NadTalk

Knowing rights of women in Islam are in the interest of many. In this article, women’s rights in Islam are highlighted which are generally not emphasized in Mullahs’ politics. It is generally construed in the West that women’s rights have not been protected by Islam because Mullahs and Muslim religious-political leaders speak very little about females’ rights. From Mullahs’ point of view, the only place for a woman is home without any social role other than rearing children, cooking food and cleaning the house. Regarding women, it appears that Mullahs are only concerned to see women behind ‘hijab’, but hardly concerned if a man is walking on the street without a shirt; even though he is also not permitted to show his upper body in public, according to Islamic values.

Women carry substantial rights in Islam. However, most rights are denied one or the other pretext in Muslim societies. For example, many women in Muslim societies are denied their right to get married to a man of their choice. Some of the Mullahs in Pakistan has gone to the extent to demand a new law in the Pakistani jurisprudence system by arguing that females are required to have a father’s consent to marry, which is completely unislamic. Contrary to Mullahs’ view, Islam allows female to get married of their choice. According to Islam, a grown up male and female becomes legally husband and wife when they willingly utter three times in front of four witnesses that they accept each other as husband and wife. Neither parent nor can the guardian force a female to marry a man whom she does not like. The Holy book tells, “O ye who believe! Ye are forbidden to inherit women against their will…….” (4:19). Instead of advocating right of a woman to marry of her choice, Mullahs implicitly or explicitly supporting the killing of women in the name of honor.

Islam is a liberal religion so much so that it allows women to ask for divorce if they are not happy with their husbands even on the grounds of sexual or emotional dissatisfaction. The Quran instructs males to divorce if the woman does not want to live with him, “If a wife fears cruelty or desertion on her husband’s part, there is no blame on them if they arrange an amicable settlement between themselves; and such settlement is best; even though men’s souls are swayed by greed……………” 4:128.

Women are protected from financial dominance of males therefore they have the right of inheritance and dower. Regarding inheritance it is said in the Quran, “From what is left by parents and those nearest related there is a share for men and a share for women, whether the property be small or large,—-determinate share” (4:7) The similar instructions we find in the chapter 4 verse 33 in the Quran. It is instructed in the chapter 4:4 that women retain the right to demand dower from her husband.

Islam though allows men to have four wives simultaneously provided they can meet the conditions. Mullahs are very reluctant to speak the conditions under which men are allowed to have four wives. The Quran (4:3) says that a male should not marry more than one if any of the following conditions are not met:

• A person must be financially strong to bear the burden of expenses of four fives;
• He must be sexually strong that he can satisfy all his wives;
• He must be so mature in his behavior to love them equally and should not discriminate among his wives.

It is Mullahs’ Islam that treats women as a second grade citizen, but not the real Islam.

Nadeem Yousaf

24 June 2011

http://mullahspolitics/mullah-islam-and-woman

 

Mullahs, Islam and Woman