Questions
Why does Islam degrade women by keeping them behind the veil?
Why are two witnesses who are women, equivalent to only one witness who is a man ?
Under Islamic law, why is a woman’s share of the inherited wealth only half that of a man?
You said female are free to choose their husbands but what about arranged marriages if a women sees a man based on looks or if meets the man in a few meetings? Also are you suggesting that a solution for cheating husbands is to marry more than one woman? Why can’t a higher sense of responsibility be placed on a man? And are you suggesting that a situation based on human as opposed to God actions i.e.: concentration camps decrease men’s populations justify marriage of more than one woman?
Does the Quran sanction the beating of women? Does the Quran say that men are a degree above women?
Why do Muslim women cover themselves, especially their hair?
Why are men and women segregated in this hall or in this room?
Why does Islam degrade women by keeping them behind the veil?
The status of women in Islam is often the target of attacks in the secular media. The ‘hijaab’ or the Islamic dress is cited by many as an example of the ‘subjugation’ of women under Islamic law. Before we analyze the reasoning behind the religiously mandated ‘hijaab’, let us first study the status of women in societies before the advent of Islam
1.
In the past women were degraded and used
as objects of lust
The following examples from history
amply illustrate the fact that the status of women in earlier civilizations was
very low to the extent that they were denied basic human dignity:
1. Babylonian
Civilization:
The women were degraded and were denied all rights under the Babylonian law. If
a man murdered a woman, instead of him being punished, his wife was put to
death.
2. Greek
Civilization:
Greek Civilization is considered the most glorious of all ancient civilizations.
Under this very ‘glorious’ system, women were deprived of all rights and were
looked down upon. In Greek mythology, an ‘imaginary woman’ called ‘Pandora’ is
the root cause of misfortune of human beings. The Greeks considered women to be
subhuman and inferior to men. Though chastity of women was precious, and women
were held in high esteem, the Greeks were later overwhelmed by ego and sexual
perversions. Prostitution became a regular practice amongst all classes of Greek
society.
3. Roman
Civilization:
When Roman Civilization was at the zenith of its ‘glory’, a man even had the
right to take the life of his wife. Prostitution and nudity were common amongst
the Romans.
4. Egyptian
Civilization:
The Egyptian considered women evil and as a sign of a devil.
5. Pre-Islamic
Arabia:
Before Islam spread in Arabia, the Arabs looked down upon women and very often
when a female child was born, she was buried alive.
2.
Islam uplifted women and gave them
equality and expects them to maintain their status.
Islam uplifted the status of women and granted them their just rights 1400 years ago. Islam expects women to maintain their status.
Hijaab for men
People usually only discuss ‘hijaab’ in the context of women. However, in the Glorious Qur’an, Allah (swt) first mentions ‘hijaab’ for men before ‘hijaab’ for the women. The Qur’an mentions in Surah Noor:
"Say to the believing men that they
should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater
purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do."
[Al-Qur’an 24:30]
The moment a man looks at a woman and if any brazen or unashamed thought comes to his mind, he should lower his gaze.
Hijaab for women.
The next verse of Surah Noor, says:
" And say to the believing women that
they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not
display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof;
that they should draw veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty
except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons..."
[Al-Qur’an 24:31]
3.
Six criteria for
Hijaab.
According to Qur’an and Sunnah there are basically six criteria for observing hijaab:
1. Extent:
The first criterion is the extent of the body that should be covered. This is
different for men and women. The extent of covering obligatory on the male is to
cover the body at least from the navel to the knees. For women, the extent of
covering obligatory is to cover the complete body except the face and the hands
upto the wrist. If they wish to, they can cover even these parts of the body.
Some scholars of Islam insist that the face and the hands are part of the
obligatory extent of ‘hijaab’.
All the remaining five criteria are the same for men and women.
2. The clothes worn should be loose and should not reveal the figure.
3. The clothes worn should not be transparent such that one can see through them.
4. The clothes worn should not be so glamorous as to attract the opposite sex.
5. The clothes worn should not resemble that of the opposite sex.
6. The clothes worn should not resemble that of the unbelievers i.e. they should not wear clothes that are specifically identities or symbols of the unbelievers’ religions.
