womens right in islam

[umair]

this is an excerpt from the speech of an eminent muslim scholar,

plz,plz,plz i would request you to read it fully if you really want an insight knowledge about the topic.


According to the Oxford dictionary, ‘Women’s Rights are the rights, that promote a position of social and legal equality, of women to men’
According to the Oxford dictionary, ‘they are the rights, claimed for the women, equal to those of men, as regards to suffrage that right to vote, as regards to property, etc’.
‘Modernising’, according to the Oxford dictionary means, ‘to make modern, to adapt to modern needs or habits’.
And according to the Webster’s dictionary it means… ‘To make modern, or to give a new character or appearance - e.g., to modernise ones ideas’.
In short, modernising is a process of updating or opting for the betterment of the present status itself - It is not the present modern status itself.
Can we modernise ourselves, to master our problems, and to realize a new way of life, for the whole human race?
I am not concerned about the modern ideas, the conclusions and the categorical statements made by scientists and inexperienced armchair experts, as how a life should be lived by a woman.
I am going to base my conclusions and considerations on truth, which can be proved by experience
Experience and unbiased factual holistic analysis, are the sure test, between the gold of truth, and the glitter of theory.
We have to check our thinking against reality, otherwise many a times, our mental process will go astray - Indeed the great brains of one time, believed that the world was flat.
If we agree with the ‘Women’s rights in Islam’, as portrayed by the Western media, you have no option, but to agree that the ‘Women’s rights in Islam’ are outdated.
The Western talk of women’s liberation, is actually a disguised form of exploitation of her body, deprivation of her honour and degradation of her soul.
The Western society which speaks of upgrading the status of women in Islam, have actually reduced her status to concubines, to mistresses, to society butterflies, which are mere tools in the hands of sex marketers and pleasure seekers, which are disguised behind the colorful screen of art and culture.
Islam’s radical revolutionary support, gave women their due right and status in the days of ignorance… 1,400 years ago.
Islam’s objective was and continues to be, to modernise our thinking, our living, our seeing, our hearing, our feeling and striving for the women’s upliftment and emancipation in the society.
Before I dwell further with the topic, I would like you to make note of a few points.
The first point is that, ‘approximately one fifth of the world’s population, consists of Muslims’
There are different Muslim societies - Some may be close to Islam, some may be far away from Islam
The ‘Women’s rights in Islam’ should be judged according to the authentic sources, and not what individual Muslims do, or what the Muslim society does.

The authentic sources of Islam, are the Qur’an, which is the word of God, and the authentic Sunnah, and the traditions of our beloved Prophet (may peace be upon him).
Point number four - the Qur’an will never contradict itself, nor will the Shahih Hadith contradict itself… neither will these two authentic sources, contradict each other.

Point number five – ‘Sometimes the scholars differ, and many a times, these differences can be removed by analyzing the Qur’an as a whole, and not just by quoting one particular Verse’.
Because if one particular verse of the Qur’an if its ambiguous many a times the answer is given somewhere else in the Qur’an - Some people quote one source and neglect all the other sources.
And the last point is – ‘It is the duty of every Muslim, male or female, to seek the pleasure of Allah (SWT), and to act as His trustee on this world, and not to try and gain fame or satisfy one’s own ego.
Islam believes in equality of men and women – ‘Equality’ does not mean ‘Identicality’.
In Islam, the role of a man and woman… it is complimentary, it is not conflicting - It is that of a partnership - it is not contradictory, so as to strive for supremacy.
Where ‘Women’s rights in Islam’ is concerned, I have divided into 6 broad categories.
The first are ‘the Spiritual rights’, second are ‘the Economical rights’, third are ‘the Social rights’, fourth are ‘the Educational rights’, fifth are ‘the Legal rights’, and last are ‘the Political rights’.
Let us analyze ‘the Spiritual rights’ of women in Islam
The greatest misconception that the West has about Islam, is that they think… ‘Paradise in Islam, is only meant for the male - it is not meant for the female’.
This misconception can be removed by quoting from Surah Nisa, Ch. No. 4, Verse No 124, which says.
(Arabic)...
Which means – ‘If any of you do deeds of righteousness, whether it be male or a female and has faith, they shall surely enter Paradise and not the least injustice shall be done to them’
A similar thing is… a similar thing is repeated in Surah Nahl, Ch.16, Verse No.97 which says… ‘If any of you perform good deeds, be it a man or a women and is a believer, We shall give you good life and We should reward you for all your good works’ .
Just because in Islam, sex is not the criteria to enter Paradise… will you call such rights in Islam as modernising or outdated?
Another misconception is that, which the Western media has, that… ‘The woman has no soul’.
In fact, it was in the seventeenth century, when the Council of wise men… when they gathered at Rome, and they unanimously agreed that the woman had no soul.
In Islam, man and woman have the same spiritual nature, and that was clarified by our young Qari, Brother Ashraf Mohammedy, who recited the Verse from Surah Nisa, Ch.4, Verse No.1.
(Arabic)…
Which that… ‘O humankind reverence your guardian lord, who has created you from a single person and created like nature his mate’ .`
A similar thing is mentioned in Surah Nahl, Ch.16, Verse No.72, which says that… ‘We have made for you companions and mates of your own nature’
Again in Surah Al-Shura, Ch.42, Verse No.11, it says… (Arabic)…
‘He is the one who has created the heavens and the earth and has made for you pairs from among yourselves’
Just because the spiritual nature of a man and woman is the same in Islam, will you call such rights in Islam, as modernizing or outdated?
The Qur’an clearly mentions that… ‘Allah (SWT) has breathed somewhat of His spirit into the human beings’.
If you read Surah Hijr, Ch.15, Verse No.29, it says… ‘When I have fashioned you in due proportion and have breathed into you something of my spirit, fall ye down in obeisance’
A similar thing is repeated in the Qur’an, in Surah Sajdah, Ch. 32, Verse No.9, which says...
( Arabic)…
Means… ‘We have fashioned you in due proportion and have breathed into you something of My spirit’ .
Here, when Allah (SWT) refers to… ‘As something of My Spirit, is breathed into the human beings’ - it does not mean, a sort of incarnation or a pantheistic form.
It means that Allah has given to every human being something of His spiritual Nature, and the Knowledge of God Almighty, and coming closer towards Him
Here it refers to both Adam and Eve (may peace be upon them) - Both were breathed something of Allah (SWT)’S Spirit.
Again we read in the Qur’an, that Allah has appointed the human being as His vicegerent, as His trustee, as is mentioned in Surah Isra, Ch.17, Verse No.70, which says….
(Arabic)…
That… ‘We have honoured the children of Adam and bestowed on them special favours’.
Sorry… Here all the children of Adam have been honoured, male as well as female.
There are some Religious scriptures, for example the Bible, which puts the blame on Eve for the downfall of humanity.
In fact if you read the Qur’an in Surah Araf, Ch.7, Verse No.19 to 27, Adam and Eve (may peace be upon them both) are addressed, more than a dozen of times.
Both disobeyed God, both asked for forgiveness, both repented, and both were forgiven.
In the Bible, if you read Genesis, Ch. 3, only Eve is held responsible (May peace be upon her) for the downfall of humanity.
And according to the doctrine of ‘Original Sin’, because of Eve (may peace be upon her) the whole of humanity is born in sin.
If you read the Bible in Genesis, Ch. 3, Verse No.16, it states that the God of… ‘the Bible’ it is saying ‘Unto the woman you shall bear in conception and in sorrow shall you give birth and your desire shall be of your husband and he shall rule over you’
That means, pregnancy and child birth has been said in the Bible to degrade the women and the labour pain is a sort of punishment.
In fact if you read the Qur’an, pregnancy and child birth have uplifted the women.
If you read Surah Nisa, Ch.4, Verse No.1, it says… ‘Respect the womb that bore you’.
Its mentioned in Surah Luqman, Ch.31, Verse No.14, it says … (Arabic…).
That... ‘We have enjoined on the human being to be kind to the parents, in travail upon travail did their mother bore them and in years twain was their weaning’
A similar thing is mentioned in Surah Ahqaf, Ch.46, Verse No.15…
(Arabic)…
It again repeats, which says… ‘We have enjoined on the human beings to be kind to his parents’.
To be kind to the parents - in pain did their mother bore them, and in pain did she give them birth - Pregnancy in the Qur’an has uplifted the women not degraded her
Just because pregnancy has uplifted the women in Islam will you call such rights in Islam as modernizing or outdated?
The only criteria for judgment in the sight of Allah is ‘Taqwa’, ‘God consciousness’ or ‘righteousness’
It is mentioned in Surah Hujurat, Ch.49, Verse No.13 ‘O humankind, We have created you from a single pair of male and female and have divided you into nations and tribes, so that you shall recognize each other not that you despise each other and the most honored in the sight of Allah, is the one who is the most righteous’.
Sex, colour, caste, wealth has got no criteria in Islam - The only criteria in the sight of Allah it is ‘Taqwa’, neither is sex the criteria for Allah (SWT) to reward or to punish a person.
If you read Surah Imran Ch.3 Verse No.195 it says ‘I will never suffer the loss of any of you, be it male or female, you are companions unto each other’.
I had started my talk by quoting a verse from the Qur’an From Surah Al Ahzab, Ch.33, Verse No.35, which says
‘Innal Muslimeena Was Muslimati’ - ‘For Muslim men and Muslim women’
‘Wal maomineena Wamomiminati’ – ‘For believing men and women’
‘Wa Kaniteena Wakantaati’ – ‘For devout men and women’
‘Wa Saadikeena Wasaadkaati’ – ‘For true men and women’.
‘Wa Sabireena Wa Saabiraati’ – ‘For men and women who are patient and constant’.
‘Wa Musaddikeena Wamusadikaati’ – ‘Or men and women who give in charity’.
‘Wa Saaeemeena Wasaaimaati’ – ‘For men and women who fast and deny themselves’.
‘Wal hafizeena Furoojaheen Wa hafizati’ – ‘For men and women who guard their chastity’
‘Wa Zaakireenallahu Kasuraon Wazaakiraati’ – ‘For men and women who engage much in Allah’s (SWTala’s) praise’
And the verse ends by ‘Aradallahu Wa magfirataon Wa Airframe Azeena’ – ‘That for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and ample of reward’
This verse indicates that the spiritual duties, the moral duties, for the men and women in Islam are the same - Both have to believe, both have to pray, both have to fast, both have to give Zakat, etc, etc.
But the women has been given certain concession in Islam.
If she is undergoing her menstrual period or pregnancy, she does not have to fast - She can keep those fasts later on, when she is more healthy
In fact, during the menstrual period and during the postnatal period, she need not pray also - She has been given the concession, and neither does she have to compensate it later on.
Just because the moral duties of the men and women are equal in Islam will you call such rights in Islam as modernizing or outdated?



