The Position of Women in Islam - Term Paper Example

Status of Women under Islam by Introduction Muslim society is traditionally critiqued for the position of women in Islam. Islamic religious law, Sharia, presupposes differences between men and women rights and obligations. The differences can be seen in the questions of marriage, divorce, education, law, and clothes. Western society considers any limitation and restrictions to be blameworthy. However, it is impossible not to take in the account the fact that men and women are not the same, and treating them in similar way is illogical. Men and women want different things in life and are destined for different things in life. Thus, basing on the long-term observation of men and women nature Islam offers a separate way of treating women restricting some of their rights and offering other benefits. Thus, it can also be probable that taking men and women equally is actually violation of their rights. As the question remains controversial, more and more people include in the debate over it. However, having explored the topic I came to conclusion that the Islam supports women`s rights on a decent level. Body Speaking about Islam it is necessary to take into account that this religion cannot be understood as wholesome. Islam is a very divergent religion, with a number of ethnicities involved. There are also four different Schools of Thought in Islam (Hanafi, Hanbali, Maliki, and Shafi) which have slightly different views and laws. According to Barlow & Akbarzadeh, before introduction of Islam the position of a woman was more advantageous with more stress on equality. For example, the authors admit that a man could live with woman`s relatives after marriage. Some women even denied Islam after its introduction as the religion put at risk their roles in social relationship (2006). Thus, it obvious that people have ambivalent opinions about women rights in Islam, and the issue itself is complicated. There are several important issues which are often discussed by those who support equal rights for men and women. One of the most noticeable differences between men and women is the concept of marriage. Despite the varieties of interpretation Islam sees marriage as a sacred union between a man and a woman that is also a religious obligation for both. However, women subordination to men is also viewed as a necessity in Quran. Prophet Mohammed underlines that mutual respect and love are the conditions of a good marriage, and being kind and attentive to a spouse is a form of worship. Moreover, marriage should be agreed and based on loyalty and commitment. Men are also described as financial providers of the family with the ability to inherit half of the property in marriage (Sohail 2010). However, in one of the chapters of Quran men are allowed to have more than one wife, if they can to treat their wives equally. This rule puts women into submissive position. The choice whether to marry or not more than once depends solely on a man, and a woman will be forced to tolerate second and third wives respectfully. However, in the Islamic tradition there is no remark about treating co-wives equally, thus, the issue of polygamy depends greatly on interpretations of Quran (Sohail). Sohail suggest that polygamy could actually be misinterpreted: “However, this verse could also be interpreted as an endorsement of monogamy as it acknowledges that men may not be able to treat their co-wives equally”. (2006) This proves that sacred writing if taken as raw material call for equality and respect towards women. It is difficult to imagine such laws in the modern world but for the Islam tradition it does not look like strange. The question with divorce seems to be difficult as well. According to Barlow and Akbarzadeh, only men have the right to get divorced. However, in one school of Thought, Maliki, a woman also has a right to get divorced due to several important reasons. The most striking is the way by which men receive divorce, a man can state three times: `I divorce thee` and he does not need any evidence from church or court to support his decision (2006). A woman after divorce has to wait some time before getting married again in order to confirm not being pregnant. Thus, the authors underline that Islam is built around male-dominated Muslim family and patriarchal values: polygamy, repudiation, and guarantee of paternity leaving no space to women decisions. There is also one rule which signifies unequal position of men and women in Quran within legal perspective. It is stated that the testimony of two women is equal to the testimony of one man in legal cases (Suhaim 2010). Kirmani also draws attention to another specific restriction of women rights in Islam. It touches family planning and reproductive health questions. As these issues are quite sensitive there is little attention paid to them in the society which results in women suppression and restrictions (2011). Barlow and Azkardeh analyzed Mernissi`s research of hijab in their article (2006). The author tried to trace the origin of the veil in Muslim culture. The first remark made in Quran about hijab refers to the event described after Prophet Mohammed marriage to Zaynab and some guests staying for too long in the welcoming house. Thus, Quran recommends the guests to ask women behind hijab. According to Barlow and Akbarzadeh “ the hijab can thus be interpreted as Allahs answer to a community that had become too invasive, a community with boorish manners whose lack of delicacy offended the Prophet whose politeness bordered on timidity”. (2008) After veil introduction this piece of clothes has become a symbol of Islam, women`s seclusion, and their freedoms restriction. The author emphasizes that interpreting this verse in context meant that women should have avoid being seen in public places to prevent fear and harassments. However, in some countries women still choose to wear hijab for these very reasons even today. Still Mernissi insists on male manipulation of Quran interpretations and intended failure of context application to the disputable questions such as hijab (Barlow & Akbarzadeh 2008) The opposition between West and Muslim world has resulted in introduction of more strict rules for women in some countries, however, in Morrocco for instance, after a number of reforms the society expressed the desire to return to old traditions: “The Islamist response to the failure of the modernization paradigm in Morroco, as elsewhere in the Middle East, was to reject the secular model and call for a return to Islam: Islam is the solution became the catch cry”. (Barlow & Akbarzadeh 2008). Islamizes regard western traditions as those that aim to undermine Muslim believes influencing their women with