Role and Position of Women in Islam - Essay Example

Role and Position of Women in Islam Introduction Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam, gave due rights and respect to Muslim women in the holy book of Koran. In pre-Islamic era women were oppressed and treated no more than slaves of men. Muhammad brought some changes in the status of women in the society, but it was not long after his death that men used their traditional and orthodox beliefs to maintain their supremacy and authority in the society. The role and status of women in Muslim world also depends greatly on regional traditions and cultural beliefs. Some regions gave liberation and freedom to women, while others are still living in the olden times of women segregation, veiling, abuse and inequality. The end of nineteenth century saw many reform movements taking to the plight of women and demanding their basic rights of freedom and equality. This paper discusses the role and position of women in Islam, from olden to modern times. Paper will also argue the accuracy of generalized view of Muslim women presented by the media. Muslim Women: Early times In earlier times Muslim women were not given any liberty or rights. Some Muslim cultures considered wives mere servants, whose basic job was to keep their husbands happy and be submissive to their sexual desires. Women were not supposed to go anywhere without a man. They had to restrict themselves to their household only. Even today there are societies that do not allow women go out without wearing a burka or niqab, especially the Taliban in Afghanistan (Malti-Douglas 2206). As far as sexual freedom is concerned, men could enjoy sexual pleasures with any number of women, but a woman was supposed to be the property of her husband alone. Men are allowed to marry four times in their life and have as many concubines as they want, but women must have only one husband in their lifetime. Traditional thinking forced a division among sexes in seating or entering at public places as well (Malti-Douglas 2206). Even Koran has defended the monopoly of men in a marriage. Men can use physical punishment against heir wives. A women nurturing any illicit relationship is punished harshly both socially, religiously and legally. But any disloyalty or ill conduct by men is not seen as ugly a crime as is the case of women. It is not uncommon to kill women who are found guilty of adultery and call it “honor killing” (Malti-Douglas 2207). Muhammad and Women Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam, himself had many wives, and treated all his women with love and respect. There is no mention of him ill-treating any of his wives. Muhammad was very close to his first wife, Khadījah and his youngest wife, Āishah. Khadijah had five children with Muhammad while none of his other wives had any children. Muhammad granted equal rights and freedom to all his wives. They were not dominated or suppressed by any means. He had liberal views than many other men of those times, who considered their wives as their property. He also used to consult his wives in important matters (Armstrong 6220, 6224). Muhammad believed and supported the freedom and equality of women. Koran advocates right to inherit familial property and right to divorce for women. Koran or Muhammad have never advocated suppression and abuse of women. Today’s beliefs of male supremacy and dominance have nothing to do with the teachings of Koran or Muhammad. Koran sees men and women as equal (Armstrong 6224). Koran and Women Even though Koran considers men and women equal in many ways and grants rights to women, there is still some ambiguity about the role of women as explained by some verses of the holy book. According to verse 4:34, men can use physical punishment against women for adultery and disloyalty. This verse is used by many cultures to support physical abuse and honor killings of women. A part of verse 4:34 of Koran says “men are in charge of [or the protectors of qawwāmūnʿalā] women because God has given the one more than the other, and because they support them from their means.” (qtd. in Van Doorn-Harder 3368). The correct interpretation is argued. Some scholars believe this verse establishes man as the supreme authority while others believe that this verse portrays man as a protector of women and household (Van Doorn-Harder 3369). Muhammad never preached to stop women from praying in mosques and attending Islamic festivals of Id al-Fitr after Ramadan and Id al-Adha after the hajj. After Muhammad’s death it was some orthodox men and cultures that stopped women from attending mosques. In present times women have more religious freedom. Women preachers are common and encouraged to teach religion to other women (Van Doorn-Harder 3369). Regional Beliefs and Islam Muslim women have different status and roles in different Islamic nations. In many regions and cultures women lead a restrained life, limited to their household and husbands alone, for example Arabic women of North Africa and Hausa women in northern Nigeria. However there are other regions where women lead a more liberal life, like the Yoruba women in southwestern Nigeria and the Tuareg-Berbers of the Sahara. Different cultures have different practices like the spirit possession cults that allow religious, leadership and educational freedom to women. Women are given limited rights in their own sphere, not challenging