Let us analyze the Economical rights - Islam gave economical rights to the women 1,300 years before the West.
An adult Muslim woman can own, she can dispose or disown any of her property without consulting any one, irrespective whether she is married or she is single.
In 1870, it was the first time in England, that the West recognized the rights of the married woman, where she was allowed to own or dispose any of her property without consultation.
I do agree that the women were given their economical rights 1300 years ago - these are ancient rights - but the question is – ‘are they modernizing or outdated?’
A women in Islam, if she wishes to work she can work - There is no text in the Qur’an or the authentic Hadith which prevents or makes it prohibited for a woman to do any work, as long as it is not unlawful, as long as it is within the preview of the Islamic Shariah, as long as she maintains her Islamic dress code
But natural, she cannot take up jobs, which exhibit her beauty and body - Like for example, modeling and film acting, and such kind of jobs.
Many of the professions and jobs which are prohibited for the woman are also prohibited for the man, for example serving liquor.
For example working in gambling dens - For example doing any unethical or dishonest business - All these jobs are prohibited for both men and women.
A true Islamic society requires women to take up profession such as doctors.
We do require female Gynecologists - We do require female nurses - We do require female teachers
But, a woman in Islam has got no financial obligations - The financial obligation is laid on the shoulders of the man in the family - Therefore she need not work for her livelihood.
But in genuine cases, where there are financial crisis in which both the ends do not meet, she has the option of working
Here too, no one can force her to work - She works out of her own, absolute free will.

Besides the professions I mentioned, she can work in the house and take up tailoring, she can take up embroidery, she can do pottery, she can make baskets etc
She is also allowed to work in factories and small scale industries in which, which has been designed exclusively for the ladies.
She can work in places which have got separate sections- gents and ladies, because Islam does not agree with intermingling of the sex
She can also do business, and where it comes to doing transactions, where it involves interaction with a foreign male, with a Na-Mehram, she should do it through a father or a brother or husband or a son
And the best example I can give you is of Bibi Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her) who was the wife of our beloved Prophet (may peace be upon him)
She was one of the most successful business women of her times and she did the transaction through her husband, Prophet Muhammed may (May peace be upon him)
A woman in Islam has been given more financial security, as compared to the man.

As I told you earlier, she… the financial obligation is not put on her shoulder - It is put on the shoulder of the man in the family
It is the duty of the father or the brother, before she is married and the duty of the husband or the son, after she is married to look after her lodging, boarding, clothing and financial aspects of her.
When she gets married, she is on the receiving end.
She receives a gift - she receives a dower or a marital gift, which is called as ‘Meher’.

And it is mentioned in the Qur’an in Surah Nisa, Ch.4 Verse No.4 which says…. (Arabic)…
‘Give to the woman in dower, a marital gift’ .
For a marriage to solemnize in Islam, ‘Meher’ is compulsory.
But unfortunately in our Muslim society here, we just keep a nominal ‘Meher’ to satisfy the Qur’an, say 151 Rupees, or some people give 786 Rupees and they spend lakhs and lakhs of Rupees on the reception, on the decoration, on the flowers, on the lunch parties, on the dinner parties.
In Islam, there is no - there is no lower-limit, nor is there an upper limit for ‘Meher ’ - But when a person can spend lakhs of Rupees on the reception, surely the ‘Meher ’ should be much more.
There are various cultures which have crept into the Muslim societies, specially in the Indo-Pak area
They give a small amount of ‘Meher ’ and they expect the wife to get a fridge, to get a T.V set, they expect the wife to give a flat, to get a car, etc., and a large sum of dowry, depending upon the status of the husband
If he is a graduate, they may accept - they may expect 1 lakh - If he is an engineer they may expect 3 lakhs- If he is a doctor they may expect 5 lakhs.
Demanding dowry… a husband demanding dowry from the wife, directly or indirectly is prohibited in Islam.
If the parents of the girl give the girl something out of their own free will, it is accepted - But demanding or forcing directly or indirectly, it is prohibited in Islam
If a Woman works, which she does not have to - whatever earning she gets, it is absolutely her property.
She need not spend a single penny on the household - if she wants to spend it is her free will.
Irrespective how rich the wife is, it is the duty of the husband to give lodging, boarding, clothing and look after the financial aspects of the wife.
In case of divorce or if a wife gets widowed, she is given financial support for the period of ‘Iddah’ - and if she has children, she is also given child support
Islam gave the right to the women to inherit, centuries ago.
If you read the Qur’an - in several verses, in Surah Nisa, in Surah Baqarah and in Surah Maidah, it is mentioned that a woman irrespective, she is a wife or she is a mother, or a sister, or a daughter, she has a right to inherit - And it has been fixed by Allah (SWT) in the Qur’an.




