Islam And Feminism - Liberty TV/Radio - News - Voice For All! Vision For Alll!
Editor 01
November 22, 2019
In the name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful.
This article is explicitly from an Islamic perspective,nonetheless, people of other faiths are still welcomed aboard to have a glimpseof the dilemma of Muslims with regards to the Feminist movement.
In broad terms, Feminism is the belief that women should beallowed equal rights, power and opportunity as men are accustomed to. It seeksto eliminate discrimination in the society. It is an ideology that aims atpromoting the inclusion of women in political, cultural and economic decisions.
Societies have been structured in such a way that men arethe presiding and dominant forces, and with their physicality compared to theirfemale counterparts, you expect no less. Due to this quality, men are to be theprotectors of women, to care for them, and to provide for them, but the reversehas been the case many at times, with women long being the subject ofoppression, abuse, violence, double standards, and other forms of socialinjustice across different parts of the world at the hands of their ‘superior’partners. Her physical features offer little in a bid to fight back, so she’sbeen left to suffer in silence throughout time. This narrative is quicklychanging however, with women gathering up the courage to set themselves free ofthis monstrosity. They are doing this through the concept of Feminism.
Feminism has become a complex theory however, itsclarification depends on one’s perspective and struggles. This brings me to thedilemma of the ‘Muslim feminist’.
Feminism is not a movement that originated from Islam,therefore one does not expect it to be within the confines of Islamicfundamentals. Islam is the principle of life to us Muslims, which makes everyaspect of our lives regulated around its teachings and laws. One must ask then,why do some Muslims champion an ideology which roots do not stem from Islam?Simple, it fights for a cause they identify with.
Islam has given equal rights and duties to all Muslims.There are areas of life however, that Islam assigns different roles for bothgenders to play, which if we are being honest, Allah in His Infinite Wisdom andKnowledge about His creations, limits a woman from engaging in major aspects ofpublic life, a cause which Feminism advocates for. This is why majority ofMuslims frown at the concept of the feminist thought.
Leadership is an area tailored for men in Islam. It isforbidden for a woman to rule over a state, or be a Chief Judge. She can holdcertain positions in government according to some scholars however, and to someshe cannot. Feminism on the other hand fights for women to be allowed in suchpositions, this cannot work on the framework of Islam.
One thing the Muslim feminist must understand is thatdifferent women fight for different causes because of differences in cultureand or society. What works for one, may not be suitable for another, and asMuslims this is why we need to thread with caution, as feminism, genderequality and human rights, all fight for certain things that cross theboundaries of Islam, a popular one being that of homosexuality.
On the other hand, there are misogynist Muslims out therewho intentionally bring up these points to condemn feminism only as a guise forthem to perpetrate things Allah has forbidden. What happened to the injusticeand unfairness she fights against? What happened to the double standards shefaces? What about the literacy and employment she wants for her sisters? or thedomestic and sexual violence she suffers? Are they all permitted in Islam?
You find a case where both genders engage in adultery, butthe society points only at the woman as one without morals. When he beats herup, we ask what she did to provoke him. Are we implying that adultery is onlyforbidden for women, or Islam permits men to oppress their wives?
A single woman of a certain age is labelled with all sortsof derogatory and ill-mannered vocabulary, ‘she’s an expired product and willattract no suitors’. She did not cover up her body hence the rapist has justificationfor his crime. Yes men could have more sexual desire, but is that a reason andexcuse not to possess discipline? What happened to lowering his gaze which hewas commanded to observe by Allah the same way women were commanded to coverup? Islam provides for fair hearing and just trial, the same way it commandslowering of gaze and stipulates same penalty for rapists and adulterers,irrespective of gender.
Moreover, it enjoys respect, caring and compassion towardswomen. However, a woman’s opinions on life are quick to be rubbished off, howdare a woman possess knowledge? Forgetting women like Umm Salma, the wife ofthe Prophet (S.A.W), who advised him on a strategy he used during the Treaty ofHudaibiyah. Little effort has been made in fulfilling the rights of a woman ascommanded by Islam, hence why Feminism caught her attention.
Where does this then leave the Muslim feminist? How does shefind solace? Does she embrace Feminism and identify as one despite itadvocating for matters that are against the Shariah? Must she come up withanother crusade that doesn’t break Islamic barriers? Will she get the support?Or should she just accept defeat and persevere till The Day of Recompense? Iwill leave that solution to our noble scholars of Islam, who are an embodimentof knowledge, because I cannot categorically give an answer to that. One thingI can say however, is that when she comes out fighting under the umbrella of Feminismon rights that are accorded to her in Islam, the least we can do is lend her avoice, rather than subdue.
MAESTER H.K