male authority and supremacy. Such practices include the Sufi dhikr, Hausas’ bori in West Africa, Ethiopia and Sudan’s zar, and Murids’ Sokna Magat Diop. Women are taking steps to participate in different spheres of life and demand social, cultural and political equality. Education is the biggest reform. Education has brought awareness and enlightenment. It has given women the power to fight for their rights and freedom from social injustice and inequality (Chande 22-23) Women Reform Movements Recent times have seen the rise of many reform movements to grant basic rights and respect to Muslim women and free them from age old conventional patriarchal hierarchy. In many cultures Muslim women are not allowed even fundamental human rights to liberty, education, democracy, equality, awareness, protection and wellbeing. End of the nineteenth century saw a new movement for women rights. Women demanded their right to education and freedom from evils of the society. Modern scholars like Muḥammad Abduh used Koran to spread the message of equality of women. Women Associations like the Egyptian Feminist Union, the International Womens Alliance and Aisyiyah began their struggle and used Koran to support their demands. Their objectives were to spread the awareness about various causes like education of women, legal and political rights and freedom from evils like women segregation and polygamy. (Van Doorn-Harder 3365). Women also played an important role in the independence of imperialist colonies. After independence, however, while some constitutions ensured a better position of women, others made the matters worse, like the Taliban in Afghanistan and the government of Omar Hassan al-Bashir in Sudan. Taliban is strictly against any kind of women liberation. They believe and preach supremacy and authority of men alone (Van Doorn-Harder 3365). Feminist movements in different parts of the world raised their voice against several local traditions, carried in the name of religion, that were nothing more than brutality and inhuman treatment towards women. Issues like honor killings, damage of female genitals, shariah, clitoridectomy were the worst of them all. International efforts include the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979) and the United Nations Decade for Women (1975–1985). Other regional movements like the Arab Womens Solidarity Association works for stopping honor killings, FGM (female genital mutilation) Task Force works to stop female genital mutilation, Women for Womens Human Rights in Turkey fight for human rights of women and the Turkish Womens Movement against Sexual Assault fights legal battle against sexual assault of women (Van Doorn-Harder 3365). Muslim Women and Media Western media often represents Islam as a strict religion with no consideration to rights and liberty of women. This, however, may be true for some parts of the world, where there is less awareness and no education, but the scenario has changed considerably over time. Prophet Muhammad preached rights and equality of women. Today Muslim women have much more political, cultural and religious freedom. Muslim women enjoy high status and position in the society. There are some great women political leaders, writers, journalists, scholars who have earned a place in the society. Media never highlights these positive points of Islam. Today there is no restriction on women being religious teachers and preachers. Women can go anywhere they want and wear anything they like. There are no age old traditional restrictions levied on women today. But most of the times Media represents Muslim women as covered in burkhas or perhaps bonded in their homes. Even if these restrictions exist they are the result of orthodox local traditions and have nothing to do with Islam. Conclusion Times are changing and awareness and education are supporting women across the global to fight for their rights. Conventional systems are no longer acknowledged and will soon cease to exist. Many reformers are spreading the message of women equality and liberation. Even today’s modern Muslim men are open to these ideals and ready to except a more sophisticated and contemporary image and role of women in the Islamic society. Islam treats men and women equal and has never supported any kind of brutality against women. Also the western media must try to have an open mind towards Islam and portray it as a calm and peaceful religion. It is time to change the conventional view to a more aware and responsive view. Works Cited Chande, Abdin. "African Culture and Islam." Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World. Ed. Richard C. Martin. Vol. 1. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2004. 19-24. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. Albany College of Pharmacy and Health S. 6 Oct. 2009 . Van Doorn-Harder, Nelly. "Gender and Religion: Gender and Islam." Encyclopedia of Religion. Ed. Lindsay Jones. Vol. 5. 2nd ed. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2005. 3364-3371. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. Albany College of Pharmacy and Health S. 6 Oct. 2009 . Malti-Douglas, Fedwa. Sexuality: Islamic Views. New Dictionary of the History of Ideas. Ed. Maryanne Cline Horowitz. Vol. 5. Detroit: Charles Scribners Sons, 2005. 2206-2207. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. Albany College of Pharmacy and Health S. 8 Oct. 2009 . Read More