Let us go further and analyze the social rights of a women in Islam.
Broadly it can be categorized into four sub-headings… Social rights given to a daughter, to a wife, to a mother and to a sister.
Coming to the social rights given in Islam, to a daughter - Islam prohibits, female infanticide - The killing of female children is forbidden in Islam
It is mentioned in Surah Taqveem, Ch. 81, Verse No. 8 and 9, ‘when the female child is buried alive and when she questions you, for what crime was she killed’.
Not only female infanticide has been prohibited, all sorts of infanticides has been prohibited in Islam, whether it be a male child or a female child.
It is mention in the Qur’an in Surah A’nam Ch.6, Verse No.151 that, ‘Kill not your children for want of sustenance for it is Allah that will provide sustenance for you and for children’
A similar thing is mentioned in Surah Isra, Ch.17 Verse No.31 which says… ‘Kill not your children for want of sustenance, for it is Allah that will provide sustenance to you and your children, for killing of children is a major sin’.
In the pre-Islamic Arabia, whenever a female child was born mostly she was buried alive.
Alhamdullillah, after the spread of Islam this evil practice has been discontinued.

But unfortunately it still continues in India - According to a BBC report, in the programe assignment the title of which was ‘Let Her Die’, there was a British reporter by the name of Emily Beckenen, who came all the way from Britain to India to give us the statistics of the female infanticide.

In that programe, it gives the statistics, that every day more than 3,000 fetuses are being aborted on being identified that they are females
If you multiply this figure by the number of days, that is multiplied by 365, you get a figure of more than one million female fetuses are being aborted every year in our country.
And there are big hoarding and posters in states like TamilNadu and Rajasthan, which says spend 500 Rupees and save 5 lakh Rupees
What does it mean? - That spend Rupees 500 on medical examination like Aminocententus or Ultra Sonography, and identify that the child the mother is carrying
If it is a female you can abort it and you’ll save 5 lakh Rupees - How?
The couple of lakhs you spend on upbringing her and the remaining lakhs of Rupees you spend on giving dowry
According to the report of the government hospital of Tamil Nadu – ‘out of every 10 female children that are born, four are put to death’ - No wonder the female population in India is less than the male population
Female infanticide was continuing in our country since centuries - If you analyze the statistics of the 1901 census, for every 1000 males there were 972 females
According to the 1981 statistics and census, it tells you for every 1000 males you have 934 females
And the latest statistics of 1991 tells you that for every 1000 males you have 927 females
You can analyze that the female ratio is dropping every year - And since science and medicine has advanced, it has helped in this evil practice
Just because Islam tells you that you should not kill any children whether it be male or female will you call these rights in Islam as modernizing or outdated?
Islam not only prohibits killing of infant children, it also prohibits, and it rebukes you on rejoicing on the birth of a male child and you getting saddened on the news of a female child.
If you read Surah Nahl, Ch.16, Verse No.58 & 59, it tells you that… ‘when news is brought to one of them of a birth of a female child his face darkens and is filled with inward grief’.
He hides himself in shame from his people because of the news he has received.
Should he let her live in suffering or should he bury her in dust - Ah! what a evil choice they have
Qur’an not only prohibits female infanticide, it rebukes at the thought of you rejoicing at the birth of a male child and getting saddened at the birth of a female child
In Islam, a daughter should be brought up correctly
And according to a Hadith in ‘Ahmed’, the Prophet (may peace be upon him) he said ‘Anyone who brings up two daughters properly, they will be like this to me on the day of judgment’ – Means, ‘will be very close to me on the day of judgment’
And there’s another Hadith which says, that ‘Anyone who up brings 2 daughters properly and takes good care and brings them up with love and affection, they will enter Paradise’
In Islam, there should be no partiality in upbringing of the daughters or the son.
According to a Hadith, of our beloved Prophet it said that, ‘In the presence of the Prophet, once a man kissed his son and placed him on his lap but did not do the same to his daughter.
The Prophet immediately objected and said that you are unjust - You should have even kissed your daughter and placed her on the other lap’.
Prophet Muhammed (may peace be upon him) he did not only speak about justice, he also practiced it.


Let us analyze, the rights of a wife in Islam.
All the previous civilizations, they have considered the women to be an ‘instrument of the devil’.
The Qur’an refers to the women as ‘Mohsana’, that is a ‘fortress against the devil’.
And if a woman, who’s good, marries a man, she prevents him from going on the wrong path and keeps him on the ‘Siratulmustakeem’ – that is the correct path.
There’s a Hadith in which Prophet Muhammed (may peace be upon him) he said that, ‘there is no monasticism in Islam’ .
And again according to Sahih Bukhari, Volume No. 7, Ch. No. 3 Hadith No 4 it says that ‘the Prophet ordained the young men, all those who have the means to marry, they should marry - For it will help them to lower their gaze and guard their modesty.
There is another Hadith related by Anas, in which the Prophet said… ‘Any one who marries completes half his deen’.
Once somebody asked me, that… ‘does it imply that if I marry twice I will be completing my full deen?’
The person misunderstood the message of the Prophet.
When the Prophet said that… ‘When you marry you complete half your deen’ - It means that when you marry it shields you from promiscuity, it shields you from fornication, it shields you from homosexuality, which lead to half the sin in this world
Only when you marry, do you have opportunity to become husband or a wife - Only when you marry do you have opportunity to become a father or a mother
And the duties of the mother and the father and that of a husband and wife are very important in Islam
So it makes no difference whether a man marries once twice or thrice or four times - He yet completes only half his deen.
The Qur’an say’s that… ‘We have put love into the hearts of the husband and wife’ .

If you read Surah Rum, Ch. 30, Verse No. 21 it says that… ‘And amongst our signs We have created for you mates or companions, so that you may dwell in them in tranquillity and we have put love and mercy between your hearts’.
According to Surah Nisa, Ch.4, Verse No.21, marriage is considered as a misaq, a sacred agreement, a sacred contract.
According to Surah Nisa, Ch.4, Verse No.19, it says… ‘You are prohibited to inherit women against their will’ - Means, to marry the permission of both the parties are required.
It is compulsory that the man and women both should agree to marry No one - not even the father can force their daughter to marry against her wishes.
There’s a Hadith in Sahih Bukhari, Volume No. 7, Ch. No. 43, Hadith No. 69, which says ‘that a lady she was forced by her father to marry against her wishes’ - And she went to the Prophet and the Prophet invalidated the marriage’
Another Hadith in Ibn-e-Humbal, Hadith No. 2469, it says ‘that a daughter was forced by her father to get married - And when the daughter approached the Prophet, the Prophet said you can either continue, or if you wish you can invalidate the marriage.
That means, the consent of both the male and the female is required
In Islam, a women is considered as a homemaker - She is not considered as a housewife, because she is not married to the house
Many people use terminology, without understanding what it means – ‘Housewife’ means ‘your the wife of the house’
So I believe, from now onwards the sisters would prefer calling themselves ‘homemakers’, than ‘house wives’, if they are occupied more in the home
In Islam, a woman, she is not married to a master that she should be treated like a slave - She is married to it is equal
And there is a Hadith which says in Ibn-Hambal - Hadith No 736, 7396.
- It says that… ‘the most perfect of the believers are those that are best in character and behavior, and those that are best to their family and their wives’.
Islam gives equal rights to the man and woman and as mentioned by the honorable justice M. M. Kazi, that Qur’an clearly mentions that men and women, husband and wife have equal rights in all aspects.

