Majority of the critiques on the position of women in Islam as well as the opinions of the general public on this matter suffer from a significant flaw. These debates take place in a wrong frame of reference i.e., the comparisons are made based on the 20th century expectations and standards. However, an objective discussion must take into account the historical contexts because if you compare the status of women based on today’s standards, even many of the improvements in those times would seem horrendous injustices.
In order to understand how Islam improved women’s lives, we would need to see how women were treated in the Arab society before Islam as well as the status of women in the two major religions before Islam, i.e. Judaism and Christianity. This comparison is not being made to put any faith down; it is just to help understand the historical context.
Women before Islam
In the Arab society before Islam, women were treated as property rather than as human beings. Save a few exceptions, most women were subjugated in almost all aspects of life such as inheritance, education, property and marriage. Female infanticide was a common practice and men felt great shame if they had a female child. When a man died and had sons from other marriages, the oldest of them could take the wife of his father as his own. This snapshot of the situation clearly shows the status of women in the pre-Islam Arabia.
Status of Women in the Judaic and Christian Traditions
Lets us see what Judaic and Christian texts say about women.
“No wickedness comes anywhere near the wickedness of a woman…..Sin began with a woman and thanks to her we all must die” (Ecclesiasticus 25:19, 24)
“A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I don’t permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner,” said St. Paul (Timothy 2:11-14).
Other people like St. Tertullian had a similar opinion, “Do you not know that you are each an Eve? The sentence of God on this sex of yours lives in this age: the guilt must of necessity live too. You are the Devil’s gateway: You are the unsealer of the forbidden tree: You are the first deserter of the divine law: You are she who persuaded him whom the devil was not valiant enough to attack. You destroyed so easily God’s image, man. On account of your desert even the Son of God had to die.”
“What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” To the woman he (God) said, “I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” To Adam he (God) said, “Because you listen to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you,( Genesis 3:6-17)
“let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law, and if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for woman to speak in the church.” (Corinthians 14:34-35)
Two Major Areas of Criticism
Veil/Hijab
One of the things about Islam that draws the most criticism is the modesty of Muslim women. Western media and literature have made women believe that their liberation depends upon shedding clothing and foregoing modesty. The male dominated world of media and consent manufacturing has ingrained this belief in women that more skin they expose better are their chances of success. Let’s stop for a minute and think it through. When a woman exposes herself who does it really benefit? Is it not the men who very conveniently fulfill their voyeuristic desires through the exposed women? We try to keep everything of value behind closed doors and under wraps so that no one sees it and gets any ideas. Our cash, jewelry, important documents and everything else that has some value is protected from prying eyes. Yet when it comes to women, men don’t mind letting them display it all for everybody. They have made women a commodity that sells and built multibillion dollar industries like pornography industry that is primarily for the pleasure of men.
In contrast, Islam considers women very valuable and worthy of high respect. Women are asked to cover themselves so that they are not bothered by men.
“O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments over their bodies (when abroad) so that they should be known and not molested” (33:59).
The image of Muslim women wrapped in burka and with their face covered by a veil has been a topic of contempt and ridicule for a long time. However, the concept of veil is an ancient tradition and not something Islam invented. Ancient Jewish traditions put a lot of emphasis on veil. Dr. Menachem M. Brayer states in his book, ‘The Jewish woman in Rabbinic literature’ that Jewish women went in public with their heads and most of the face covered. He further elaborates that uncovered hair was considered nudity in the Jewish tradition.
“Young women, you wear your veils out on the streets, so you should wear them in the church, you wear them when you are among strangers, then wear them among your brothers…,” wrote St. Tertullian in ‘On the Veiling of Virgins’.
