In the whole world especially in our country the oppression that is being unleashed on the people particularly on the women has a foundation. The oppression is not descending from the sky. The ideological foundation for the discrimination on women by men and at times by women themselves is: generally the people believe, particularly the men believe that women are inferior to men having low quality & below standard. The belief also exists in the women. This belief originates from some wrong ideas among the people. And on this belief is standing firmly the whole structure of oppression, deprivation and disrespect towards women.If we want to eliminate discrimination on women from our country, it cannot be done excluding Islam. I want to make it very clear that in a country like ours where ninety percent people are Muslims, we would not be able to move without Islam. Those who have revolted against Islam could not last long and are not able to sustain. With all humbleness I would like to say that if we can move ahead remaining within the framework of Islam then it will be good in all respects. I firmly believe that there is such a framework in Islam, which can ensure the progress of women.
I am not in favour of distorting Islam nor I am inclined to giving temporary interpretation of Islam. In true sense, Islam has empowered women and Islam has upheld respect for women. Islam has ensured rights for women. But before enlarging on this I would mention what could be the basis or "ideological foundation" on which the fundamental equality of men & women depends? Allah has not created all human beings with similar appearance. Two persons are never equal in every dot or in all respects. One person is different from another in terms of his weight, height, colour, education etc. But basically every human being is equal - equal to Almighty Allah.
There is a quote a verse (172) from Sura A`araf: When thy Lord drew forth From the children of Adam From their loins- Their descendants and made them. Testify concerning them (saying) "Am I not your Lord (Who cherishes & sustains you)? They said: "yea! We do testify!
It means all men and women reached an agreement on one point that is, "You are our Lord and we shall obey you. Here no separate agreements were made with men or with women. Any other inequality or dissimilarity if any is insignificant or very small compared to the equality of human soul or spirit.
It means that the spiritual personalities of a human being are the same and so as 'human beings` all are equal. This is the fundamental foundation of equality among men and women.
By Mariam Javed
despite a large number of women rights movement across the globe it seems that the larger portion of the fruits of women rights has gone to women of the western world while their sisters specially in the islamic world still remain deprived behind the veil of anonymity.
ReplyDeleteThe injustice against women in Muslim countries is terrible, and there has been more than enough pious preaching about how Islam is great for women (in an ideal world), and not enough correcting of injustice on the ground. The evil comes from the system that keeps people locked in roles that stunt their growth, the system that unjustly penalizes women who would exercise their rights. As long as it isn't happening to someone you know, it's easy to stay complacent and acquiesce with the conventional system, overlooking its injustice. There has been more than enough (merely verbal) assertion that Islam is good for women
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aiza khan
I agree with you. No one can doubt about the rights that Islam has given to women.There is innumerable text available on the subject. Apathetic condition of women in Pakistan and the rest of the Muslim world is not because of religion, infact it is because of lack of religious knowledge. It is rightly said 'Islam is not what Muslims do, it is what they are supposed to do."
ReplyDeleteyeah its true that islam has stress with high importance on the women rights..... but if v consider the rights for women in the sub continent.... they are the same as they were in pre ISLAMIC period....and this is all due to illiteracy adn immorality....
ReplyDeleteGood job Mariam! Glad to see that someone is writing about Islam giving equal rights to women in the women's rights debate in the contemporary world. All too often people forget that it was Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) who taught inheritance rights for women, a practice unheard of in the pre-Islamic era. Those who want to reinterprit Islam today should actually study the Quran in comparison to the Bible and other holy scriptures in order to see that Islam actually is the most modern religion bestowed upon mankind. We don't have to incorporate Western-style feminism to get our rights back in Pakistan, we can certainly stand equally to men while keeping our religious identities intact. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteThis is what I call a liberal article. Unlike the western thought where women are seen to be given their rights now, and that is considered liberal, Islam has always given women their rights. Islam has always been liberal in this sense of the word's definition. Women have not been treated equal to men throughtout history and throughout societies, only if the world turned to Islam to gain their justified rights.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this insightful article.
i would like to respectfully clear out that westernization has nothing to do with women empowerment. Sure there are more rights there but so is the divorce rate. Women are too independant and stubborn in the western world. WE cn create empowerment under our own culture and traditions. Men should need us to stand beside them n we should support them but we refuse to be degraded n to be taken for granted.
ReplyDeleteI think Women's empowerment is very important and vital for the growth for the country. Ignorance breeds a backward society and as women are the vehicles of society , they need the support from their male counterparts
ReplyDeleteI believe that promoting gender equality is the empowerment of women, with a focus on identifying and redressing power imbalances and giving women more autonomy to manage their own lives. Women's empowerment is vital to sustainable development and the realization of human rights for all.
ReplyDeletewell said :)
ReplyDeletegood work =)
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