It is mentioned in the Qur’an in Surah Baqarah Ch.2, Verse No.228.
- It says that… ‘the women have been given rights similar against them on equitable terms but the men have a degree higher’
Muslims have misunderstood this verse, when it says ‘a men have a degree higher’ - As I said we should analyze the Qur’an as a whole.
And its mentioned in Surah Nisa, Ch. 4, Verse No.34 which says - (Arabic…).
‘The men are the protectors and maintainers of the women, for Allah (SWT) has given one of them more strength than the other and they give them their means’
People say the word ‘Kawwam’ means, ‘one degree higher in superiority’ - But actually the word ‘Kawwam’ comes from the root word ‘Ikamah’
‘Ikamah’ means for example ‘when you give the Ikamah before prayers - You stand up’.
So ‘Ikamah’ means to standup - so the word ‘Kawwam’ means one degree higher in responsibility, not one degree higher in superiority.
Even if you read the commentary of ‘Ibne-Kathir’ - He says that the word ‘Kawwam’ means one degree higher in responsibility, not one degree higher in superiority.
And this responsibility, should be carried out by mutual consent of both husband and wife.
It is mentioned in Surah Baqarah, Ch.2, Verse No.187, which says - (Arabic )
Which means… ‘Your wives are your garments, and you are their garments’
What’s the objective of garments - It is used to conceal and to beautify
The husband and wife, should conceal each others faults, and they should beautify each other - Its a relationship of hands and gloves
The Qur’an mentions that… ‘even if you do not like your wife, you should treat her kindly’.
It is mentioned in Surah Nisa, Ch.4, Verse No.19, that… ‘Treat your wives on a footing of equity and kindness even if you dislike her - For you may be disliking a thing for which Allah has made good for you’.
Even if you dislike your wife you have to treat her kindly and with equity
Just because the rights of a wife are equal to those of the husband in Islam, will you call such rights in Islam as modernizing or outdated?



Let us analyze the rights of a Mother
The only thing above respect to Mother, is the worship of Allah (SWT) - It is mentioned in Ch.17, Verse No.28-29
It says that… ‘Allah has ordained for you - that Allah has ordained for you, that you worship none but Him, and to be kind to our parents
And if any one or both of them reach old age do not say a word of contempt or repel them but address them with honour, and speak to them with kindness, and lower your wing of humility and pray to Allah (SWT) -‘My Lord, bless them as they have cherished me in childhood’
Surah Nisa, Ch. No. 4, Verse No. 1 says… ‘Respect the womb that bore you’.
Surah A’nam, Ch.6, Verse No.151, says… (Arabic)…
That… ‘You have to be kind to your parents’.
Again in Surah Luqman Ch.31, Verse No.14
It again says the same thing that… (Arabic)…
‘We have enjoined on the human beings to be kind to his parents
In travail upon travail, did their mother bore them and in years twain was their weaning’
A similar thing is repeated again in Surah Ahqaf, Ch.46, Verse No.15
(Arabic…).
That… ‘We have enjoined on the human beings to be kind to his parents
In pain did their mother bore them and in pain did she give them birth’.
According to a Hadith related in ‘Ahmed’, as well as in ‘Ibn-e-Majah’ - It says ‘Paradise lies at the feet of the mother’.
That does not mean that if my mother is walking on the road and if she steps on muck and filth - that thing becomes Paradise
It means that after you fulfill your basic duties, if you respect your mother, if you are kind to your mother, If you are honorable to your mother, you will Inshaallah enter Paradise.

Another Hadith related in Sahih Bukhari in Volume 8, Ch. No. 2 Hadith No. 2, as well as in Sahih-Muslim - It says that a man asked the Prophet… ‘Who requires the maximum love and respect and my companionship in this world?
The Prophet replied – ‘your mother’
‘Who is next’? – ‘your mother’
‘Who is next?’ – ‘your mother’
The man asked for the fourth time, - ‘Who is next’
The Prophet replied ‘your father’
75% of the love and respect goes to the mother, and 25% of the love and respect goes to the father

Three fourth of the better part of the love and respect goes to the mother – One fourth of the remaining part of the love and respect goes to the father
In short, the gold medal goes to the mother, the silver medal goes to the mother, the bronze medal goes to the mother and the father may be he gets the consolation prize.
I am very happy that my brothers have appreciated it - Otherwise normally I always apologize, that if I have hurt the feelings of my brothers, I am sorry – That is what Islam tells me
But, I’m glad, that my brothers here, they have appreciated Islam,
Al-hamdullillah


Let us analyze the rights of the sisters in Islam
According to Surah Tawbah, Ch. 9, Verse No.71, it says... (Arabic)…
That… ‘The men and the women they are maintainers and supporters of each other’
The word ‘Auliya’ here means ‘supporters’ and ‘maintainers’ - they are sup¬porters and maintainers of each other
In short they are brothers and sisters unto each other, unless otherwise
Prophet Muhammed (may peace be upon him) he said, ‘The women are the ‘Shakat’ -‘Shakat’ means sister’
It also means ‘half’, as humankind has been divided into two halves - men and women - It refers to as ‘half’, also as ‘sisters’
There are so many social rights that we can, that we can speak for weeks together.



Now let us analyze the Educational rights given to the women in Islam
The first 5 verses which were revealed of the Qur’an Shareef were from Surah Alaq, or Surah Iqra, Ch. 96, Verse No. 1 to 5 which says - (Arabic…)
‘Read, recite or proclaim in the name of thy lord, (Arabic…) Who has created the human beings from a congealed clot of blood, a leech like substance
(Arabic…) - Read, thy Lord is most bountiful
(Arabic…) - Who has taught the use of the pen
(Arabic…) - Who has taught the human beings that which he knew-not’.
The first guidance given in the Qur’an Shareef to the humankind was not to pray, was not to fast, was not to give charity - It was read - Islam pays utmost importance to education.

The Prophet ordained the parents, the father and the mother, to see to it that they gave Religious education to their daughter
And after a lady married, it was the duty of the husband to pro¬vide her with the Religious education
If he couldn’t do it himself, and if she wanted, he should allow her to go somewhere else to acquire the education
According to Sahih Bukhari, the women were very enthusiastic to acquire knowledge, and they once told the Prophet… ‘You are usually surrounded by men - why do not you give us one particular day so that we too can ask you questions’ - And the Prophet agreed.
Beside he himself going, he sent many other of his Sahabas to the women, to give them education
Imagine, 1400 years ago, when the women were ill treated and were only used as cattels - leave aside being educated, Islam asked the women to be educated
We have examples of several Muslim women who are scholars
And the best example I can give you is of Bibi Aaisha (may Allah be pleased with her), who was the daughter of Hazrat Abubaker, the first Khalifa of Islam, (may Allah be pleased with him), and the wife of our beloved Prophet Muhammed (may peace be upon him)
She gave guidance even to the Sahabas and to the Khalifas - One of her famous student Urwah-Ibn-Zubair
She said that… ‘I have not seen a greater scholar than Ayaisha in the field of learning of the Qur’an, in obligatory duties, in lawful and unlawful matters, in literature and poetry, in Arab history’
She was not only expert in the Religious field, she had profound knowledge of medicine - Whenever the foreign delegates came to the Prophet and discussed, she used to memorize the remedies
She was well versed in the field of math, and many times the companions came to her to ask problems of ‘Mirath’ that is, ‘Inheritance’ - And how much share could be divide how much share should be given to the each individual
She has - she is said to have guided all the four Khalifas, including the companions.

And she also gave guidance, many a times to Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) and she herself has narrated 2210 Hadiths.
According to AbuUmm... according to Abu Moosa, who was a famous Jurist, he said that… ‘Whenever we companions had lack of knowledge on a matter, we went to Hazrat Ayaisha (May Allah be pleased with her), and definitely she had knowledge about it’.
She is said to have taught more than 88 scholars - In short, she was a scholar of the scholars.
There are several examples, even of Safiya (may Allah be pleased with her) who was the wife of the Prophet, who was an expert on Fiqah Islamic Jurisprudence.
And according to Imam an Nouvi ‘She was the most intellectual women of that time’.

Another example is Umme - Salma (may Allah be pleased with her) who was the wife of the beloved Prophet
According to Ibn Hajar… ‘She has taught 32 differ¬ent scholars’.
There are several examples - Fatima-Binte-Kais, she is said to have a discussion on Fiqh, for a full day with Hazrat Ayaisha and Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both), and still they could not prove her wrong
According to Imam an Nauvi, ‘she migrated in the early days and she had profound knowledge’
Other examples like Umme Salim, who was the mother of Anas - she is said to be very well versed in the field of Dawah.
Other examples are Saeeda Nafisa, who was the grand daughter of Hasan and she also said to have taught Imam Shafi, who was the founder of the one of schools of thought.