It is important to note that modesty is not required only from Muslim women, Muslim men are also instructed to follow suit, “Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty……And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what ordinarily appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms....” (24:30, 31)
Polygyny
Polygyny, according to Webster’s dictionary, is the practice of having two or more wives at the same time. The term commonly used in this context is Polygamy which means the same but applies to both men and women. Therefore, when discussing Islam, the correct term is Polygyny which is considered to be one of the most hotly debated charges against Islam. However, it would be interesting to note that it is an ancient tradition which has been practiced for centuries before Islam. It wasn’t until a few centuries ago that Polygyny became a ‘sin’. Monogamy was never a condition in any of the major religions. Before Islam there was practically no limitation on the number of wives a man could have. Islam limited the number of wives to four and also placed conditions of fairness, justice and equal treatment that must be fulfilled. “If you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, marry women of your choice, two or three or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with them, then only one” (4:3)
The husband is required to be fair and just to his wives and treat them equally well. “He who has two wives and is not just between them, he will come on the Day of Resurrection with one of his sides fallen.” (2133 Abu Dawood & 1141Tirmidhi)
In many parts of the world, women have outnumbered men throughout history due to various reasons like wars and other feuds etc. Polygyny addresses the problem of these women as it provides them a legal and secure future with a man. There are other reasons such as if the wife is incapable of having children and the husband desires to have children, marrying another woman can help the man continue his lineage.
Infidelity has plagued the western society, according to Atwood & Schwartz, 2002 – Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 50-60% of married men engage in extramarital sex during their marriage. This is not a shocking revelation, is it? It’s because infidelity has been accepted as a fact of life in the western society. Wouldn’t the mistresses be better off if men were urged to marry them rather than using them?
One of the staunchest opponents of Islam in our times, Billy Graham, said, “Christianity cannot compromise on the question of polygamy. If present-day Christianity cannot do so, it is to its own detriment. Islam has permitted polygamy as a solution to social ills and has allowed a certain degree of latitude to human nature but only within the strictly defined framework of the law. Christian countries make a great show of monogamy, but actually they practice polygamy. No one is unaware of the part mistresses play in Western society. In this respect Islam is a fundamentally honest religion, and permits a Muslim to marry a second wife if he must, but strictly forbids all clandestine amatory associations in order to safeguard the moral probity of the community.”
Thanks be to Allah for being muslims.
i thank Allah only for a human being,he give me brain with the help of which i can think what is right or wrong,.he give me mind with the help of this i can think,express my views.not a blind follower of so called mullah or hate 0r kill any human in the name of Allah as jehadi gives the call for jehad.i still don’t understand which jehad and for what purpose.9/11 in america is jehad what rubbish.innocent people killed in the name of Islam.why.if this is Islam then i proudly declear that i am not a Muslim .i am only a human being who only try to love and help other human beings.if we think that we are muslim then show the right path to others.don’t try to make fool innocent people in the name of islam.be a good human being.if u r a good human ,u feel sorrow ,pain and happiness for others than u donot need any tag like muslim,hindu,christian etc.
@shahnaz : Dear sister what u believe is that human brain can itself decide for what is good or bad for him. That is so not true. It is for the same reason many messengers have been said by GOD whether it be Moses(PBUH),JESUS(PBUH) or the last messenger of mankind i.e Prophet Mohammed(PBUH). GOD has sent them to show people how to live there life and sent them in times when mankind was going towards utter darkness.
You may be a very good person,helping people and loving them but the IDLO life is what our Prophet’s lived…That’s the key to success in world and hereafter..
As far as terror is concerned ISLAM prohibits … The problem with Muslims living today is that they themselves dont know there religion. They themselves dont know what is written in QURAN and how our beloved Prophet used to live. They just get easily influenced through the media which may or may not be true in cases.
Why do we blame maulvis and other clerics? The answer is simple because we ourselves made us vulnerable by not gettin knowledge about our religion .. Just ask yourselves how much do u knw about ISLAM (not from what is in media or by maulvis ) . Its our basic fault.Our Prophet has left us guidance in name of QURAN and his Hadith but unfortunately nobody reads and try to understand them nowadays .They just believe in what is written in media or what maulvis says..
And if you really want to know about ISLAM dont see the followers of ISLAM for GOD has sent u the perfect man Prophet Mohammed(PBUH). He should be oue idol and GOD’s book QURAN..
