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Name
Margriet
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
On the Women's Day, do you think that the Western image about Muslim women has changed?
Answer
Yes, I believe that the West is still trying to fit the Muslim women into the image they want to see. It just doesn't work. The West, with all its good intentions likes to free the Muslim women from the bondage of submission and domestic life. They like to see our women out of their homes and free from family responsibility. To them, this is freedom. To Muslim women, this is slavery to modernization with no end to peace and tranquility.
A Muslim woman feels liberated by being truly a wife, mother and woman of the home. She feels her greatest achievement is in supporting her husband to be the best he can be and her children to be the most God fearing, obedient and secured characters of society.
It is not possible to combine the two and still be a winner. The Westerners has failed to see this, even though their own family lives don't work.
Name
Mayar
- Lebanon
Profession
Question
What are the ways and means through which we can face female abuse in today's modern world?
Answer
Proper Islamic education will eliminate abuse. It is not possible for a person knowledgeable in Islam to abuse any creatures--being human, animals or even plants. Abuse stems from ignorance, and ignorance stems from prolonged misconception about Islam.
Sometimes cultural traditions play a part in misunderstood traditions for example the forced marriage is a cultural tradition that is abhorred in Islam.
I believe the Muslim countries that face these kinds of abuse in their societies must take necessary steps to educate their population and incorporate more Islamic teaching to the society from a very early age.
Name
Nicolas
- Switzerland
Profession
Question
Could please mention some of the main aspects regarding which Islam was keen to highlight about the status of women in Islam?
Answer
There are numerous Prophetic hadiths in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) showed how he exulted women. We know that he exulted mothers three times above fathers, and he made obeying parents next to highest command of Allah. He is reported to have stated that paradise lies under the feet of the mothers.
When he was asked about the treatment of wives, he recommended men to treat women very kindly and with respect.
Also, women were entitled to inherit after the advent of Islam--a liberation that was non-existent before.
A woman does not have to support herself when she marries. It is her husband's responsibility to provide for her as she is accustomed prior to marriage. There are numerous other hadiths that exalt the status of women. A closer look at this subject in Islam will shed much light for those in doubt.
Name
Mother
-
Profession
Question
How can we protect the younger female generations from all forms of abuse and instill Islamic teachings and commitment in their hearts?
Answer
As I explained in previous answers, the proper Islamic upbringing is the first step to instill correct understanding of the religion. However, this alone will not suffice. I did this step, and did not follow the next, which was to live among a strong Muslim community or move to a Muslim country at the time my children were very young.
To prevent female abuse in younger generation, we must take active part in their lives, in form of guidance, protection and education. We must use the best possible manners to instill Islamic values in their hearts. Most of all, we must be an example for them to follow.
All of this must be done within a society that is supportive of Islamic practice. The young females are too susceptible to other youth around them. We cannot expect too much of them, when it is us who put them in the wrong environment to begin with.
Name
Fatima
-
Profession
Question
Is a woman allowed to give gifts (such as money, cloth, or any tangible goods) to a friend or a relative without asking the permission of her husband? I gave a gift to a friend when she had a baby without telling my husband. I would like to know if I’ve committed a sin or not.
Thank you.
Answer
Dear Fatima,
As-salamu `alaikum.
Editor's Note:
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Name
muslim
-
Profession
Question
What do you say for those who don't wear hijab and they might do all there prayers. I don't know I'm angry with them a lot. They might even wear tight cloths, and they might be afraid of hijjab.
Answer
The heart of the matter is not about hijab. It is about love of Allah. When a person loves his Lord so much, then he will be willing to do whatever it takes to please Him, then hijab is no longer an issue.
A woman who has problems with hijab or wearing Islamic attire is saying I care more about my own desires than pleasing Allah. She needs a lot of kind attention, affection and proper approach to slowly instill the love of Allah in her heart.
This must be done by her immediate family first and then by friends and those close to her. If she happens to live in a society that is already weak in Islamic practice, it might be very difficult to overcome the barriers that face the females. In this regard, the Muslim woman should try her best not to succumb to peer pressure that goes against the teachings of her religion and she should try her best to stick to Islamic manners.
Also, we cannot be angry at those who don't practice Islamic commandments. Instead, we can concentrate our energy to arrive at solutions that would work. We should first start with ourselves, by being an example.
Name
Shabana
- India
Profession
student
Question
Does Islam permit the women to acquire higher studies. What is the role of women in the present modern world?
