The question of Muslim women's rights is an intriguing one requiring discernment of Islam's egalitarian principles from the ill-informed practices of some of its adherents.
To be clear, Islam is defined as a monotheistic, Abrahamic faith. Islamic jurisprudence is largely comprised of teachings from the Quran, a holy book believed to be the literal word of God, as well as those of Prophet Muhammad, considered the seal of a long line of prophets commencing with Adam.
Muslims are followers of Islam. And, as with believers of any religion, Muslims are fallible, capable of falling into error with the divine.
While this distinction appears elementary, it is often lost on those who conflate the Islamic faith with the adherent's misguided conduct. Nowhere is this, perhaps, more painfully obvious than the question of Muslim women's human rights.
Islamic tradition extols the Prophet Muhammad as the human embodiment of Quranic lessons. His conduct is thought to be worthy of emulation and his teachings as guiding principles of spiritual illumination.
So it seems logical for this discussion of Muslim women's rights to begin with a brief examination of the lives of extraordinary Muslim women who defined Islamic culture during Prophet Muhammad's lifetime, more than 1,400 years ago:
• Aisha bint Abu Bakr was a female scholar of great eminence. She was considered more knowledgeable than most of her male contemporaries in matters related to Quranic interpretation, poetry, medicine and history. She issued legal decisions and delivered public speeches eloquently.
• Maimunah bint Haris was a Muslim woman with a reputation for setting slaves free.
• Zainab bint Hayye was known for her kind treatment toward the Jewish people.
• Naseebah bint Ka'b, a female soldier, fought in battles against the pagans who persecuted Muslims for their staunch belief in the one God of Abraham.
• Naseebah bint Haris was a nurse.
• Zainab bint Abdullah was her family's primary breadwinner providing financially for her husband and their children.
• Khansaa bint Amr was lauded as a great poet.
• Shafa bint Adwiya was an intelligent woman skilled in politics and entrusted with overseeing the administration of the marketplace.
Their names may sound foreign, but their lives should not: Their noted achievements mirror those of remarkable American women like Anne Bradstreet, Clara Barton and Bella Abzug, among others.
So, perhaps the problem is not with Islam but with some Muslims' lack of proper understanding and patriarchal interpretation of it. Let us continue a dialogue toward greater inter-cultural and inter-religious understanding.
Engy Abdelkader is a Legal Fellow with the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding.
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This sentence contains the thrust of the article.
Much of the comment ignores the claim it makes. What is clear is that Islamic principles are translated into political practice differently in various Muslim majority states.
The question that remains is this: Is Tunisia's view of Islamic principles more accurate than Saudi Arabia's? Or is the reverse true, and why?
The entire discussion begs the question of whether or not religious principles should be enforced by any government in any way.
I believe that some BUT NOT ALL Muslim woman buy into wearing a burka and living with extreme restriction. But those that don’t want it, or would wish to just try anything outside the tight and controlling restrictions may face horrible consequences. A woman in Saudi Arabia wearing a short skirt may be stoned to death.
What else needs to be said?
Not all Muslim societies are repressive of women; some dictators use religion as a way to control the masses and create loyalty among society whereas other dictators are secular and prosecute religious extremism to maintain their power base as well as western support. You also tend to see less women’s rights in extremely poor societies where life in general is very similar to how people lived in that patch of the desert 1,400 years ago, where more modern societies with more widespread opportunities have generally made progress on women’s rights.
It’s not as black & white as saying all Muslim societies are repressive of women. It is a factor, but if you look at data from around the world, you see the strongest correlations between reduced women’s rights and nations that have extreme poverty problems, and an especially strong correlation in nations that have seen US military attacks or CIA interventions post WW2.
I read that with one exception (the US) lower standards of living are prevelent countries where religon plays a major role. And of course, contries such as Norway, Swedan, Denemark and others offer high standard of living while religion is far from main stream.
I don't know why the US is relativly well to do while being so religous.
I can certainly accept that different societies can be more severe while others more tolerant. Reading your response it almost sounds like there are many places of freedom for Muslim women, and Saudi is one of few bad places. You mentioned Tunisia. It is good to know, and I am pleased to hear it. But the question remains in my mind - what portion, say percentage of woman in the middle east are "relatively free" (say to wear a short dress), and what portion is not? I would appreciate a somewhat accurate answer.
I was under the impression that the "freedom" is an exception to the rule. I will be so gald to be wrong.
Religion is only a belief.
It's your human right to believe in anything - or nothing.
Religion is only a belief.
Wow is that an understatement!
Until there is a change within Islam, there will be no inter-religious understanding.
The Truth!