4.
Hijaab
includes
conduct and behaviour among other things
Complete ‘hijaab’, besides the
six criteria of clothing, also includes the moral conduct, behaviour, attitude
and intention of the individual. A person only fulfilling the criteria of ‘hijaab’
of the clothes is observing ‘hijaab’ in a limited sense. ‘Hijaab’
of the clothes should be accompanied by ‘hijaab’ of the eyes, ‘hijaab’
of the heart, ‘hijaab’ of thought and ‘hijaab’ of intention. It
also includes the way a person walks, the way a person talks, the way he
behaves, etc.
5. Hijaab prevents molestation
The reason why Hijaab is prescribed for women is mentioned in the Qur’an in the following verses of Surah Al-Ahzab:
"O Prophet! Tell thy wives and
daughters, and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments
over their persons (when abroad); that is most convenient, that they should be
known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
[Al-Qur’an 33:59]
The Qur’an says that Hijaab has been prescribed for the women so that they are recognized as modest women and this will also prevent them from being molested.
6.
Example of twin sisters
Suppose two sisters who are twins, and
who are equally beautiful, walk down the street. One of them is attired in the
Islamic hijaab i.e. the complete body is covered, except for the face and
the hands up to the wrists. The other sister is wearing western clothes, a mini
skirt or shorts. Just around the corner there is a hooligan or ruffian who is
waiting for a catch, to tease a girl. Whom will he tease? The girl wearing the
Islamic Hijaab or the girl wearing the skirt or the mini? Naturally he
will tease the girl wearing the skirt or the mini. Such dresses are an indirect
invitation to the opposite sex for teasing and molestation. The Qur’an rightly
says that hijaab prevents women from being molested.
7. Capital punishment for the rapists
Under the Islamic shariah, a man
convicted of having raped a woman, is given capital punishment. Many are
astonished at this ‘harsh’ sentence. Some even say that Islam is a ruthless,
barbaric religion! I have asked a simple question to hundreds of non-Muslim men.
Suppose, God forbid, someone rapes your wife, your mother or your sister. You
are made the judge and the rapist is brought in front of you. What punishment
would you give him? All of them said they would put him to death. Some went to
the extent of saying they would torture him to death. To them I ask, if someone
rapes your wife or your mother you want to put him to death. But if the same
crime is committed on somebody else’s wife or daughter you say capital
punishment is barbaric. Why should there be double standards?
8. Western society falsely claims to have uplifted women
Western talk of women’s liberalization
is nothing but a disguised form of exploitation of her body, degradation of her
soul, and deprivation of her honour. Western society claims to have ‘uplifted’
women. On the contrary it has actually degraded them to the status of
concubines, mistresses and society butterflies who are mere tools in the hands
of pleasure seekers and sex marketeers, hidden behind the colourful screen of
‘art’ and ‘culture’.
9. USA has one of the highest rates of rape
United States of America is supposed to be one of the most advanced countries of the world. It also has one of the highest rates of rape in any country in the world. According to a FBI report, in the year 1990, every day on an average 1756 cases of rape were committed in U.S.A alone. Later another report said that on an average everyday 1900 cases of rapes are committed in USA. The year was not mentioned. May be it was 1992 or 1993. May be the Americans got ‘bolder’ in the following years.
Consider a scenario where the Islamic hijaab is followed in America. Whenever a man looks at a woman and any brazen or unashamed thought comes to his mind, he lowers his gaze. Every woman wears the Islamic hijaab, that is the complete body is covered except the face and the hands upto the wrist. After this if any man commits rape he is given capital punishment. I ask you, in such a scenario, will the rate of rape in America increase, will it remain the same, or will it decrease?
10.
Implementation of
Islamic Shariah will reduce the rate of rapes
Naturally as soon as Islamic Shariah is implemented positive results will
be inevitable. If Islamic Shariah is implemented in any part of the
world, whether it is America or Europe, society will breathe easier. Hijaab
does not degrade a woman but uplifts a woman and protects her modesty and
chastity.
