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Explaining The Many Misconceptions That Surround Muslim Women

The truth about Muslim women

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Explaining The Many Misconceptions That Surround Muslim Women

Muslim women in the West are facing a growing scrutiny. The media never fails to lament on Muslim women, painting them as helpless, brainwashed, subjugated, oppressed, covered from head to toe, with no rights whatsoever, and forced into blindly following a desert religion dominated by men.

But who are the REAL Muslim women? They are women not oppressed nor brainwashed; they are intelligent and educated. They follow a religion that gives them the right to own property, to seek knowledge or education, to work, the right to divorce and vote, and the right to participate both on a social and political level. Yes, islam gave Muslim women these rights 1400 years ago without any struggle.

MISCONCEPTION #1: Muslim Women are oppressed

This is largely due to the hijab (headscarf) that Muslim women wear. Somehow, this piece of cloth became a symbol of oppression, often used by the media to point their fingers at islam and say “Look at those poor muslim women. They have to wear that thing over their head. They are oppressed and subjugated!” As a Muslim woman who wears the hijab(completely by choice), I can assure you that the reality is far from that. Hijab is more than just a piece of cloth for Muslim women; it’s a symbol of piety and modesty. it's an expression of self-respect and dignity. Many Muslim women choose to wear the hijab or veil of their own volition, not because a man told her to wear it. Muslim women are obligated to dress modestly so that they wont be objectified. So that they should be respected for their intelligence, and other aspects of their personalities, not their outer appearances.

The notion that all Muslim women are subjugated is tied to the mistaken belief that the liberation of women in the West is complete. Whereas Muslim women are called upon to conceal their sexuality, western women are encouraged to exploit it.

Hijab isn't just worn by Muslim women but various righteous non-Muslim women throughout history and in other religions have worn the hijab. Examples include the Catholic Nuns, Mother Teresa, and Mary(May Allah be pleased with her) the mother of Jesus(P.B.U.H). It is not just for women but men as well. Muslim men are also obligated to wear the hijab and dress modestly, so they can preserve their chastity. A form of hijab for men is lowering their gaze to respect women and avoid looking at them lustily.

In fact, the majority of converts to islam are women from the West and among them, a large number are feminists. Now, why would women — feminists at that— convert to a religion that supposedly oppresses women? That's because it doesn’t. Islam is against any form of oppression, whether the oppressor is a leader, a husband, a king, or anyone who oppresses others,

"We will reserve the houses of the hereafter exclusively for those who do not seek self-glory in this life and do not cause oppression and corruption to spread…" [Holy Quran 28:83]
"…Tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter." [Holy Quran 2:17]

Thus, the Hijab is a symbol of liberation, not oppression.

MISCONCEPTION #2: Muslim women are not allowed to be educated/not taught science

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Muslim countries lead in science and produced more female science graduates than the U.S or Europe.

Female representation in science programs is strongest in Iran, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, and Oman, where science is disproportionately female.

In Islam, it is compulsory for men and women to seek knowledge to fulfill their religious and social responsibilities. Both are equally encouraged and rewarded for seeking knowledge and education. Islam specifically encourages the pursuit of knowledge and worldly science, whether in study or in research.

“ … And say: My Lord increase me in knowledge.” [Quran 20: 114]

The Prophet Muhammad(P.B.U.H) said:

“Seeking knowledge is mandatory for every Muslim.”
"…Whoever follows a path in pursuit of knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise.”
The ink of the scholar is more precious than the blood of the martyr."

Not only is education and seeking knowledge encouraged, but islam also gives more recognition to knowledgeable people:

“Allah will exalt those of you who believe, and those who are given knowledge, in high degrees; and Allah is Aware of what you do.”
[Quran 58:11]

In fact, the world’s first university al-Qarawiyyin in Fes, Morocco (which exists to this very day) was established in 859 C.E. by Fatima al-fihri, a Muslim woman.

"Muslim women throughout history and in the contemporary world have contributed to civilization as scholars, legal jurists, rulers, benefactresses, warriors, businesswomen, poets, mystics, among endless positions."

MISCONCEPTION #3: Muslim women are inferior to men

This is the most popular misconception about Muslim women in the West. The Holy Quran refutes this in plain, clear print:

“[Noble Quran 3:195] Their Lord responded to them: “I never fail to reward any worker among you for any work you do, be you male or female — you are equal to one another.”
“[Noble Quran 4:124] As for those who lead a righteous life, male or female, while believing, they enter Paradise; without the slightest injustice.”
“[Noble Quran 49:13] O people, we created you from the same male and female, and rendered you distinct peoples and tribes, that you may recognize one another.”

