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Muslim Women are
not oppressed
April 6, 2009 People often
fail to distinguish between culture and religion, Two things that are
completely different.. Everybody
focuses to Muslim women worldwide as oppressed, more specifically the Muslim
Women of The media shows us how
oppressed the Muslim women are there and people start linking three words in
their minds: ‘Islam,’ ‘women’ and ‘oppression.’ Therefore, they think that
Islam commands oppressing women. People often fail to
distinguish between culture and religion, two things that are completely
different. In fact, Islam condemns oppression of any kind whether it is towards
a woman or in general. Now, the Qur’an is the
sacred book by which Muslims live. This book was revealed 14 centuries ago to a
man named Muhammad who would later become the Prophet. Fourteen centuries have
passed and this book has not been changed since, not one letter has been
altered. In surah number 33,
entitled Al-Ahzab (Arabic for ’The Clans’), on verse 59, it says: “O Prophet,
tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw
cloaks all over their bodies. That will be better as they shall be known (as
free respectable women) and will not be annoyed. And Allah is Ever
Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful.” This verse shows that Islam makes wearing a
Hijab necessary, Hijab is the word used for covering, not only the headscarves
(as some people may think) but also wearing loose clothes that are not too
bright. Sometimes, people see
covered Muslim women and they think oppression. This is wrong. A Muslim woman
is not oppressed, but she is liberated. This is because she is
no longer valued for something material such as her good looks or the shape of
her body. She compels others to judge her for her intelligence, kindness,
honesty and personality. Therefore, people judge her for who she actually is. Women cover their hair
to be modest. When they wear loose clothes, they are trying to be modest. In
fact, nuns cover their hair out of modesty. Also, when we see frequent pictures
of the Virgin Mary, she is covering her hair out of modesty. Therefore, Muslim
women are doing the exact same thing as righteous Christian women. The lives of the
people who accepted the Qur’an changed drastically. It had a tremendous impact
on so many people, especially women. It was the first time openly declared that
the souls of men and women are equal. They would be bestowed the same
obligation as well as the same rewards. In addition to being
equal to men, women get economic independence. The money they bring into
marriage is theirs as well as the money they earn. A woman is allowed in Islam
to choose their own husbands and in extreme cases, divorce. A woman has the
right to be educated, contrary to what the contemporary world might think. The
responsibility is of the person who is raising her. Now picture this:
Fourteen hundred years ago Islam allowed women to vote for a leader. It was
recently, in 1925, Canadian women became allowed to vote. Worst, in Islam is a religion
that holds women in high regard. Long ago, when baby boys were born, they
brought great joy to the family. Girls brought less and occasionally none.
Actually, girls were hated so much that they were sometimes buried alive. Islam
was always against this female infanticide. The two great roles a
woman plays in life are a wife and a mother. The Prophet once said to a group
of men: “The best among you are those who are the
best to their wives.” This shows that Islam highly encourages the well
treating of the wives. This should be shown love, respect and care. A man came to the
Prophet, sallallahualayhe wa sallam, and asked: “Who
among my kinfolk is worthy of my good companionship?” The Prophet,
sallallahu alavhe wa sallam, replied: “Your mother”
three times before saying: “Your father.” This
indicates the impact that a mother has in a person’s life. So women are highly
honored in this great religion. Islam is a only
religion that treats women fairly.Oppression is condemned. I hope all of you know
and remember this. http://islamgreatreligion.wordpress.com/2009/04/06/muslim-women-are-not-oppressed/ |
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