Why are two witnesses who are women, equivalent to only one witness who is a man ?
It is not true that two female witnesses are always considered as equal to only one male witness. It is true only in certain cases. There are about five verses in the Qur’an that mention witnesses, without specifying male or female. There is only one verse in the Qur’an, that says two female witnesses are equal to one male witness. This verse is Surah Baqarah, chapter 2 verse 282. This is the longest verse in the Qur’an and deals with financial transactions. It says:
"Oh! ye who believe!
When ye deal with each other,
in transactions involving future obligation
in a fixed period of time
reduce them to writing and get two witnesses
out of your own men and if there are not two men,
then a man and two women, such as ye choose,
for witnesses so that if one of them errs
the other can remind her."
[Al-Qur’an 2:282]
This verse of the Qur’an deals only with financial transactions. In such cases, it is advised to make an agreement in writing between the parties and take two witnesses, preferably both of which should be men only. In case you cannot find two men, then one man and two women would suffice.
For instance, suppose a person wants to undergo an operation for a particular ailment. To confirm the treatment, he would prefer taking references from two qualified surgeons. In case he is unable to find two surgeons, his second option would be one surgeon and two general practitioners who are plain MBBS doctors.
Similarly in financial transactions, two men are preferred. Islam expects men to be the breadwinners of their families. Since financial responsibility is shouldered by men, they are expected to be well versed in financial transactions as compared to women. As a second option, the witness can be one man and two women, so that if one of the women errs the other can remind her. The Arabic word used in the Qur’an is ‘Tazil’ which means ‘confused’ or ‘to err’. Many have wrongly translated this word as ‘to forget’. Thus financial transactions constitute the only case in which two female witnesses are equal to one male witness.
However, some scholars are of the opinion that the feminine attitude can also have an effect on the witness in a murder case. In such circumstances a woman is more terrified as compared to a man. Due to her emotional condition she can get confused. Therefore, according to some jurists, even in cases of murder, two female witnesses are equivalent to one male witness. In all other cases, one female witness is equivalent to one male witness. There are about five verses in the Qur’an which speak about witnesses without specifying man or woman.
While making a will of inheritance, two just persons are required as witnesses. In Surah Maidah chapter 5 verse 106, the Glorious Qur’an says:
"Oh you who believe!
When death approaches any of you,
(take) witnesses among yourself when making bequests."
[Al-Qur’an 5:106]
two just persons of your own
(brotherhood)
or other from outside if you are journeying
through the earth and the chance of death befalls you."
[Al-Qur’an 65:2]
Two persons endued with justice in case
of talaq.
"Four witnesses are required
in case of charge against chaste women,
[Al-Qur’an 24:4]
There are some scholars who are of the opinion that the rule of two female witnesses equal to one male witness should be applied to all the cases. This cannot be agreed upon because one particular verse of the Qur’an from Surah Noor chapter 24, verse 6 clearly equates one female witness and one male witness:
"And those who launch a charge
against their spouses, and have (in support)
no evidence but their own -
their solitary evidence can be received."
[Al-Qur’an 24:6]
Hazrat Ayesha (RA) hadith narrated of one witness
Many jurists agree that even one witness of a woman is sufficient for the sighting of the crescent of the moon. Imagine one woman witness is sufficient for one of the pillars of Islam, i.e. fasting and the whole Muslim community of men and women agree and accept her witness! Some jurists say that one witness is required at the beginning of Ramadaan and two witnesses at the end of Ramadaan. It makes no difference whether the witnesses are men or women.
Some incidents require only female witness and that of a male cannot be accepted. For instance, in dealing with the problems of women, while giving the burial bath i.e. ‘ghusl’ to a woman, the witness has to be a woman.
The seeming inequality of male and female witnesses in financial transactions is not due to any inequality of the sexes in Islam. It is only due to the different natures and roles of men and women in society as envisaged by Islam.
Under Islamic law, why is a woman’s share of the inherited wealth only half that of a man?
