Newspapers / Meredith College Student Newspaper / Feb. 4, 1991, edition 1 / Page 6
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International Feature The Islamic Woman by Abeer Ahmed Mustafa Two years ago I came to the United States to get my educa tion. Since that time I have been hearing, reading, and watching how most Americans accuse Is lam of being so oppressive against women. This image has increased with the rising tension and finally the war between Iraq and what is called the allied forces. As a Mus lim woman, I fee! that it is my duty to present the right image of Islam and to let the Meredith community know about women’s rights in Islam. In this sensitive time, I believe that both the people of the United States and the Middle East have to come a little bit closer to each other and this cannot happen until we start to have some kind of understanding of each other as human beings. I talked about women’s rights in Islam so many limes, but it is the right time to speak about it pub licly. I am going to discuss this issue from four perspectives: spiritual, economic, political, and social. From the spiritual perspec tive, Islam says diat: 1. Women have the same spiri tual nature as men. 2. The Qur’an (the Islamic Holy Book) uses language that does not differentiate spiritually between men and women. 3. The moral and spiritual duties of Islam are the same for males and females. 4. Motherhood is not a punish ment in Islam (I read in the Bible that it is a punishment.) From the economic angle, you find that: 1. Islam fully recognizes the right of women, married or not, to own property and to invest in or dispose of it in any way they choose. 2. There is no restriction in Islamic law that prevents a woman from working if she chooses, as long as the work is not of a degrading nature. The best example for us is the Prophet's wife Khadija, who was a businesswoman. There are some additional fi nancial privileges for the woman in Islam The economic duties and responsibilities of men and women are equal as a total pack age, but they are not identical. For example, the man inherits twice as much as the woman, BUT: a) During the engagement period before a man and a woman get married, the woman is the one to receive gifts. b) The woman is the one who is entitled to receive the marital gift, or dowry. c) If she has any property before she gets married, it will be transferred fully to her credit after marriage, it will be under her control, and she is not required to spend any penny on any thing, even if she is rich. d) If she works or invests her money, she is not required to spend any penny on the house or any thing. e) fn cuse of divorce, she is entitled to the delayed part of the marital gift if it has not been paid. Regardless of her property, she is entitled to full maintenance after the divorce for a period of three months, nine months if she is pregnant. After the baby is born, the man is responsible for child support. From apolitical perspective: 1. Muslims, male and female, are required to be involved in the affairs of the society. 2. Qur’an shows that women can choose the ruler (or president) through Bai’^i, which is broader than a general election. There are three reasons for this Bai’a: a)' To insure that men and women approve of the ruler; b) To have men and women of the society make a commit ment to obey the person elected. c) To have men and women of the society make a commit ment to correct the person if the need arises. 3. Muslim women can participate not only in the traditional aspects of war (e.g., nursing) but they can also participate in the actual fighting. From the social angle, in pre- Islamic society, men buried their female babies alive. 1. When Islam emerged, the Qur’an condemned this aa and considered it a crime and a murder. 2. Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) said that one should treat his daughter very well. "Whoever has two daughters, and he did not bury them alive, and did not insult them, and brought them up properly, he and I will be like this in Paradise." (He put his fingers beside each other.) 3. Hducation is a responsibility and a duty that men and most women must pursue. 4. The Islamic law makes it a necessary condition that both male and female approve to marry each other in order for the marriage to be valid. I meant to present this point because most Americans think that women in the Middle East don’t have the right to choose or they are forced to be married to a certain man. There are some cases in which the woman had been forced to marry a certain man, but this is totally agairut Islam and the marriage is not valid or legal. 5. Divorce is the most hated punishable aa in Islam. 6. There are no restrictions about women participating in social life. 7. There is a great deal of reference to mothers. The Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said, “Paradise lies at the feet of mothers.” I hope that after you read this article, you better understand the Middle East and Islam. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to stop me and ask me. Feel free to ask any kind of ques tion and I will be glad to answer. Remember, it is much better to come and ask than to not know or be confused. • NUTRITIONAL GUIDANC6 • AEROBIC CLASSES • STEAM ROOM • SWIMMING POOL • AQUATIC The Best Aerobics I In Towiii! ^ 3 Months I oerowcs for Only Tht Club for women only 872-6663 Hechlnger Plozo • Capital Blvd. Most Americans think that women in the Middle East don’t have the right to choose who they marry. Page 6 February 4, 1991
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