"Surely [for] male Muslims and female Muslims, and male believers and female believers, and devout males and devout females and sincere males and sincere females, and patient males and patient females, and submissive males and submissive females, and male donators and female donators, and fasting males and fasting females, and males who preserve their private parts and females who preserve their private parts, and males who are much mindful of Allah and females who are much mindful of Allah – for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a magnificent reward.” [Noble Quran 33: 35]

Islam elevated the status of women ever since 1400 years ago whilst women in other societies continued to be treated lesser than men. in the early 1400s, Bishops and Chritsians authorities held councils and decided "women are not human and they have no souls". In france in the 1700s, Christian clerics held similar councils and decided "they are human but lesser than men". Whilst women were treated lesser than men in the western society, Islam raised the status of women so high, that “Paradise lies beneath” the feet of the mother and that “Daughters are blessings: they are kind, helpful, good companions, blessed, and like cleanliness.”

Men and women are equal but not the same. Islam recognizes this physiological difference and men are to be the protectors of women and spend their wealth in favor of women or even “a degree above them” as mentioned in the Quran.

Some treatment of women in some Muslim countries is a reflection of culture, not religion. It's inconsistent with the teaching of islam. The Prophet Muhammad(P.B.U.H) said:

"The most perfect in faith among you believers is he who is best in manners and kindest to his wife.”

"It is the generous (in character) who is good to women, and it is the wicked who insults them."

Tthere is an entire Surah(chapter) dedicated to women in the Quran.

MISCONCEPTION #4: She has no right to any property, financial security, no say in choosing a marriage partner, divorce, or to work

Again, the Quran refutes this explicitly:

"And for women are rights over men similar to those of men over women." [Noble Quran 2:228]

“For men is a share of what the parents and close relatives leave, and for women is a share of what the parents and close relatives leave, be it little or much, an obligatory share.” [Noble Qur’an 4:7]

Islam gives women the following rights:

1. The right and duty to obtain an education.

2. The right to own property.

3. The right to work for pay.

4. Equality of reward for equal deeds.

5. The right to express her opinion and be heard.

6. The right to provisions from her husband.

7. The right to negotiate marriage terms of her choice.

8. The right to obtain a divorce from her husband. Her property is not divided during divorce.

9. The right to keep all her own money. Whatever a woman earns or is given before and during the course of the marriage remains her property if the marriage ends. This prevents the man from taking advantage of her wealth through marriage.

10. Custody of their children after divorce.

11. To refuse any marriage that does not please them. Forced marriages are forbidden in Islam, and if a woman has been forced to wed, she has the right to seek annulment.

"What I discovered in my readings surprised me. Islam not only does not oppress women, but actually liberates them, having given them rights in the 6th century that we have only gained in this century in this country: the right to own property and wealth and to maintain that in her name after marriage; the right to vote; and the right to divorce." (Karima Slack, an American feminist from secular humanism to Islam)

In Europe and the United States, the first laws that allowed women these rights didn't appear until the late 1800s and 1900s. Women in the west are still fighting to this very day for equal rights.

MISCONCEPTION #5: Honor Killing is justified/islamic

There is no such thing as honor killing in the Quran or Hadiths. It's purely a cultural and tribal phenomenon and not unique to one culture. It dates back to ancient Rome and medieval Europe. Islam is against killing of innocents in any form and regardless of race, gender, religion, etc. As mentioned in the Quran:

"If anyone slays a person, it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people."[5:32]
"Nor take life - which Allah has made sacred - except for just cause. And if anyone is slain wrongfully, we have given his heir authority (to demand qisas or to forgive): but let him not exceed bounds in the matter of taking life... [17:33]

The Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H.) said: “The believer will continue to be encompassed by the mercy of Allah so long as he does not shed blood that it is forbidden to shed.”

To say it's an Islamic practice is completely incorrect, as there is no evidence or any mention of honor killing in the Quran or Hadiths.

To sum it all up, Islam elevated the status of women 1400 years ago, giving them rights that were unheard of in the West at the time, such as the right to own properties, divorce, vote, etc. Whereas women in the western societies had to fight and struggle for them(to this very day) Muslim women were given these rights without any struggle. Thus, Muslim women are not slaves trapped within the walls of her home; they are independent and educated women who strive to contribute to society, socially and politically. They lead and direct their own lives.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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