Post by Tasleem on Dec 30, 2004 15:00:03 GMT
Definition:
Feminism - the movement aimed at equal rights for women (social, political, and economic equality of the sexes).
There are some features of the feminist cause with which we as Muslims would wish to join hands; yet most features generate our disappointment and even opposition. However, many sisters are not aware of how feminism is viewed within Islam. I too did not have much knowledge of the topic until I attended a talk on Feminism as part of ‘Islamic Awareness Week’ last month.
This thread will give you a brief and simple account as to what Feminism is and how it is viewed in Islam. Feminism is a complex subject and therefore I will not discuss individual areas (such as family, work, legal status of women etc) but instead, provide a short introduction.
[glow=red,2,300]Islam and Feminism
[/glow]
Feminism, as represented in Western society, has generally denied any differentiation between the roles of males and females and has demanded a move toward a unisex society in order to achieve equal rights for women. A "unisex society" means having a single set of roles and concerns that are given preference and esteem by both sexes and are pursued by all members of the society regardless of sex and age differentials. In the case of Western feminism, the preferred goals have been those traditionally fulfilled by the male members of society, for example, the roles of providing financial support, of success in career, and of decision making have been given overwhelming respect and concern while those dealing with domestic matters, with child care and social interrelationships, are devalued and even despised. Both men and women have been forced into a single mould which is perhaps more restrictive, rigid and coercive than that which formerly assigned men to one type of role and women to another.
This is a new brand of male chauvinism with which Islamic traditions cannot conform. Islam instead maintains that both types of roles are equally deserving of pursuit and respect and that when accompanied by the equity demanded by the religion, a division of labour along gender lines is generally beneficial to all members of the society.
This might be regarded by the Western feminist as opening the door to discrimination, but as Muslims we regard Islamic traditions as standing clearly and unequivocally for the support of male-female equity. In the Quran, no difference whatsoever is made between the genders in relation to God:
For men who submit [to God] and for women who submit [to God], for believing men and believing women, for devout men and devout women, for truthful men and truthful women, for steadfast men and steadfast women, for humble men and humble women, for charitable men and charitable women, for men who fast and women who fast, for men who guard their chastity and women who guard, for men who remember God much and for women who remember - for them God has prepared forgiveness and a mighty reward. (33:35)
Whoever works good, male or female and be a Muslim, then certainly We shall make him live a good life and necessarily We shall give them their reward befitting to their best work. (16:97)
And whose will do some good deeds, may be a male or female and be a Muslim, then they shell enter Paradise, and they shall not be wronged a bit. (4:124)
And covet not that whereby Allah has made one of you excel over the other. For men there is share from their earning, and for women there is share from their earning. And ask Allah for His Grace. Undoubtedly, Allah knows every thing.(4:32)
And the Muslim men and women are friends to one another, bid for good and forbid evil and establish prayer and pay the poor-due (Zakat) and obey Allah and His Messenger. These are they on whom soon Allah will have mercy. Undoubtedly Allah is, Dominant, Wise. Allah has promised to Muslim men and Muslim women Gardens under which rivers flow, wherein they shall reside forever and clean houses in the inhabitable gardens. And the pleasure of Allah is the greatest. This is the achievement of the greater Goal. (9:71-72)
As you can see in the above quotes of the Qur’an, it is only in relation to each other and society that a difference is made - a difference of role or function. The rights and responsibilities of a woman are equal to those of a man, but they are not necessarily identical with each other. Men and women should therefore be complementary to each other in a multi-function organization, rather than competitive in a uni-function society.
Finally, Muslim women must recognize that, in the West, the mainstream of the feminist movement has viewed religion as one of the chief enemies of its progress and well-being. Nevertheless, Muslim women view the teachings of Islam as their best friend and supporter. The prescriptions that are found in the Quran and in the example of the Prophet Muhammad, salallahu alaihi wasallam, are regarded as the ideal to which contemporary women wish to return. As far as Muslim women are concerned, the source of any difficulties experienced today is not Islam and its traditions, but certain alien ideological intrusions on our societies, ignorance, and distortion of the true Islam, or exploitation by individuals within the society. It is also important to note that an Islamic environment is one which does not work to benefit women's interest alone but rather a wider struggle to benefit all members of the society.