The Glorious Qur’an contains specific and detailed guidance regarding the division of the inherited wealth, among the rightful beneficiaries.
The Qur’anic verses that contain guidance regarding inheritance are:
* Surah Baqarah, chapter 2 verse 180
* Surah Baqarah, chapter 2 verse 240
* Surah Nisa, chapter 4 verse 7-9
* Surah Nisa, chapter 4 verse 19
* Surah Nisa, chapter 4 verse 33 and
* Surah Maidah, chapter 5 verse 106-108
There are three verses in the Qur’an that broadly describe the share of close relatives i.e. Surah Nisah chapter 4 verses 11, 12 and 176. The translation of these verses are as follows:
"Allah (swt) (thus) directs you as regards your children’s (inheritance): to the male, a portion equal to that of two females, if only daughters, two or more, their share is two-thirds of the inheritance; If only one, her share is a half.
For parents, a sixth share of the inheritance to each, if the deceased left children; If no children, and the parents are the (only) heirs, the mother has a third; if the deceased left brothers (or sisters) the mother has a sixth. (The distribution in all cases is) after the payment of legacies and debts. Ye know not whether your parents or your children are nearest to you in benefit. These are settled portions ordained by Allah; and Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
In what your wives leave, your share is
half. If they leave no child; but if they leave a child, ye get a fourth; after
payment of legacies and debts. In what ye leave, their share is a fourth, if ye
leave no child; but if ye leave a child, they get an eight; after payment of
legacies and debts. If the man or woman whose inheritance is in question, has
left neither ascendants nor descendants, but has left a brother or a sister,
each one of the two gets a sixth; but if more than two, they share in a third;
after payment of legacies and debts; so that no loss is caused (to anyone). Thus
it is ordained by Allah; and Allah is All-Knowing Most Forbearing"
[Al-Qur’an 4:11-12]
"They ask thee for a legal decision.
Say: Allah directs (them) about those who leave no descendants or ascendants as
heirs. If it is a man that dies, leaving a sister but no child, she shall have
half the inheritance. If (such a deceased was) a woman who left no child, Her
brother takes her inheritance. If there are two sisters, they shall have two
thirds of the inheritance (between them). If there are brothers and sisters,
(they share), the male having twice the share of the female. Thus doth Allah (swt)
makes clear to you (His knowledge of all things).
[Al-Qur’an 4:176]
In most of the cases, a woman inherits half of what her male counterpart inherits. However, this is not always the case. In case the deceased has left no ascendant or descendent but has left the uterine brother and sister, each of the two inherit one sixth. If the deceased has left children, both the parents that is mother and father get an equal share and inherit one sixth each. In certain cases, a woman can also inherit a share that is double that of the male. If the deceased is a woman who has left no children, brothers or sisters and is survived only by her husband, mother and father, the husband inherits half the property while the mother inherits one third and the father the remaining one sixth. In this particular case, the mother inherits a share that is double that of the father. It is true that as a general rule, in most cases, the female inherits a share that is half that of the male. For instance in the following cases:
1. daughter inherits half of what the son inherits,
2. wife inherits 1/8th and husband 1/4th if the deceased has no children.
3. Wife inherits 1/4th and husband 1/2 if the deceased has children
4. If the deceased has no ascendant or descendent, the sister inherits a share that is half that of the brother.
In Islam a woman has no financial obligation and the economical responsibility lies on the shoulders of the man. Before a woman is married it is the duty of the father or brother to look after the lodging, boarding, clothing and other financial requirements of the woman. After she is married it is the duty of the husband or the son. Islam holds the man financially responsible for fulfilling the needs of his family. In order to do be able to fulfill the responsibility the men get double the share of the inheritance. For example, if a man dies leaving about Rs. One Hundred and Fifty Thousand, for the children (i.e one son and one daughter) the son inherits One Hundred Thousand rupees and the daughter only Fifty Thousand rupees. Out of the one hundred thousand which the son inherits, as his duty towards his family, he may have to spend on them almost the entire amount or say about eighty thousand and thus he has a small percentage of inheritance, say about twenty thousand, left for himself. On the other hand, the daughter, who inherits fifty thousand is not bound to spend a single penny on anybody. She can keep the entire amount for herself. Would you prefer inheriting one hundred thousand rupees and spending eighty thousand from it, or inheriting fifty thousand rupees and having the entire amount to yourself?