Plz read about Prophet and try to imitate him for its the only way to success…
U dnt become a muslim by just havin a muslim background ….Its a shame on us that we are not following what we should and believe rumours n false persons…
I hope u would try to know more about ISLAM only frm QURAN and lifestyle of Prophet Mohd.(PBUH)
Thanks
hi,i read the above article.facts which are given by author may be right.i donot understand why we try to hide our drawbacks.and with eg.we try to prove that we are right.women in islam are suprresd.if few have some rights than the majority of women are there who have no rights .they have only one right when her husband want tor remarry she e his decision.if she has only girl child ,and then for male child he again can have a chance for remarrige.male in islam are very narrow mind.thats why we are back from other communities.thats why we cannot progress.
this again is a miscocept that people have dear shahnaz! people have remoulded it in their own way and indeed they r sinners. do hear the translation of our Holy book Quran and try and learn the reason why men are permitted to practice polygyny. u will learn how today’s fellow brothers have twisted the actual reason for remarrying. women r not at all suppressed in ISLAM. its only those people who modify the laws of Islam according to their desire. here i would like to stress that if only a woman was truelly literate of the entire religion, she would never harm another woman knowingly just by fearing Allah and thus the rights of another woman would b protected by the grace of God! so vow to educate our daughters in the true preachings of Islam so that she would never do injustice to mankind as well as let me stress another fact that if she knew the Holy book in her own language, she would even not let anybody do injustice to her own self also; which is also stressed in our religion.in today’s world it is so important to understand the message of Islam given to our Prophet(saw) by Allah. without knowing the truth v shouldn’t b blaming anybody for the state of today’s women because v r equally responsible for the consequences because v don’t stress on true “tarbiyat” of our children, who r future of our society. To give proper “taaleem” to our children, v need to b educated ourselves! no matter whatever degrees v hold, how much do v ACTUALLY know our religion? and remember my dear sister! charity begins at home!
ma’m shabana.i have two children.my lovely daughter is a dentist.my son is an engineer.both are above 20.both naver read namaaz or quran .and i never force them to do religious rituals.but both are so helpful for every community.every body praise them.i teach them only one thing never hurt that creation who is created by god to whom he loves more.try to hlp everybody.ma’m this is taleem and tarbeeat.both love their country and citizen whatever their religion is.laden mother also give him taleem and tarbeet.what he did we felt ashmed what he did at 9/11.if we killing innocent people is not in islam .god never allow to kill his people reading quran does not mean that ur free from every sin.u have to give ans to god
@shahnaz : Dear sister …
As u say your kids never read namaz and Quran and still they are loved and they are helpful…… 1st of all let me ask u do u beliive in GOD? if ur answer is yes …then WHY u think GOD has sent his messengers like Prophet JESUS(PBUH) ,Prophet MOHAMMAED(PBUH) n others.?
The answer is simple … a human is vulnerable ..wt he thinks right may not be right !!
Thus ALLAH (GOD) has sent them to show mankind how to live a perfect life and thats what we know as ISLAM.ISLAM is the perfect lifestayle for any human being on this earth …so that he get success in world and also hereafter life..
U say your children help other people ….but did you ever thought that do your child duely thank GOD for what they are today ???
Dt Thankfulness to GOD is what you call NAMAZ!! If u cant Thank your creator for what he has bestowed u with then how can u call that person a gud person ????
YOur chidren this way may get success in world but what about hereafter…. if they dont follow the path shown by aour beloved Prophet then hw can u expect them to be in jannah ???
Plz dnt get mislead by worldly applause!!! If a person follow ISLAM he is bound to be helpful ….. ( zakat thats the charity which is to be paid by evry muslim).This is just 1 eg i gave …..
Rest what u said that OSAMA’s mom also gave him taleem etc….. well u cnt judge religion by seeing his followers … If u want to see the beauty of ISLAM see the lifestyle of our beloved Prophet (PBUH)… That’s how a perfect muslim should be …. He is the idol for u ……
and sayin that u taught ur children to love fellow ummah,,,it is nt taleem n tarbeeat …
Mashallah thank ALLAH for wt ur kids are 2day …if they are succesful in world …its not coz of only there efforts …its with ALLAH’s grace …
Try yourself and make your kids FOLLOW the lifestyle of our Prophet MOHAMMED(PBUH)….for thats the perfect lifestyle … dont try to follow a lifestyle of any cleric or any maulana …. evry muslim should have one and only idol and that is our beloved Prophet(PBUH) ….. That is the way to please GOD n enter Heaven …n nthin else…
Fear Day of Judgement n Fear ALLAH ………..