There are several examples - Even Umme-Ad-darda, who was the wife of Abul -Ad-darda, she is said be an expert in science
And even Imam Bukhari has said that she was an expert in her field - You can give several examples
At the time when the women were ill treated, at the time when women were buried alive, when they were born, at that time Islam had women scholars, in the field of medicine, in the field of science, in the field of Religion
Because Islam tells that every woman should be educated, - Will you call such women’s right’s in Islam as modernizing or oudated?




Let us discuss the legal rights given to a woman in Islam
According to the Islamic law, men and women are equal - The Shariah protects the life and property of a man and woman both.
If a man murders a woman he too will receive the ‘Hurth’ punishment – That is Capital punishment of ‘Kisas’
According to Surah Baqarah Ch. 2, Verse No.178 and 179, ‘he too shall be killed’.

Like wise if a woman murders, she too will be killed
According to the Islamic law of ‘Kisas’, men and women - irrespective the injury be of the eye, of the nose, of the ear, of the body - both receive equal punishment
And if the guardian of the murderer, even it be a woman - If she says, that forgive the murderer and she accepts ‘Dia’, that is compensation - her opinion cannot be rejected - They have to accept it
And if there’s difference of opinion between the relatives of the person whose murdered - And some say that the murderer should be killed and some say that he should be forgiven and ‘Dia’ should be accepted - people should prevent the relatives from killing that murderer.
And irrespective whether the witness or the opinion is given by a man or woman, it has same weight.
According to Surah Maida, Ch.5, Verse No.30 - It says… ‘As to the thief, whether he be man or a woman, cut off his or her hand as a punishment for his crime, an example from Allah (SWT)’.
Means, if a person robs, irrespec¬tive whether he is a man or a woman his or her hands should be chopped - The punishment is the same
According to Surah Nur, Ch.24, Verse No.2, it says ‘If any commits fornication, be it a man or a woman, flog them with 100 stripes’
The punishment for fornication in Islam irrespective whether it is a man or a woman, it is the same - Flogging with 100 stripes.
The punishment for men and women, is the same in Islam.
In Islam a woman is allowed to give witness
Imagine, Islam gave right to a woman to be a witness, 14 centuries ago
Even now in as late as 1980, the Jewish Rabai, they are considering, they were considering that whether the women should be given a right to act as a witness or not - And Islam gave that right 1400 years ago
Accord¬ing to Surah Nur, Ch.24, Verse No.4, it is said ‘If any of you put a charge against the chastity of a woman, produce 4 witnesses, and if they falter, flog them with 80 stripes’
In Islam for a small crime, you require 2 witness - for a big crime you require 4 witnesses
Accusing a woman falsely is a big crime in Islam, therefore you require 4 wit¬nesses.
Now a days you see in the modern society, you find men abusing women and calling them all sorts of name. They call them prostitutes etc, and what nothing is done
In a Islamic State, if a man calls her a ‘prostitute’ in public or anywhere else, and if she takes that man to court - And if that man cannot produce 4 witnesses or even if he produces 4 witnesses and any one of them falter, all of them will receive 80 lashes each, and in future all their evidence will be rejected
Islam gives utmost importance to the chastity of the woman
When a lady marries, she normally adopts the name of her husband
In Islam she has the option of either keeping her husband’s name, either adopting the name of the husband, or maintain¬ing her maiden name
And maintaining the maiden name is recommend¬ed in Islam - And we find in several Muslim societies that women, even after they get married they maintain their maiden name, because accord¬ing to the Islamic law men and women are equal
Will you call such rights in Islam modernizing or oudated?




Let us analyze the polit¬ical rights
According to Surah Tawba, Ch.9, Verse No.71, which I quoted earlier, which says.
(Arabic…).
Which says… ‘The men and the women they are supporters of each other’.


Supporters not only Socially - even Politically – Politically, men and women should support each other
Islam gives women the right to vote
If you read Surah Al Mumtahina, Ch.60, Verse No.12, it says that… ‘O Prophet when the believing women come to thee with an oath of fealty’.
Here, the Arabic word is ‘Bayan’ - And ‘Bayan’ means much more than our modern, present day election, - because Prophet Muhammed (may peace be upon him), he was not only the messenger of Allah, but he was also the head of the state
And women came to the Prophet and they agreed with him being the head of the state.

So Islam gives the woman even the right to vote
Women can even take part in law making
And according to the famous Hadith in which Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), he was discussing with the Sahabas, and considering putting an upper limit on the ‘Meher ’, since young men were discouraged from getting married - a lady from the back seat she objected and said When the Qur’an says in Surah Nisa Ch.4, Verse No.20 that… ‘you can even give a heap of treasure, a heap of gold in ‘Meher’, when Qur’an puts no limit on ‘Meher’, who is Umar to put a limit (may Allah be pleased with him)
And immediately Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) he said… ‘Umar is wrong and the lady is right’
Imagine, she was a common lady - If it would have been a famous lady, the name of the lady would be mentioned in the Hadith
Since the Hadith does not mention the name of the lady, we can understand that the lady was a common lady
Means, even a common lady can object to the ‘Khalifa’, the head of the state
And in technical terms it would be called that – ‘she is objecting to the breach of the constitution’,- because Qur’an is the constitution of the Muslims - That means a woman can even take part in law making
Women have even taken part in the battle fields
There is a full chapter in the Sahih Bukhari mentioning women in the battle field - Women gave water - they give first aid to the soldiers
And there is a particu¬lar mention of a woman by the name of Nasiba, who were among the few, who protected our beloved Prophet during the battle of Ohud
Because the Qur’an says ‘Man is the protector of the ‘Woman’
Under normal circumstances, the women should not go to the battle field. It is the duty of the man
Only when required, under necessity are women allowed - and they should go to the battle field - Otherwise no
Otherwise you’ll have the same position as you are having in the USA.
There... women were allowed to join the battle since 1901 but they were not allowed to take active part - They only played the part of a nurse
Later on after the ‘Feminist Movement’ had started in 1973, the ‘Feminist movement’ demand¬ed – ‘Why aren’t women allowed to take active part in the battle field?’

So the American government allowed - After 1976 women, were allowed to take active part in the battle field
And last year according to a report of the defense department, of the defense de¬partment of America, which was released on the 23rd of April, 1993 it said that - ‘90 people were sexually assaulted in a convention, of out which out of which 83 were women and 117 officers were charged with in disciplinary action’ - Imagine in one convention only, 83 women sexually assault¬ed.
What was the crime of those 117 officers?
They made the women run and they snatched at their clothes - They made them parade absolutely nude without even covering the genital parts - They were made to have sex in public
Is this what you call ‘Women’s rights’?
If you think that this is what is ‘Women’s right’, then you can keep your rights to yourselves
We do not want our sisters, our daughters our mothers to be sexually assaulted.
And there was a uproar in the parliament and the President, Bill Clinton - he him¬self had to apologize - publicly apologize and he said… ‘Necessary action will be taken’
And you know when politicians say ‘necessary ac¬tion will be taken, what happens.
So Islam allows women to take part in the battle field only when required
But there also they should maintain their Islamic Hijab and the Islamic ethics, and their modesty.
Before I conclude my talk, I’d like to give an example
As I said in the beginning of my talk, Islam believes in equality between men and women - Equality does not mean identicality.
Suppose in a classroom 2 students, student ‘A’ and ‘B’, during an examination both come out first - Both secure 80% marks - 80 out of 100
Out of the hundreds of students, 2 come out first ‘A’ and ‘B’
When you analyze the question paper, the question paper has 10 differ¬ent questions, each carrying 10 marks.
In question 1 student ‘A’ got 9 out of 10, and student ‘B’ got 7 out of 10 - So in question 1 student ‘A’ was higher than student ‘B’.
In question 2, student ‘A’ got 7 out of 10 and student ‘B’ got 9 out of 10,
- Student ‘B’ was higher than student ‘A’ in question number 2.
In question 3 both of them got 8 out of 10, both were equal
So when we add up the marks of all the ten questions, both student ‘A’ and ‘B’ got 80 out of 100
So in short, student ‘A’ and student ‘B’ are over all equal
In some question ‘A’ is higher than ‘B’, in some question ‘B’ is higher than ‘A’, in others both are equal
In the same fashion, taking the example that since Allah has given man more strength - Suppose a thief enters the house will you tell, ‘I believe in women’s rights - I believe in women’s rights’ - will you tell your mother, your sister and your daughter, to go and fight the thief?’
No, but natural you’ll fight him - If required they may interfere - under normal circumstances since Allah has given you more physical strength, you have to go and tackle the thief.
So here, in physical strength, man is one degree higher than the woman
Let us take another example where… where it comes to giving respect to the -where it comes to respecting the parents - The children are supposed to respect the mother 3 times more than the father.
Here the women have one degree higher than the men - Over all both equal
So Islam believes in equality, not identically - Men and women are over all equal in Islam.