You said female are free to choose their husbands but what about arranged marriages if a women sees a man based on looks or if meets the man in a few meetings? Also are you suggesting that a solution for cheating husbands is to marry more than one woman? Why can’t a higher sense of responsibility be placed on a man? And are you suggesting that a situation based on human as opposed to God actions i.e.: concentration camps decrease men’s populations justify marriage of more than one woman.
She chooses whether she wants to pursue it or not. For a marriage to be valid in Islam it must be from five categories. First there must be no compulsion for the male or the female to choose the other partner. In fact if a Muslim woman is asked and he says, “what do you think of him”? and she says “no”, she cannot be asked again in that same time. If for example it was arranged that someone would come and see her and she said “no” she is not to marry that person until she comes latter on and says “yes”. There is to be no compulsion for the man as well as the woman. And that is clear in Islamic doctrine as well as Islamic practices.
Secondly, there must be a contract that is drawn between the man and the woman for example the woman might ask from her rights as a Muslim woman “I do not allow you to marry a second wife while being married to me.” That is something that many of our non-Muslim guests may not have known. She has the right to stipulate that before marriage.
Thirdly, there is a dowry that he promises to give to her. A dowry meaning some jewellary, money, property etc, something of that nature that is done to elevate her and as a gift from him to her.
Forth, there must be two witnesses. That there is a marriage that is going to be performed it’s not something where a guy and a girl decides we are married that’s it. It doesn’t work that way.
Final, there must be a guardian present to actually see that there is a marriage taking place, this man is marrying the daughter, is marrying the sister and so forth. So that is the Islamic law in terms of marriage.
For the second question on this page, I am not saying that there should be more responsibility for the men, what we are saying is that if there is a need a man has the option to go to a second wife but he has responsibilities where it’s clear with the first wife where she has not stipulated about him not marrying a second wife, where it is something that is seen as a social justice it’s not something where she feels oppressed, it’s not something he is doing behind the back rather that it is a decision that is made. It is something that she is informed of, that is what we are asserting. A man has that right, under specific conditions and specific times.
Islam is the only religion that states the number of women that they are allowed to wed. There is nothing in the other faiths that have that same component or counsel.
Does the Quran sanction the beating of women? Does the Quran say that men are a degree above women?
The Quran, once again it is a misconception, the Quran says:
“Men are the maintainers, not a degree above”
They are the maintainers of women, it is how the wording is translated.
As for the question does the Quran sanction the beating of women? The Quran, there is a passage in it which states that if a women has done act of immorality, she has committed fornication:
“Remain distant from them in the beds, remain far from them and beat them.”
Meaning implement the law of fornication against them and that is not just the law for the women but it is also a law towards the men. Do not just take one verse without knowing the legal context or how it relates to anything else and make it the subject to everything else that has happened.
Muslims cover their heads, Muslim men cover their heads out of tradition and out of respect, not all Muslim men cover their heads obviously, but those that do, do so because at times the Prophet (S) he liked to do that. For me I like to distinguish myself as a Muslim and whether I’m wearing a suit and tie, which I do sometimes, or whether I’m wearing a gown like I do today I like to cover my head. So yes Muslims, many Muslims choose to cover their heads just like most Muslim men follow in the tradition of the Prophet (S) choose to grow a beard. So wearing of the beard and covering of the head together is an indication that a person is a Muslim. So wearing of the beard is a tradition, doesn’t mean that if a person cuts their beard of they are not a Muslim, but most Muslim men because it is a tradition of the Prophet (S) that he told us to do they usually grow a beard and some of us we like to cover our heads.