Shahana makes some valid points. Also, we mention polygyny in relation to Islam. No one seems to mention polyandry. No scholar has been able to agree that polyandry is strictly forbidden.
i,m proud to be a muslim!
mashallah…the hour needs this information.
I would propose that it isn’t possible to understand Western (American) culture solely from a Christian standpoint, since we don’t have a religious government, nor do most of us want one. The author’s quoting of New Testament authors such as St. Paul does not include the actual teachings and modeled behavior by Jesus Himself surrounding the treatment of women. The words and actions of Jesus are the prime example for Christians, above the Old Testament authors and even Paul or Tertullian. Jesus was a friend and brother to women. He talked to women which was taboo at the time; he appeared after his Resurrection first to a female disciple. There are however, many different sects of Christians, some are more fundamentalist and some are more interpretive. The feminist theologians have written about the disgraceful history of the abuse and mistreatment of women by the Church at various points in time. Along with examining the writings in religious text, I’d argue that one must also read the Enlightenment and Feminist philosophers to understand the ideas espoused by an educated, modern American woman (and many men). There is a wealth of feminist writing challenging the commodification of women. For the most part, women here dress appropriately to the action or occasion, for work, for sports, when it is hot outside, etc. and we expect males to be responsible for their own behavior. We are not all Lady Gaga and we are not all fooled by exploitive men. It’s the concept of the double standard for women and men regarding sexual behavior that we have fought against. The iidea of modesty was prevalent in our culture in my grandmother’s time, but so was spousal abuse, abandonment, the blanket dismissal of women’s skill and talent, etc. I don’t think it is possible to know a woman’s heart by something as superficial as dress. The fact that women could not support themselves financially made them stay in situations which compromised their health and their spirits, and their children’s lives. This change accounts for some of your divorce statistic. Now, women can simply leave and raise our children in peace on our own. If marriage is your only choice in the world for financial security, you may still be there for the money, not for love and friendship with your spouse. Thanks for your article and thanks for the chance to respond. Too often, our media are read as what WE are and I’m sure that problem of misunderstanding goes both ways.
Thank you for clearing up some of the misconceptions about Western culture
your note should be a must read for a lot of people in Islamic societies, who have all these misconceptions about western women. It all comes down to lack of understanding between different cultures and religions. We should all be able to co-exist in peace and harmony and learn from each other instead of trying to prove who is better.
Agreed.
hello, it is awesome article ,when you ask the christians to enter islam they say to you that the woman in islam is oppressed ,so it is important to explain the invert in this article ,thank you.
Thanks for publishing this article !!! I think the only way to finish with the misconception of Islam is through information and education.
I found this article to be very informative as non-Muslim that has a deep respect for the religion of Islam, but deplores the treatment of women in Islamic societies. There are some issues I would like to clarify and understand better.
First, the following phrase “Western media and literature have made women believe that their liberation depends upon shedding clothing and foregoing modesty.” is not entirely true. There’s nothing more degrading to us Westerners than a woman that parades around and allows herself to be treated like a piece of meat. I despise pornography and I do agree that much of Western advertisements are centered around women being sex symbols (a shameful part of my culture) However, when did showing one’s face become obscene? The abaaya and hijab don’t bother me as much as the veil covering their faces. It just seems over modest to me.
Second, the idea that polygyny somehow benefits the woman is ridiculous. Men actually outnumber women in Saudi Arabia and other parts of the Eastern world. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sex_ratio_total_population.PNG)
And even if women outnumbered men, they shouldn’t be forced to share a husband. If they were free to provide for their own future they wouldn’t have to rely on a man or a male guardian. Forcing women to have to rely on the male guardian is the same as treating them like a child. You are telling them they are incapable of providing for themselves or making decisions for themselves. If this were true, it would be this way in all countries.
Finally, I have some questions that I’m genuinely interested in getting answer to:
Is it not possible for a woman to have basic rights like driving, voting, and making decisions independant of her male guardian while still being a good Muslim woman?
Does giving a woman more freedom mean that she’s going to become a loose, sex-addicted, degenerate whore?
And if the men in the Middle East really respected their women as much as they say they do wouldn’t they trust them to make moral decisions, and be good wives and mothers, without controlling them and taking away every option to be strong, independent women?