After this what the Muslim society did is different - Many of the Muslim societies did not give the women their rights and they deviated away from the Qur’an and the Sun¬nah.

The Western society is largely responsible for this - because of the Western societies, many Muslim societies have become over protective, over precautions and have gone to one extreme and deviated away from the Qur’an and the Sunnah.
On the other extreme, some of the Muslim societies upgrade with the Western culture, and followed their culture.
I want to tell the Western society that if you analyze the women’s rights in Islam according to the Qur’an and the Sunnah - you will realize it is modernizing and not outdated

Wa aakhirudda-waana Anilhamdulillahi Rabbil Aalamin

[Fallibleone]

[carolineislands]

I think this excerpt says it all:

Islam’s radical revolutionary support, gave women their due right and status in the days of ignorance… 1,400 years ago.

Other than that, the post is too long and is so obviously another bunch of cover-ups and excuses for Islam. If the poster is serious about equality in Islam, answer these questions:

1. Does a husband have to get permission from his present wife to marry another one?

2. Do young Muslim girls have a choice about whether or not their clitoris is removed?

3. Do Muslims women have the option of marrying multiple husbands?

4. Do Muslim women in Islamic states have a choice whether or not to wear hijab?

5. Do Muslim women have the right to beat their husbands if their husbands are not acting right?

If you answer those questions, then we'll move on to honor killings.

Good topic by the way -- glad you brought it up.

[Goat]

2. Do young Muslim girls have a choice about whether or not their clitoris is removed?

The one thing I will point out is that this topic is more of culture idiosyncracy rather than a religious one. There are many many Muslim countries where this does not occur.

[carolineislands]

2. Do young Muslim girls have a choice about whether or not their clitoris is removed?

The one thing I will point out is that this topic is more of culture idiosyncracy rather than a religious one. There are many many Muslim countries where this does not occur.

It's in the Quran. Mohammad saw a woman in Medina that had been a genital mutilator in Mecca and he asked her if she was still doing that. She said yes she was and he said to just not cut too deep while cutting the flesh from the genitals but he approved of it and there are hadiths that say it is noble. Some sects believe Mohammad ordered it and it's required.

It is, however, practiced by some other members of other religions but the greatest percentage are Muslims. And it is approved in the Muslim Holy Book and the Hadiths.

But thank you for pointing that out.

[umair]

I think this excerpt says it all:

Islam’s radical revolutionary support, gave women their due right and status in the days of ignorance… 1,400 years ago.

Other than that, the post is too long and is so obviously another bunch of cover-ups and excuses for Islam. If the poster is serious about equality in Islam, answer these questions:

1. Does a husband have to get permission from his present wife to marry another one?

2. Do young Muslim girls have a choice about whether or not their clitoris is removed?

3. Do Muslims women have the option of marrying multiple husbands?

4. Do Muslim women in Islamic states have a choice whether or not to wear hijab?

5. Do Muslim women have the right to beat their husbands if their husbands are not acting right?

If you answer those questions, then we'll move on to honor killings.

Good topic by the way -- glad you brought it up.

your answers .

1)yes

2)yes, and it is a practice only in rural africa, due to illetracy.

3)i will discuss about polygamy below.

4)yes, but hijab is prescribed for both men and women.(ie:both should respect the dignity of other)

5)none have this right.




now discussing about polygamy in islam.


The word Polygamy actually means that… ‘A person who has more than one Spouse’. It is divided into two categories – ‘Polygeny’… in which, a man has more than one wife, and ‘Polyendry’… in which, a woman has got more than one husband. People normally, think Polygamy means… ‘A man can only… man can marry more than one wife’ - Polygamy means both… ‘A person having more than one spouse’. If a man has more than one wife, it’s called ‘Polygeny’… and if a woman has more than one husband, it is called ‘Polyendry’


Qur’an happens to be the only Religious book on the face of the earth, which says… ‘Marry only one’. There is no Religious book on the face of the earth, which says… ‘Marry only one’.


You read the Geeta, you read the Veda, you read the Ramayana, you read the Mahabharta, you read the Bible - No where it is mentioned… ‘Marry only one’ - Its only mentioned in the Qur’an.

In fact if you read the Hindu Scriptures, most of the kings… most of the kings had several wives - King Dashrat had more than one wife, Lord Krishna had several wives.
If you read the Jewish Scriptures, the Jewish law allowed ‘Polygeny’ in the 11th century. It was only when Rabi Gurdshom Benjahuda, he passed a Signord and said… ‘Polygeny should not be allowed’. Still, it was practiced by the Septranic Jewish community, until in 1950, the chief Rabainite of Israel, put a ban on it.

The Christian Bible allows Polygeny - only a couple of centuries ago, the Church put a ban on it. Even if you analyse the legal aspect of India, the Indian law allowed a Hindu man to have more than one wife. It was only in 1954, when the Hindu Marriage Act was passed which put a ban, and prohibited the Hindu man to marry more than one wife.

If you see the statistics, according to a committee report on ‘The status of women in Islam’, which was published in 1975, on page No. 66 and 67, it states the percentage of Polygamous marriages. And it said that… ‘The percentage in which the Hindus did Polygenous marriages, it was 5.06, and the percentage of Muslim Polygenous marriages, was only 4.31’.

Let us leave the statistics, aside… let us come to the main point - why did Islam allow Polygeny? As I mentioned earlier, Qur’an is the only Religious book on the face of the earth which says... ‘Marry only one’. It is mentioned in Surah Nisa, Ch. No. 4, Verse No. 3, that... ‘You can marry women of your choice, in twos, threes or fours, but if you can not do justice, marry only one’. This statement… ‘Marry only one’, is only given in the Qur’an - it is not there in any other Religious books. In pre-Islamic Arabia, men had several wives… Some people had hundreds of wives. Islam put an upper limit to Polygamy - Maximum four. And if you can have more than one wife, only on the condition, that you can do equal justice between the two, or bet¬ween the three, or four - otherwise only one. And the same Surah… Surah Nisa, Ch. No. 4, Verse No. 129, says that..., ‘It is very difficult for a man to be just, between his wives’. So Polygamy is an exception… it is not the rule - Many people think that Islam says..., you should compulsory marry more than one wife. There are five categories of do’s and don’ts, in Islam. 1st category is compulsory, which is ‘Farz’, the 2nd category is ‘Recommended’ or ‘Encouraged’, the 3rd category is the ‘Permissible’ category, the 4th category is the ‘Discouraged’ category, and the last is prohibited or ‘Forbidden’ – Polygeny, falls in the middle category of, ‘Permissible’. There is no statement in any Hadith, or in the Qur’an which says that... ‘If a man marries more than one wife, he is a better Muslim than a person who marries only one wife’.