For the Muslim ladies, that’s different, the covering of their head and the wearing of loose garments and the covering of their bodies and the not showing of their attraction is a part of their uniform. God has given the Muslim ladies a specific uniform so they would be distinguished and known as Muslim ladies and that they would not be molested, and that in the streets when men see them, just by the way they are dressed they would get some kind of respect. You don’t hear men whistling at Muslim ladies and don’t think that the Muslim ladies are any less beautiful than any other women; it’s just that they hold and cover their beauty for their husbands. It’s like pearls and diamonds, it’s like if I came to your house and I asked you “can I see your diamonds? Can I see your money? Can I see you jewels? Can I have you pin number?” you wouldn’t give it to me and you wouldn’t have it in front of me. Well our women and our mothers and our wives and our daughters they are worth more to us, and are more precious to us than our diamonds, our gold and our pin number.
The essence of the creation of man and the essence of the creation of woman in their innate characteristic is that the man appreciates, is enticed by the physical presence of a woman and I will make it simple for you to understand this. A man can be given, and you will see that pornography makes up 42% of all video and movie retail purchases and makes up 32% of all publication purchases, a man can be given a picture, no sound no texture, no touching all it has is a picture of a nude woman and he will become excited by it, it is part of the make up of men and therefore Allah seeks to stamp the root cause that can bring evil into the equation by first asking and ordering the man to lower his gaze and to guard himself from falling into sin and to enter into marriage and to seek love with a loving companion and at the same time instruct the Muslim woman to lower her gaze and to cover her modesty and her beauty which includes her hair. The essential make up of men calls to this and it does not evolve throughout the ages, can a woman be Muslim without covering? Yes, many woman are Muslim and devout and seek to draw closer to Allah, it is a personal choice they make, but they also recognize that they are also in a state of sin until they fulfill this particular action and bring themselves closer to the mercy of Allah (SWT). Allah says in the Quran: Tell the believing woman, Allah did not say Muslim, because a woman can be Muslim without it, but she can never be a true believing woman unless she has it, so it is a level of faith and it is a level of conviction and it is a increase of ones Iman and faith and love and it is a personal choice that is not to be made by a Mother or Father or the son or the husband or the brother, it is made by the individual person, herself and it is a result of the faith that she has in her creator.
Why are men and women segregated in this hall or in this room?
In Islam we have particular etiquettes that a woman’s private space is her
castle, it is her area of comfort. A Muslim man will never extend his hand to
shake her hand he will wait, if she extends that’s a different issue. But a
Muslim man never extends his hand first to a Muslim woman whether she is Muslim
or other. It is her space, it is her area and therefore if we are in a room we
will sit to one side, it doesn’t have to be at the front, it doesn’t have to be
at the back, whatever it may be they are segregated in one way. If there are
couples, some of our people they are sitting in couples, a husband and his wife
that’s fine, so it is not something that if I see a guy on this side I’m going
to make an example of him and say “get up and get on this side” that’s not the
point at all. So it is just to keep order and to keep etiquettes of Islam.
Hijab, the Muslim women’s attire has seven elements, these seven elements must be met for the Hijab to be valid and we will just go through them quickly. First that every part of her body except her face and hands must be covered and there are other questions that I placed there about covering the face, that is a personal choice that a women would make, covering all parts of the body except the hands and the face. Second is that the clothing is loose it doesn’t describe all of the features of the women. Third that the clothing is not see through, so you cannot see the color of her skin beneath it. Forth is that the clothing is not perfumed, it is not something that if she walked by people could turn to see who it is that walked by or who it is that is there. Fifth that the clothing she wears is not extravagant in the sense that when someone sees it they say, I’ll give you an example, in Mecca most women dress in black or white or dark shades, if you show up and your dressed in Fuchsia or bright hot pink, that is not hijab, even if you have met all of the other conditions because it is something that people turn towards you because of its extravagance also that it is not something that is to raise you in the sights of expensive nature, it’s a black square piece of silk and you say it cost me $900 because it has some specific word written down the bottom, right? All it is a black piece of silk. So those are the elements that make up the hijab for the Muslim women. All of these are things that must be met with the hijab and they all must be met in unison one of them cannot be missing so that is what is met by the Muslim women’s attire.
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