democratic values, thus in such countries as Iran the rules for women became even more strict (Barlow and Akbarzadeh). Most modern feminists call for immediate changes in women treatment in Islam. The main argument for these changes is male misinterpretation and manipulation of sacred texts neglecting historical context. Nevertheless, there are different approaches to Islam modernization with the emphasis on equal male and female rights. Kirmani suggests that religious-based approach is the most efficient as it does not put under question Islamic tradition and does not involve people beyond the traditions who can be perceived as hostile. This approach presupposes religious leaders’ involvement into Muslim society education in gender sensitive questions such as family planning. Another approach is based on women stimulation to Quran accurate studying. Barlow and Akbarzadeh, in their turn underline the necessity of modernization of Islam as it is no longer can deny democratic human rights. However uniting Islamic rules and tradition with Western can result in the loss of Islam credibility where God is proclaimed to be a sole lawmaker. However, the authors underline that opposing male superiority over women does not mean opposing Islam as a religion. The author of the book which they analyzed offers sacred texts thorough reinterpretation and analysis in order to subdivide “Allah`s specific ordinances and transcendental, spiritual message of Islam” (Barlow and Azkardeh 2006). It is also possible to find “homeomorphic equivalent of human rights” within Islam sacred writing. It is important to remind that despite restrictions and limitations of women rights derived from Quran interpretations, Islam is definitely emphasizes the necessity of equality of men and women before God. The essence of Islam is spiritual an ethical dimension of being for any individual (Sohail). The attempts of adjusting sharia to the modern realities are often in vain. Sohail tells about the Pakistani example where special commission on Islamic family laws applicability was created. Finally, the verdict stated that Muslims cannot believe that Quran is not able to meet the changes of the world with a decent respond. Conclusion Thus, there are several views on the possibility of Islam adaptation to Western norms of equality. Some claim that such modernization is impossible as Muslim traditions are inseparable from patriarchate. Others insist that Islam must be reviewed with the help of sacred texts reinterpretation by the society, and women themselves in particular. All in all, Islam is going through certain evolution as more and more feministic moods appear and more and more attention is drawn to the religion. However, Islam is progressive religion and despite of a number of misinterpretations it is clear that the core statement is equality of men and women before Allah with women`s rights granting. Annotated Bibliography Barlow, R. & Akbarzadeh, S.2008, `Women`s Rights in the Muslim World: reform or reconstruction!?, `Third World Quarterly, vol.27, no.8, pp. 1481-1496. In this article Barlow and Akbazadeh review Islamic and Muslim traditions regarding women rights basing on the book “Beyond the Veil” of Fatima Mernissi. The author of the book suggests Islam being patriarchal religion due to corrupted male interpretation of Quran. The research also focuses on the differences of legislation derived from different interpretations and approaches to Quran as well as their visible patriarchal accents. The authors regard the most disputable questions of rights of men and women touching marriage and divorce, children custody, education, and clothes. The article introduces the context from sacred scriptures where these issues were first represented. The authors underline the necessity of Quran reinterpretation with feminist and historical context. The article helps to look at Quran closely and evaluate its possible influence. Kirmani, N. 2011, `Engaging with Islam to promote women rights: exploring opportunities and challenging assumptions`, Progress in Development Studies, vol.11, no.2, pp. 87-99. The article offers a critical analysis of different non-governmental organizations and women`s movements in promoting women`s rights within Islamic world. The author underlines hostile relationship between feminists’ movement and religious institutions due to women rights restrictions. Further Kirmani outlines the two approaches to women rights promotion in Islamic world: with the help of religious leaders and encouraging women to self-education of sacred writings. The issues, which are generally need to be reintroduced to women are family planning, marriage violence, and reproductive health. Religion-based approach proves to be logical and justified as it allows being respectful to Islamizes introducing new views. The article allows understanding the directions and ways of women rights in Islam modernization. Sohail, MD. `Gender, Islam, and Human Rights`, The Journal of Legal Awareness. pp.85-89. In the article Sohail regards men polygamy as one of the most striking difference in Islam for both sexes and tries to outline various approaches to the question of marriage in Islam. The author also underlines that historical context as well as School of Thought dealing with Quran influences greatly the rights of women in society. Sohail also tells about recent modern governments’ agreement directed to equal rights assurance for both sexes throughout the world. The article is useful to my research topic as the authors provide a number of examples of legislation nuances stipulated by various approaches to Quran interpretation. It also beneficial that the authors find a number of evidence proving that beyond all the differences Islam aims equality between men and women, which coincide with my article`s thesis. The main limitation of the article is that the survey was restricted to a small quantity of examples, and further more extensive research is needed. The article will serve as one of the basic sources of information for my paper. Sohail, H. 2010. `The Rights of Muslim Women. A Comment on Irene Oh`s The Rights of God`, The Journal of Religious Ethics, vol.38, no. 3, pp. 588-593. Sohail identifies the main question over which women resistance in Islam is based. The author also examines the experience of Pakistani rise for women rights and its consequences. The article can be helpful in my research as it gives understanding of the history of resistance with valuable examples. The author also draws attention to the problem of a modern Muslim woman who faces the necessity to fit into religious context and support Western democratic values. The article is well exemplified and comprehensive and the data is used in my paper Read More