Hello, Angela,
thank you for your questions, and interest. And for anyone reading my post please do correct me for i do not have all the knowledge.
And i dont know if anyone has responded yet. so for the questions that i have some knowledge about ill try my best to answer.
Starting off with the phrase about western media and women, i do agree with you, because even in the west if you have seen old movies, the women were always dressed decent or in skirts. these things are just all cultural, just like generations evolving from such focused hardworking youths to more, trend focused, party generation. these are all just cultural social aspects. and like wise in islam, what the people follow in the east, is more cultural then religious. for example the veil, it is not required but some women just feel more comfortable in it. i do also think its is unnecessary as long as your dressed appropriatelym but then again we must give them their rights.
and for your question about giving rights to vote and drive, its quite unclear to me why there is such rules. because during the past historic times, the women were allowed to be beside their men during the battles, riding horses, working on the farms everything. so i assume its just culture and society again, or for media purpose, what ever it is it is NOT the true islamic teachings. and in the world there is very few true muslims.
as for sharing a husband, it has been left more like a tradition from the past. many women, were widows, or orphans, or just in need of help. so instead of women being out on their own alone, it was dangerous, and if a man could support and help them and keep them safe, it just seemed like the right thing to do.
and as a matter of fact, women are suppose to be encouraged to help the husband and be treated equally as men, its been emphasized greatly in islam, but again, nobody follows religion they choose to obey society and culture. i mean think about, what religion teaches to do bad? so far every religion ive heard of has all said for women to be covered, for their safety, to not kill steal etc etc. its all guides for a peaceful world and life… sadly humans are the cruelest things on the planet.
i have written alot, but i hope that answers your question, and again sorry if someone has already replied. lol..
:) good luck to all in their lives
dear angela, in islam, the first and foremost thing is that Allah has commanded a woman that if it would be rightful to bow to anybody else than Allah, He would command a wife to bow to her own husband. in Quran, thus Allah has emphasised the importance of a husband to a woman and it is again true for every muslim to obey what Allah has written in the Holy Quran. though at many places, people do manipulate with the commands of Allah. in the historic times when there were too many wars, many women used to be widowed. the main objective of polygymy was to support those women and children who were rendered without any guardian. the main thing the author has forgotten to mention is that if the first wife does not give permission to her husband to marry another woman, it is a sin and the other woman will never b considered as the man’s wife. she will indeed b considered as a kept inspite of the fact that she has done the formality of ‘nikah’ with him. but how many women understand this now a days is a big question! in short Islam is indeed the best religion on this earth, but only that its followers actually take it the way they want in their betterment. Apart from this, i dont know about u, but no matter how much we talk about women liberation, but one thing is for sure that a woman is always emotionally vulnerable to her man. Biologically, we have been made by God that way. so the stress is only on depending on a husband, a son or a brother for a woman, because u and the whole world will surely accept that these relationships r those who will always act for ur betterment. Moreover these men related to a woman will always Insha-Allah have an instinct to protect their related women. so, whats wrong in depending upon them as indicated by our Lord? these r my personel ideas, i dont know about others!
Thank you for the clarifications, but I disagree with the statement that a woman is always emotionally vulnerable to her man. A woman is only weaker in the societies that force her to be weaker. In the societies that allow women to thrive, we prove ourselves to be equals.
I am a Muslim woman, and I have to say, that I agree entirely with Angela on this one. And please tell me, is this hadeeth Sahih, about the women bowing to their husbands? I come from a family with a strong matriarchal force, and I have been encouraged to be independent from day one, becayse marriages fail, families can be broken, family members can die, etc. Yes, it is Fardh for men to support their female relatives, but that’s only because she usually ends up baring children and wanting to take care of them, so she shouldn’t have to be forced to stirive and work, but if she wants to make her own money, have her own independence and have her own house? Why not? And then people will come up with the question of Mahrams etc. Well back then, the way of travel used to be unsafe, with camels, through deserts etc, and that’s why it was obligatory for a woman to travel with a male relative to protect her from potentially unsafe situations and sadly her reputation (in reference to what happened with Aisha may Allah be pleased with her) but today, we have aeroplanes, safe forms of transport for women etc and a number of scholars agree that if a woman is safe while being mobile alone that there is no penalty for it. Now I am not a scholar of any sort, and please point out things to me if I’m mistaken (especially about my references to the Prophet’s time), but this is what makes sense. And Islam is fair, and just and applicable to ALL times, and yes, things have changed in the last 1400 years.