Answer
There are no limitations in Islam for a woman to pursue higher education. There are, however, guidelines that would ensure her role as a wife/mother as long as her present or future is not compromised.
Women are encouraged to study to become teachers, nurses, doctors, or any occupation that would serve the Muslim community.
Having said all that, she must also consider her family status and her present obligations. If seeking higher education means neglecting her husband, children and domestic responsibilities, then it is more proper for her to wait a few years until the children are grown and have left the home, and her husband is also in full agreement with her pursuing of higher education. When a woman bases all her decisions upon the pleasure of her Lord, the next steps become very easy. Sometimes she just has to contemplate within her own mind and the answer becomes clear if her choice would please Allah or not.
Name
Rasha
- Egypt
Profession
Question
As a young Muslim woman, I fully believe that Islam elevates women while others lower her rank. But many think that Islam put some obstacles in the modern woman's way, can you make a hint or mention how Islam higher the rank of woman to remove this misconception about Islam?
Answer
We have gone into some detail about similar questions earlier. However, your question is very important to address in these times when misconceptions about Muslim women is ever increasing.
Until recent centuries, even the European women did not have the right of inheritance. They were treated as commodities like other parts of the world, including the Arab countries prior to the advent of Islam.
More than 14 centuries ago, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) revealed the Divine guidance to mankind about the women issues and set the free from mistreatment. Females were given the right of inheritance, kind treatment by husbands, freedom to choose their husbands and exalted as mothers, above even, fathers.
The women were given a heavenly rank due to the extreme importance of their role as wife/mother/daughter and educator of her society. There is no misunderstanding about this among those who properly understand the Divine guidance.
The misconception is due to lack of proper understanding of women's role in general and at home in particular. The laws of Allah are not understood or misunderstood.
When the West tries to interpret the life of Islamic society, it tries to fit it into the concepts that is familiar to its own understanding. Not only is the solution unworkable in an Islamic society, the continued insistence to change the important elements in an Islamic society would also cause the deterioration of family structure which is evident today in many of the Muslim countries.
The proper Islamic education and information would reduce some of the misconceptions facing the Muslim nations today.
Name
Muslimah
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
I know Islam gives women a lot of respect & rights, however, unfortunately this is not reflected in most Muslim homes. I certainly feel 'suffocated, trapped etc.' I feel I am too busy pleasing everyone else's expectations. I don't have my own mind anymore, I feel I have to do what my husband tells me to, only go where he lets me etc. If it's not my husband controlling me, then it's my mother-in-law. I also have a 2yr old daughter, who takes a lot of my time.
Before I was married, I had a successful career, friends etc. & after marriage I have left everything behind including my own family. My husband on the other hand hasn't changed at all. He still goes out with friends & family, still does his other activities such as the gym, snooker or golf. He is still in touch with all his friends including females & spends a lot of time outside the house, whereas sometimes days go by & I don't step outside.
Why do women have to do all the sacrifices & a woman who has dreams, who wants to 'have a life' is seen to be bad in our culture?
I feel I have lost my own identity and cannot have any desires or wishes no more. Is this how it should be?
Answer
May Allah give you comfort and peace sister. It all comes down to one thing. Allah and His pleasure above all else. This may not be easy for many. In these days when the West is portraying men as selfish, chauvinistic and un-respectful of women's right, it is easy to fall into that trap and ride along with all in agreement with it.
My dear sister, if you imagine that every act you do at your home for the sake of Allah, is considered worship, then your outlook may change. This does not mean, however to endure abuse and consider it worship. We must distinguish between abuse and hardship for the sake of Allah.
The job of a mother/wife is not easy. She must make many sacrifices in her life. This is to include staying home; giving up many activities that she could do prior to having a family including a carrier and socialization. The end result is having a happy family who is filled with the love and security of the home provided by the mother/wife.
This is why the beloved Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, Paradise is beneath the mothers' feet. A change of attitude may make an incredible difference on how you see your present situation. May Allah choose the best for us all.
Name
Editor
-
Profession
Question
.
Answer
Finally, we would like to thank Raya Shokatfard for taking the time to answer the questions of Islamonline viewers today, and we also thank all those who participated in this dialogue. We apologize for not being able to accommodate all the questions within the time allocated to this session. If you feel your question is very important, feel free to contact us at EngLivedialogue@islamonline.net and we will try our best to answer your question. We request our readers to join us in upcoming sessions.