I would just like to end my post with a quote:
- Timothy Leary, US psychologist (1920 - 1996)
Feminism - the movement aimed at equal rights for women (social, political, and economic equality of the sexes).
There are some features of the feminist cause with which we as Muslims would wish to join hands; yet most features generate our disappointment and even opposition. However, many sisters are not aware of how feminism is viewed within Islam. I too did not have much knowledge of the topic until I attended a talk on Feminism as part of ‘Islamic Awareness Week’ last month.
This thread will give you a brief and simple account as to what Feminism is and how it is viewed in Islam. Feminism is a complex subject and therefore I will not discuss individual areas (such as family, work, legal status of women etc) but instead, provide a short introduction.
[glow=red,2,300]Islam and Feminism
[/glow]
Feminism, as represented in Western society, has generally denied any differentiation between the roles of males and females and has demanded a move toward a unisex society in order to achieve equal rights for women. A "unisex society" means having a single set of roles and concerns that are given preference and esteem by both sexes and are pursued by all members of the society regardless of sex and age differentials. In the case of Western feminism, the preferred goals have been those traditionally fulfilled by the male members of society, for example, the roles of providing financial support, of success in career, and of decision making have been given overwhelming respect and concern while those dealing with domestic matters, with child care and social interrelationships, are devalued and even despised. Both men and women have been forced into a single mould which is perhaps more restrictive, rigid and coercive than that which formerly assigned men to one type of role and women to another.
This is a new brand of male chauvinism with which Islamic traditions cannot conform. Islam instead maintains that both types of roles are equally deserving of pursuit and respect and that when accompanied by the equity demanded by the religion, a division of labour along gender lines is generally beneficial to all members of the society.
This might be regarded by the Western feminist as opening the door to discrimination, but as Muslims we regard Islamic traditions as standing clearly and unequivocally for the support of male-female equity. In the Quran, no difference whatsoever is made between the genders in relation to God:
For men who submit [to God] and for women who submit [to God], for believing men and believing women, for devout men and devout women, for truthful men and truthful women, for steadfast men and steadfast women, for humble men and humble women, for charitable men and charitable women, for men who fast and women who fast, for men who guard their chastity and women who guard, for men who remember God much and for women who remember - for them God has prepared forgiveness and a mighty reward. (33:35)
Whoever works good, male or female and be a Muslim, then certainly We shall make him live a good life and necessarily We shall give them their reward befitting to their best work. (16:97)
And whose will do some good deeds, may be a male or female and be a Muslim, then they shell enter Paradise, and they shall not be wronged a bit. (4:124)
And covet not that whereby Allah has made one of you excel over the other. For men there is share from their earning, and for women there is share from their earning. And ask Allah for His Grace. Undoubtedly, Allah knows every thing.(4:32)
And the Muslim men and women are friends to one another, bid for good and forbid evil and establish prayer and pay the poor-due (Zakat) and obey Allah and His Messenger. These are they on whom soon Allah will have mercy. Undoubtedly Allah is, Dominant, Wise. Allah has promised to Muslim men and Muslim women Gardens under which rivers flow, wherein they shall reside forever and clean houses in the inhabitable gardens. And the pleasure of Allah is the greatest. This is the achievement of the greater Goal. (9:71-72)
As you can see in the above quotes of the Qur’an, it is only in relation to each other and society that a difference is made - a difference of role or function. The rights and responsibilities of a woman are equal to those of a man, but they are not necessarily identical with each other. Men and women should therefore be complementary to each other in a multi-function organization, rather than competitive in a uni-function society.
Finally, Muslim women must recognize that, in the West, the mainstream of the feminist movement has viewed religion as one of the chief enemies of its progress and well-being. Nevertheless, Muslim women view the teachings of Islam as their best friend and supporter. The prescriptions that are found in the Quran and in the example of the Prophet Muhammad, salallahu alaihi wasallam, are regarded as the ideal to which contemporary women wish to return. As far as Muslim women are concerned, the source of any difficulties experienced today is not Islam and its traditions, but certain alien ideological intrusions on our societies, ignorance, and distortion of the true Islam, or exploitation by individuals within the society. It is also important to note that an Islamic environment is one which does not work to benefit women's interest alone but rather a wider struggle to benefit all members of the society.
I would just like to end my post with a quote:
“Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition”
- Timothy Leary, US psychologist (1920 - 1996)
