Preference to Men over Women - Research Paper Example

Preference to Men Over Women. Does Quran Agree? It is generally accepted that women in Islam have no rights. The woman can become the fourth wife, and will not receive anything in the event of divorce, and even in the mosque can`t stand near a man. Such a view is a stereotype generated by complete ignorance of religious Muslim origins. Nowhere women have as much rights as in Islam. Quran favorably relates to the most elegant jewelry and clothes. If woman is dressed from head to toe in black clothes, remember that this color is not irrelevant to the Quran. At the same time, the Quran insists on the absolute prohibition of demonstrations sexual charms to anyone other than the husband. If one`s dressed in fancy clothes, then it should not be fitting, translucent, but can carry a whole range of colors (Mernissi 311). In that case a burqa is a pagan invention, the pre-Islamic, preserved in some Muslim countries due to practical needs: protecting from the desert wind, carrying sand, protecting from the looks of men-strangers. By the way, the Arabs adhere increasingly the fourth verses of the Koran, which says to be married only on one woman, if the man has no possibility to satisfy her needs. Here we are talking about equality in property. In marriage, woman has the right to choose her husband. She can require the signing of a pre-nuptial agreement with her husband-to-be (Bakhtiar Web). The possibility of polygamy is provided in exceptional cases. For example, if a woman can`t have children, if there is a psychological or sexual incompatibility with her husband. The man is allowed to continue living with the first family and marries a second time. However the percentage of such marriages is extremely low in the Muslim countries, and on those territories, where women are more emancipated, like Syria, Jordan, Iraq, polygamy is practically absent, with rare exceptions. If we talk about the different rooms during praying in the mosques, it is arranged for the purpose that man must not see her in the position of committing Sujud (prostration during prayer). By the way, in many mosques women`s half of territory is carpeted or has heated floors. We have also another interesting fact. When a woman from a Muslim family goes to work, then all her salary arrives into her pocket, bypassing the so-called “family” budget. This point shows us that a Muslim woman can have even more rights in some cases than Christian one (“Women Laws” 40). Religion of Islam claims that a woman - as well as man - has a will, freedom of action and spirituality, and it considers her ability to achieve true perfection and happiness. Quran puts woman on a par with a man and refers to both at the same level (Roald 213). With this statement Islam destroys the ideology of the allegations and distorted religious beliefs that the woman exists only in a relationship and stays at a low position compared with man. The Holy Quran has clearly declared that a woman and a man came out of one essence and were created from a single soul, and a woman is a cause of man`s peace and quiet. In the chapter “Al Imran” again both men and women have the same treatment: “And their Lord answered them: Truly I will never cause to be lost the work of any of you, Be you a male or female, you are members one of another” (3:195). There are some differences between women and men in the religious commandments and responsibilities, but the differences are based on the physiological structure of women. By the Almighty Allah woman and a man have a single rank, and none of them is superior to another. At the same time the Quran does not mention people can be image of Allah.  Segregation of duties and responsibilities between men and women are clear and understandable. Religion of Islam wants to bring a woman to individual and public happiness, but not to plunge her into discrimination and injustice, as other religious confessions can do. Some people can be inspired by fanatics, that man can`t work with a woman in the same organization, or that women should not participate in public affairs. However, the Holy Quran states that it is time to leave aside these ignorant traditions. Even if man does not like that woman is involved in social activities, politics, medicine, culture and teaching, he must be patient for this, perhaps, they do not know how huge is benefit and use of such occupation (Offenhauer 91). In Islam, the wife is considered the foundation of the family and society. Islam has laid important responsibilities on her and guaranteed a lot of rights. Men and women are equal in humanity. The woman is not considered as a source of sin or evil. She was not the reason for the overthrow of Adam from Paradise, according to religious ideas of Christian confession. Whether good or bad actions, men and women will be equal in front of Almighty Allah: “Whoever works evil will not be requited but by the like thereof, and whoever works a righteous deed -whether man or woman- and is a believer- such will enter the Garden of bliss” (40:40).  Woman has a right for protection of her honor and for respect of dignity as well as man. According to Shariah, whoever, who slanders the woman or curses her honor, should be punished. According to the Quran, a woman’s role is to do as many things as any man is required to make, and her life is not limited with childbirth. A married Muslim woman can retain her legal personality and her family name (Badawi 102).  According to the opinion of one American judge: “A Muslim girl may marry ten times, but her individuality is not absorbed by that of her various husbands. She is a solar planet with a name and legal personality of her own” (Siddiqi 138). According to the Muslim religion a woman has the right for education. Allah encourages women to fill the learning process. It is said: “Whoever follows a way to seek knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a way to paradise” (Shaikh Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen). The political right, which was to Muslim women for more than 1400 years ago, was the right to vote. Woman can express their opinions and participate in politics. This is narrated in the Quran (60:12), where Muhammad is said that when the believing women come to him and swear their allegiance to Islam, he must take their oath. It established the right of women to choose their leader and announce it (Suad 27). Finally, Islam does not forbid a woman of holding positions in the government, while they satisfy her role as a woman. Summing up, before the advent of Islam, womens living conditions were very difficult. The woman had no guaranteed rights and with her opinion does not cost noting. Islam brought her out of this situation without rights, lifted her and got rid of most of harassment that she was subjected. It gave her the opportunity to feel worthy, provided her with legal rights and gave her freedom of accusation that she is root of all evil in the world. In the discussed topic Islam is often confused as a religion based on tolerance with obsolete customs and traditions and bad attitude of some Muslims to women. Objective judgment about Quran and its position must distinguish these two things. Such a plight of women in some Islamic societies is the result of widespread ignorance, but not the result of Islamic teachings. Works Cited Badawi Leila, “Islam” ed., Women in Religion. Pinter Publishers, 1994. Print. Laleh Bakhtiar. How Islam Confirms Women’s Rights muslima.imow.org. Web. Mernissi, Fatima. Women and Islam: An Historical and Theological Enquiry. Trans. by Mary Jo Lakeland. Oxford: Blackwell, 1991. Print. Priscilla Offenhauer, Women In Islamic Societies: A Selected Review Of Social Scientific Literature, Library of Congress, 2005. Print. Roald, Anne Sofie. Women in Islam: The Western Experience. New York: Routledge, 2001. Print. Siddiqi Amir H. Studies in Islamic History. Jamiyatul Falah Publications, 3rd edition, 1967. Print. Suad, Joseph, Women and Politics in the Middle East. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2001. Print. Women Laws Initiatives In The Muslim World, Lahore, Pakistan, Dec. 11-15, 1994. Print. Read More