Let us analyse logically, why does Islam allow a man, to marry more than one wife? By nature, men and women are born… male and females are born, in equal proportion. But medical science tells us that… ‘The fetus… if it’s a female, it is more stronger than the male fetus.’ Pediatric knowledge tells us, that... a female child has got more resistance, than the male child - A female child can fight germs and disease, much more stronger and a better way, than the male child.
Medical science tells us, that the female is health wise a stronger sex, than the male - so in the Pediatric stage itself, the female ratio is higher than the male ratio.
Wars take place in the world, and during wars, more males are killed than the female. Even the recent war which took place… in the recent war which took place in Afghanistan, approximately more than one and a half million people were martyred, out of which most of them were men. Statistics tells us that accidents take place - More of the men die in accidents, than female - More male death takes place due to cigarette smoking, than female death. Therefore, we have more females in the world, as compared to the male. India is one of the country, besides the few of the Asian countries, and Africa, in which the female population is more than the male population. And the reason I have given you … because more than one million fetuses are… female fetuses are being aborted, every year. And because of the high rate of infanticide… female infanticide - that is the reason, that females are less than the male. Otherwise, you stop this evil practice, and within a few decade, you’ll have that the male population is… will become much less than the female population.

In New York alone, there are 1 million females more than male - In US, alone there are 7.8 million females more than males, and out of the male population of New York, 1/3 are Gay. They are Sodomites - That means, they can not find female partners - And there are more than 25 million Gays in America. In Britain alone, there are more than 4 million females, more than males - In Germany alone there are 5 million females more, than males - In Russia alone, there are 7 million females, more than males - And God knows, how many million females are there more than the males, in this whole world.


If suppose my sister happens to live in America, and suppose the market is saturated, every man has found a female partner for himself - Still there will be more than 30 million females in USA alone, who will not be able to find husbands. And suppose my sister who is living in America, happens to be amongst the unfortunate ladies, who has not found a partner yet - The only option remaining for her is, that she either marries a husband… she marries a man who already has a wife, or she becomes public property - There is no third option. And believe me I have posed this question to hundreds of Non-Muslims, and every one opted for the first - No one so far, has opted for the second. But there are some people who are smart, and he said that... ‘I would prefer my sister remaining a virgin’. Believe me, medical science tells us, that a man or woman cannot remain a virgin, throughout her life. She cannot remain a virgin, throughout her life, without indulging in illicit sex or sexual perversion, because daily, sex hormones are being liberated in the body. And those great men, who claim to have renounced the world, for example the Sages and the Sants, who go to mountains and Himalayas… behind them, you find the devadasis going - for what? According to a report…
according to a report… ‘Out of the Priests and the Nuns of the Church of England, the majority indulge in fornication and homosexuality’ - there is no option… there is no third option. The only option is, that you marry a husband who already has a wife, or you become a public property.





The only condition which allows a man to marry more than one wife is that, he should do justice between the two wives. If he can do justice between the two or three or four wives that he has, he is allowed to take more than one wife - If he can not do justice he should suffice with only one wife. But there are several conditions, in which it is more advisable for a man to take more than one wife. One of the examples I gave is - because of the surplus women which can not find husbands, Islam has allowed Polygeny… to protect the modesty of the women. There are several other conditions - For example, suppose a young lady, she gets married, and within may be… or approximately a few months of her marriage, she has an accident, and she gets handicapped and she cannot satisfy the husband. The only option for the husband is, that he either keeps his first wife, who is handicapped and takes another wife, or divorces the first wife, and marries a new wife. I am telling you, suppose your sister happens to be that unfortunate lady, who gets handicapped - which would you prefer? Would you prefer your brother-in-law to divorce her, and to marry a new wife, or would you prefer your brother-in-law to keep that first wife, and to take another wife? There are situations in which the wife can become seriously ill - She can have a disease in which she will not be able to look after the children, or look after the husband. Under such conditions, it is more advisable that, that wife shares the husband with another lady, who will not only look after the husband… will also look after her, as well as the children. Many people may argue that... ‘Why can not you keep a maid servant or a nurse, who will look after the children?’ I do agree with you - You can very well keep a maidservant, who will look after your children and your wife - But who will look after you then? Very soon, that maidservant will start looking after you also. So the best option is, that you keep your first wife, and take another wife, and treat both of them equally. There can be conditions such as… after several years of marriage, you have got no children, and may be both the husband and wife, they yearn for the child. The wife can very well give permission to the husband, to marry another wife, and they can have more children. Some people may argue that... ‘Why do not you adopt a child?’ Islam does not allow adoption, for which there are several reasons, I will not go into. The only option remaining here is, that he either divorces the first wife, and takes another wife, if he wants children - or he keeps the first, and takes another wife, and treats them both of them equally - I hope these are sufficient reasons.

[umair]

2. Do young Muslim girls have a choice about whether or not their clitoris is removed?

The one thing I will point out is that this topic is more of culture idiosyncracy rather than a religious one. There are many many Muslim countries where this does not occur.

It's in the Quran. Mohammad saw a woman in Medina that had been a genital mutilator in Mecca and he asked her if she was still doing that. She said yes she was and he said to just not cut too deep while cutting the flesh from the genitals but he approved of it and there are hadiths that say it is noble. Some sects believe Mohammad ordered it and it's required.

It is, however, practiced by some other members of other religions but the greatest percentage are Muslims. And it is approved in the Muslim Holy Book and the Hadiths.

But thank you for pointing that out.

well caroline,

no where in the quran would you find any verse regarding female clitoris removal


and their are only one or two hadith present in this context

and today, the number of muslims practicing it is almost equal to the number of christians

so please dont propogate false.

[Wyvern]

In New York alone, there are 1 million females more than male - In US, alone there are 7.8 million females more than males, and out of the male population of New York, 1/3 are Gay. They are Sodomites - That means, they can not find female partners - And there are more than 25 million Gays in America. In Britain alone, there are more than 4 million females, more than males - In Germany alone there are 5 million females more, than males - In Russia alone, there are 7 million females, more than males - And God knows, how many million females are there more than the males, in this whole world.

Stop pulling numbers out of your ass to support your argument. Cite your source, as has already been noted your numbers are simply wrong. Continuing to cite information as correct after you have been informed this is not true turns into simple lying and I would bet your religion has something to say about what to do with liars.

If suppose my sister happens to live in America, and suppose the market is saturated, every man has found a female partner for himself - Still there will be more than 30 million females in USA alone, who will not be able to find husbands. And suppose my sister who is living in America, happens to be amongst the unfortunate ladies, who has not found a partner yet - The only option remaining for her is, that she either marries a husband… she marries a man who already has a wife, or she becomes public property

This really illustrates how little you understand cultures outside your own. In America people do not become property. In America there is another option and that is to remain single. America is not an islamic country so it doesn't have to adhere to its rules in which men have to provide for all females needs, neither do we have to adhere to islams moral codes.

[carolineislands]

2. Do young Muslim girls have a choice about whether or not their clitoris is removed?

The one thing I will point out is that this topic is more of culture idiosyncracy rather than a religious one. There are many many Muslim countries where this does not occur.

It's in the Quran. Mohammad saw a woman in Medina that had been a genital mutilator in Mecca and he asked her if she was still doing that. She said yes she was and he said to just not cut too deep while cutting the flesh from the genitals but he approved of it and there are hadiths that say it is noble. Some sects believe Mohammad ordered it and it's required.

It is, however, practiced by some other members of other religions but the greatest percentage are Muslims. And it is approved in the Muslim Holy Book and the Hadiths.

But thank you for pointing that out.

well caroline,

no where in the quran would you find any verse regarding female clitoris removal


and their are only one or two hadith present in this context

and today, the number of muslims practicing it is almost equal to the number of christians

so please dont propogate false.

