UI – Part 281 – Women & Islam Today

We have written on this topic (Women in Islam) in the past, a few years back, and with comments from a recent Salafi Sheik (Egyptian) a reminder was justified.

Out of Egypt – Salafi

Husbands abandon your wives.  As possessions, if defiled in any way then throw them away.  You can always get another. (Read article)

• The (Egyptian) Salafi sheikh (Dr. Buhami) said that, although a Muslim man may marry non-Muslim women, specifically Christians and Jews, he must hate them—and show them that he hates them—because they are “infidels” (even as he enjoys them sexually).
• Dr. Burhami, a pediatrician by training, fatwa’s include banning Muslim cab and bus drivers from transporting Coptic Christian priests to their churches, which he depicted as “more forbidden than taking someone to a liquor bar”; permitting marriage to minor girls; banning Mother’s Day— “even if it saddens your mother”— as a Western innovation; and insisting that Muslims cannot apostatize from Islam.
• In his most recent fatwa—that husbands are permitted to forsake their sexually-assaulted wives in self-interest—Burhami relies on qiyas, or analogy, based on the rulings of a prominent twelfth century jurist: according to Imam ‘Azz bin Abdul Salaam, a Muslim should abandon his possessions to robbers if so doing would safeguard his life.
• Based on this logic, Burhami analogizes that the Muslim husband should abandon his wife if defending her jeopardizes his life—as she is just another possession that can easily be replaced.

Women and Islam

Here are a few references from a Blog posted in 2009 (Read more – Blog 5 – Women and Islam Part 1).  It was the first of a two part series.

• “Islam has deserved its reputation around the world for stifling and even enslaving women.”  – Ergun Caner
• Qur’an – Sura 2:228 states in part, “Women shall have rights similar to the rights against them, according to what is equitable, but men have a degree over them.”
• Hadith – 3.826 – inferred a woman’s mind is deficient to a man’s.   The witness of a woman is worth ½ that of a man’s.
• Qur’an – Sura 2.282 – it takes two women as witnesses in a court of law to equal the witness of one male.
• Hadith – a quote of Muhammad – “I was shown the Hell-fire and that the majority of the dwellers are women.”
• Qur’an – Sura 4:11 – as to the apportionment of an inheritance a man should receive double that of a woman ‘ “a portion equal to two females.”
• Qur’an – Sura 4:3 –  Men can have up to 4 wives if they can take care of them; the women in the matter having no say.   (Muhammad conveniently had approval from Allah to marry as many woman as he wished raising the question was he not bound to the same book of standards that he received?)).  Age may not have been a problem either as Muhammad married a girl of six (6), but no sex until she was nine (9) – Aishah.    Fatima, Muhammad’s daughter was given in marriage at the age of 12 to his cousin Ali bin Abu Taleb (the same Ali that became the 4^nd Caliph-Sunni, 1^st Imam-Shiite)
• Qur’an – Sura 3:14 – women are considered possessions:  “Fair in the eyes of men is the love of things they covet: women and sons, heaped-up hoards of gold and silver.”
• Qur’an – Sura 66:5 – makes divorce easy for men and places the onus on women to satisfy their man.  Woman cannot divorce under any circumstances.
• Qur’an – Sura 2.223 – “Your wives are a tilth (land under the plow) unto you, so approach your tilth when and how you will.” Thus saying ‘do as you will with your wife.’
• Qur’an – Sura 4:34 – Allows marital punishment of women.  “As to those women on whose part you fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them, refuse to share their beds, beat them.”
• Hadith – 7.62.77 – Muhammad notes “(Men) should feed her if he eats, clothe her when he dresses, avoid disfiguring her or beating her excessively or abandoning her except at home.”
• According to Ergun Caner, “The Qur’an is so clear that those who regularly abuse their wives are more faithful to their sacred text than those who would rationalize away its teachings.  If a woman is honored and respected in an Islamic home, it is in spite of the teachings of Muhammad, rather than because of them.
• “Islamic jurists have traditionally held that Muslim women may only enter into marriage with Muslim men, although some contemporary jurists question the basis of this restriction. This is pursuant to the principle that Muslims may not place themselves in a position inferior to that of the followers of other religions. On the other hand, the Qur’an explicitly allows Muslim men to marry chaste women of the ‘People of the Book’, which includes Jews and Christians.  However, ‘fiqh‘ (Islamic law), has held that it is ‘makruh‘ (reprehensible, though not outright forbidden) for a Muslim man to marry a non-Muslim woman in a non-Muslim country.” (excerpted from Wikipedia.com)

The following Blog focused on a changing world – the Enlightenment.  Modernity is recognizing the world is evolving as are relationship with men and women. The equality of the sexes on a human rights level must be recognized and honored. (Read more – Blog 6 – Women and Islam Part 2)

• After 1500 years one would in all logic consider a need for a new look at woman in the Muslim culture, yet to alter the Qur’an would defy Allah.  How can, then, Muslims ever change?
• “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”  (Galatians 5:1).    This Bible verse may reference the slaves all mankind are to sin, yet it also encompasses women and the freedom they too may enjoy in the loving Grace of the Triune God.

Today

For the Muslim world little has changed.  The Salafi’s are a fundamental group . Their Law follows the Quran, Hadiths, and the scholars, their ijma (consensus) and qiya’s (applying an accepted principle).

Reliance on the elements that comprise Islamic Law defies logic.  The foundation is a questionable Scripture that is notably incomplete – as many of the companions (memorizers) died (battle of Yamama) before their recall was ever tapped.  It also has little to do with history.  The arguments become circular, relying on themselves.  Where is the outside confirmation?  So since the Quran came to pass from the lips of Muhammad via the Angel Gabriel revealing Allah to Muhammad then the Quran is true and statements therein are true.  Is this a rational argument?  It is true because a man, human and mortal, Muhammad, made such a claim?  And subsequently those making the Law rely on the 7^th century mortal, what was recorded and his example.

The Truth of the Bible was confirmed by the Risen Lord.  How is the Truth of the Quran confirmed?

Why Would A Muslim Woman Ever Remain a Muslim?

When you see Allah as God, ignoring the principles of Sharia (Islamic) Law, then one’s faith in the Lord potentially could prevail.  It would be as Abraham.  But when in Islam there is Scripture, Scripture that according to their scholars was a transmission from Allah, albeit via Gabriel and Muhammad, to Companions who then recorded the verses (Quran), obedience to that word is demanded.  Then there are the Hadiths, the savings of Muhammad that came a couple hundred years after his death.  From the ears of one isnah (hearing and passing on the words from one to another)(as a chain letter, but oral, over 200 years in the making) to another over two centuries thousands and thousands of words were written.  Many are relied upon to judge others – which ones depends on the interpreter – the scholar (ulema).  Can they all be trusted?  Then there is what respected ulema have said – personal judgments in specific situations.

The Law is inconsistent. There is no single Sharia.  It all depends on the interpretations and the interpreters.  Even the authorities at the time had their say in what was Law. Many among the tribes and clans of Islam cannot agree.  They judge each other, calling each other infidels for not agreeing. Who decides?  The man with the rifle?

And women are caught in the crosshairs.  Why do they allow this to continue?  Why do they think this is what God dictated to a mortal that must rule their lives?

God’s plan was that everyone experiences the rescue from their sinful nature and be made right with God.  That includes all people, all sexes.  Persons who put their trust in Christ (not the Law) are like Abraham: children of faith. (Galatians 3:7) In Christ’s family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female.  Among us you are all equal. (Galatians 3:28)

Grace and Peace