminist movements due to improper understanding of the Shariah law and the Deen. In reality, many times where Muslim women are in marital crisis, they do not have a proper channel to go.

In Surah An-Nisaa’
34. Men (ar-rijaal) are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has made one of them to excel the other, and because they spend (to support them) from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient (to Allah and to their husbands), and guard in the husband's absence what Allah orders them to guard (e.g. their chastity, their husband's property, etc.). As to those women on whose part you see ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (next), refuse to share their beds, (and last) beat them (lightly, if it is useful), but if they return to obedience, seek not against them means (of annoyance). Surely, Allah is Ever Most High, Most Great.

Ar-rijaal does not mean men in general. It cannot be translated and clearly defined in English, as the word in Arabic is very specific. As I quote from Sheikh Omar, Ar-rijaal can be closely defined as men who are righteous (who uphold his iman and amal) and are trustworthy.

When there is a dispute between a Muslim man and his wife, in order to settle the issue, he must reproach and discuss the matter with his spouse first. If this doesn’t alleviate then he should separate their beds, and lastly is to ‘hit’ her lightly. Hitting is permissible only by using the miswak (wooden toothbrush) or something lighter, but we see that NOWADAYS Muslim men tend to favour the last step, and hit his spouse recklessly (using heavier and more dangerous objects) until she is brutally bruised!

Also, sadly the role of the masjid seems to restrict interaction between the Imam and Muslimah, and this is so serious that it seemed to be typical in our modern day Islam. The small back door of the masjid is the main entrance for women; we are separated from the Imam and it is difficult to interact with the Imam. How do we then seek advice from the Imam when we can’t even make contact with them?

It might seem awkward today if women were to pray Fajr in the mosque (for we will be neglected as it seemed highly unusual), but during the time of the Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. this is nothing out of the ordinary. Women left their houses day and night, and they went to the mosque even in the depth of darkness.

Women do not have any trouble in discussing with our beloved Prophet; any problem that they are facing they can directly seek His Messenger’s aid. They do not shy away and they felt comfortable to ask any question on any subject. Women at the time of Prophet were respected and protected. Mashallah, how the Prophet treated gender issue was soft, NOT patriarchal!
There is a balance between following the Islam guidelines and creativity in handling women.

Sheikh mentioned that he even met once a Muslim sister who seriously thought men are like clowns (because of the way men act; goofing around- in her school/ in tv / movies) until she went to masjid and met with the Imam and the brothers in the masjid. At least for me, I can understand a little how she felt. It wasn’t until I met with my habib that I’ve encounter a few decent men (I’m not generalizing or trying to degrade men or anything), but it is the reality.

We see even in the university/college, majority of the students in most field studies are female. The level of maturity and determination seems to be lacking among men. Why do these things happen? There are many aspects to look at, but the most important part is probabably the role of the masjid, and the Imam plays a vital role in improvising/ purifying the minds of our brothers especially during the Friday (Jumu’ah) prayers.

In Surah Jumu’ah (Friday)
1. Whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is on the earth glorifies Allah, the King (of everything), the Holy, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.
2. He it is Who sent among the unlettered ones a Messenger (Muhammad ) from among themselves, reciting to them His Verses, purifying them (from the filth of disbelief and polytheism), and teaching them the Book (this Qur'an, Islamic laws and Islamic jurisprudence) and Al-Hikmah (As-Sunnah: legal ways, orders, acts of worship, etc. of Prophet Muhammad ). And verily, they had been before in mainfest error;
3. And He has sent him (Prophet Muhammad ) also to others among them (Muslims) who have not yet joined them (but they will come). And He (Allah) is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.
4. That is the Grace of Allah, which He bestows on whom He wills. And Allah is the Owner of Mighty Grace.
5. The likeness of those who were entrusted with the (obligation of the) Taurat (Torah) (i.e. to obey its commandments and to practise its legal laws), but who subsequently failed in those (obligations), is as the likeness of a donkey who carries huge burdens of books (but understands nothing from them). How bad is the example (or the likeness) of people who deny the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah. And Allah guides not the people who are Zalimun (polytheists, wrong-doers, disbelievers, etc.).

In shaping and purifying the hearts and the minds of our Muslim brothers, it is quite obvious the Friday sermon (khutbah) should be on the topic of lessons from the Quraan and it’s relation to today’s life. Imagine if all the Imam in the masjid gave powerful and insightful khutbah, a great number of men will appreciate and grasp the knowledge every time they went to the masjid! Isn’t this what Friday prayer is all about?

However, nowadays when Friday prayers are concerned; most brothers tend to fall asleep during the khutbah. Evidently, the khutbah is uninteresting, bland and does not relate to the issues concerning the Ummah.

At the end of the day, they won’t even remember about the khutbah given, and will continue with their daily activities, neglecting their responsibility to improvise their iman and their amal. “The likeness of those who were entrusted with the (obligation of the) Taurat (Torah) (i.e. to obey its commandments and to practise its legal laws), but who subsequently failed in those (obligations), is as the likeness of a donkey who carries huge burdens of books (but understands nothing from them).” ( Surah An-Nisaa’ : 5)

At the end of the day, without development of the Deen in our lives, we will lose out on both social and economical growth. We see Islam as just a religion, something spiritual when in fact Islam encompasses everything; spiritual, mental and physical belief and act in accordance to Quraan and Sunnah.

That's why in the Quraan, Allah always describes the believers as "those who believe and do righteous deeds." Belief alone is not enough. It must be accompanied by Islamic action and behaviour.

Also, Sheikh emphasised on the importance of Muslim women in today’s world. Islam today are seen as a fossiled and rigid religion; compared to the time of the Prophet. Muslim women and men must strive their best to enrich their knowledge and share the right information among sisters and brothers to clear the misunderstanding between cultural and teaching of Islam. In today's world, we need scholars who understand social and psychological needs, who are able to relate and discuss the issue of today's problem with the Sharia' law. We need Imam who can be good advisors, tolerant, with dynamic personality; who are willing to consult and give usrah to Muslim women. Muslim women's right must be honoured and respected like the time of the Prophet. For Muslim women can change and influence great minds of tomorrow. As they say the hands that rocks the cradle is the hands that rule the world. Are we up for the challenge? :)

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