A woman used to perform circumcision in Medina [Madîna]. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to her: 'Do not cut severely as that is better for a woman and more desirable for a husband.'–Sunan Abu Dawûd, Book 41, #5251.





"According to the Shafi'i school [of Islamic law] to which we Kurds belong, circumcision is obligatory for both men and women," explains Mohamed Ahmed Gaznei, chief cleric in the city of Sulaimaniyah, Iraqi Kurdistan's second city.

Sunni Islam’s “Four Great Imams,” Ahmad ibn Hanbal (from whom the Hanbali school of Islamic jurisprudence takes its name) quotes Muhammed as saying: “Circumcision is a law for men and a preservation of honour for women.”

Sheikh Muhammad Sayyed Tantawi of Egypt’s Al-Azhar University has called circumcision “a laudable practice that did honor to women.”

This from the World Health Org:
In which countries is FGM/FGC practiced?

The practice is common in parts of Africa, Asia and in some Arab Countries. It is practiced among communities in : Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire , Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda.

FGM/FGC is also practiced among certain ethnic groups in a number of Asian countries (India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan); among some groups in the Arabian Peninsula (in Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen); and among certain immigrant communities in Europe, Australia, Canada and the United States.

Heres a map of incidence of female genital mutilation or "circumcision" as most Muslims like to call it.

http://www.circumstitions.com/Maps.html

Here's a map of Islamic populations around the world:

http://www.mapsofworld.com/images/world ... on-map.gif

Now tell me that Christians practice it as much as Muslims.

You, sir, are the one that is spreading MISinformation. But as you probably have deduced, most people here are already aware of that.

One, Muslim men do NOT have to get their first wife's permission to marry another wife. The only recourse the first wife has is to divorce him. Stop lying.

Second, how can a child decide whether or not she is to get genitally mutilated when she is between infancy and puberty when it's done to her? Stop lying.

If your rationale for polygany is population by gender then that means Muslim women in India can have multiple husbands but men can only have one wife. Right? Stop the lame excuses.

You know as well as I do that the Quran allows men to beat their wives:

"Men are overseers over women, by reason of that wherewith Allah hath made one of them excel over another, and by reason of that which they expend of their substance. Wherefore righteous women are obedient, and are watchers in husbands absence by the aid and protection of Allah. And those wives whose refractoriness ye fear, exhort them, and avoid them in beds, and beat them; but if they obey you, seek not a way against them; verily Allah is ever Lofty, Grand." (Quran 4:34 A.M. Daryabad Trans.)

Stop lying.

Every one of the answers you gave were lies. And your proselytizing efforts are quite transparent. You are not fooling anybody here. I, for one, recognize you and your agenda.

If you really want to trick someone into believing the things you say you should at least stick to statements that are somewhat truthful.

[umair]

2. Do young Muslim girls have a choice about whether or not their clitoris is removed?

The one thing I will point out is that this topic is more of culture idiosyncracy rather than a religious one. There are many many Muslim countries where this does not occur.

It's in the Quran. Mohammad saw a woman in Medina that had been a genital mutilator in Mecca and he asked her if she was still doing that. She said yes she was and he said to just not cut too deep while cutting the flesh from the genitals but he approved of it and there are hadiths that say it is noble. Some sects believe Mohammad ordered it and it's required.

It is, however, practiced by some other members of other religions but the greatest percentage are Muslims. And it is approved in the Muslim Holy Book and the Hadiths.

But thank you for pointing that out.

well caroline,

no where in the quran would you find any verse regarding female clitoris removal


and their are only one or two hadith present in this context

and today, the number of muslims practicing it is almost equal to the number of christians

so please dont propogate false.

A woman used to perform circumcision in Medina [Madîna]. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to her: 'Do not cut severely as that is better for a woman and more desirable for a husband.'–Sunan Abu Dawûd, Book 41, #5251.





"According to the Shafi'i school [of Islamic law] to which we Kurds belong, circumcision is obligatory for both men and women," explains Mohamed Ahmed Gaznei, chief cleric in the city of Sulaimaniyah, Iraqi Kurdistan's second city.

Sunni Islam’s “Four Great Imams,” Ahmad ibn Hanbal (from whom the Hanbali school of Islamic jurisprudence takes its name) quotes Muhammed as saying: “Circumcision is a law for men and a preservation of honour for women.”

Sheikh Muhammad Sayyed Tantawi of Egypt’s Al-Azhar University has called circumcision “a laudable practice that did honor to women.”

This from the World Health Org:
In which countries is FGM/FGC practiced?

The practice is common in parts of Africa, Asia and in some Arab Countries. It is practiced among communities in : Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire , Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda.

FGM/FGC is also practiced among certain ethnic groups in a number of Asian countries (India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan); among some groups in the Arabian Peninsula (in Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen); and among certain immigrant communities in Europe, Australia, Canada and the United States.

Heres a map of incidence of female genital mutilation or "circumcision" as most Muslims like to call it.

http://www.circumstitions.com/Maps.html

Here's a map of Islamic populations around the world:

http://www.mapsofworld.com/images/world ... on-map.gif

Now tell me that Christians practice it as much as Muslims.

You, sir, are the one that is spreading MISinformation. But as you probably have deduced, most people here are already aware of that.

One, Muslim men do NOT have to get their first wife's permission to marry another wife. The only recourse the first wife has is to divorce him. Stop lying.

Second, how can a child decide whether or not she is to get genitally mutilated when she is between infancy and puberty when it's done to her? Stop lying.

If your rationale for polygany is population by gender then that means Muslim women in India can have multiple husbands but men can only have one wife. Right? Stop the lame excuses.

You know as well as I do that the Quran allows men to beat their wives:

"Men are overseers over women, by reason of that wherewith Allah hath made one of them excel over another, and by reason of that which they expend of their substance. Wherefore righteous women are obedient, and are watchers in husbands absence by the aid and protection of Allah. And those wives whose refractoriness ye fear, exhort them, and avoid them in beds, and beat them; but if they obey you, seek not a way against them; verily Allah is ever Lofty, Grand." (Quran 4:34 A.M. Daryabad Trans.)

Stop lying.

Every one of the answers you gave were lies. And your proselytizing efforts are quite transparent. You are not fooling anybody here. I, for one, recognize you and your agenda.

If you really want to trick someone into believing the things you say you should at least stick to statements that are somewhat truthful.

well here are the reasons for my answers:

1)if in the official wedding contract of a couple(known as the nikaahnaama),the woman has made the point that her husband cannot marry any other woman, before gaining her permission, then it is obligatory for the man to do so.

2)the hijab is not a compulsary but a prescribed act in islam for a woman, to protect her modesty by not making other men interested or think bad about her.
but if she wants she can drop it, without any problem.

3)FGM is not an issue for islam, because it is not compulsary but a advisable act in islam.
(further i would like to say, that i still have to learn more about this topic, and will inform you whenever i get more knowledge about it)

4)polyandry

A man is allowed to marry more than one wife… why is not a woman allowed to marry more than one husband?
Firstly you should realise, that man is more sexual than the woman. Point number 2… Biologically, a man can perform his duty as a husband, even after he has more than one wife… which a woman, if she has more than one husband, she will not be able to perform her duty, as a wife, enough and satisfactorily. Medical Science tells us that… ‘The lady… during her menstrual period, undergoes certain behavioral and psychological changes… in which she is mentally disturbed and therefore… the majority of the quar¬rels, the majority of the quarrels that takes place… during the menstrual period. Accord¬ing to a report of the criminal record of the women in USA, most of the ladies that committed the crime, was during the menstrual period. Therefore for a wife, if she has more than one husband, to mentally adjust will be more difficult. Medical science also tells us… ‘If a lady has more than one husband, she has chances of acquiring sexually transmitted diseases, as well as venereal diseases - and she can transmit it back to the husband… which is not the case if a husband, has more than one wife.