Angela, what a clear response to this article. Please read my response regarding polyandry.
I am a Muslim woman, and I deeply regret how families use religion to control other family members, or to get their own way.
Please read my blog, http://www.sabihajanaan.wordpress.com
I would really appreciate your feedback/comments.
@Angela : Its really gud to hear ur views on d article !!!
Although m no scholar or something but i wd b happy if i could clear any of your above doubts!!
As far as ur objection to face being covered is …
In ISLAM it is not mandatory for a women to cover her face !!! What is mandotory in HIjab is that a women should cover her whole body apart from face (with ears n hair covered) and hands (only the palm n fingers ).Rest if a women covers a face it is encouraged but its not mandotory!!! . Also HIjab means the covered dress shouldnot reveal the figure of the lady (i.e the dress should not be too tight or see through).
As far as polygyny is concerned though ISLAM allows it but it is in no way encouraged…..
It is allowed in ISLAM for certain situations and come with responsilibilities….. Its not like a guy can marry 4 girls n treat them whatever way he wants for pleasure,,,,,
Importantly Girls are not forced for polygyny…If in any way a girl is not satisfied with her husband hvin many wives ,,polygyny is illegal!!! It ws just made legal to ensure that widows n orphan girls get shelter and not disgraced.
Next women can have all the rights including driving ,working ,voting as long as they are done with hijaab and according to ISLAM…. and still be a true follower of religion…. As far as i know no where does ISLAM prevents girls from having education and doing work until they are done in Hijaab …
The term Independent cant be bounded….for some girl moving out like guys in casual clothes can be independence while for others being able to go to a late night party is independence !!!! In ISLAM being Independent means a girl consent to be taken into account ,her opinion to be taken in all family matters , allowed to be self dependent etc
I cnt really write more in it ..i hope u are gettin what i am tryin to say here …..
There is no clear distinction of what actually is being Independent….
Finally as far as talkin about middle east s concerned .. i would like to only say that if u want to judge a religion then follow what the religion says and not his followers…. for followers r weak and can be misguided!!! Its really unfortunate that we ourselves have let our religion move out of our lives …..
Its my advice to you PLZ PLZ dont judge ISLAM by practices which are done in so called ISLAMIC countries!!!!
If u read more about ISLAM you would yourself appreciate its beauty ……
My english is not that great n neither my knowledge …. I apologise to ppl if i have said anything wrong …pls correct me if so !!!!!!
Owais Ahmen, your English is very good, don’t apologise.
What about polyandry? The author says Islam has the solution to male infidelity in marriage – polygyny. What about femaly infidelity in marriage? How would Islam deal with that.
My understanding is that the Qur’an does not forbid polyandry. No scholar has ever been able to say the Qur’an forbids it.
I have already mentioned, let us all be guided by true Islam, not a man-made cultural interpretation.
sabiha : Sister i know u are tryin to make out your point and its welcomed.
As i said before and saying again i am not an scholar or possess much knowledege ….
What i believe or any muslim should agree with, is that If u cant find a thing wriiten in The Holy Quran about any topic like female infedility (except a controversial line u mentioned before) etc. then you should search what is said about it in Authentic Hadiths, However unfortunately so many new Hadiths have been formed which are not true so we should only judge by Sahi hadith and Al-bhukari.
Rest if there also u cant find anythin then what i believe is that you should keep your search on until you get an authentic reply ,while not assuming anythin to be true (neither assume it is allowed neither assume it is not allowed) .
We should not spread anything assumed to be true just beacause we feel like it and we think it is true. If you got authentic information then Alhamdulillah.
You are a good writer and your intentions are also good but some less informative ones would be really convinced by your article “that female infedility is not banned in ISLAM”.
I would like to request you to kindly mention it clearly that you are not sure about it..Its just your views and what u think…… Rest you brought in light a very great point and Inshallah Allah will guide us.
Plz Dont get into thikin that i in any way is against you for bringing out that point and your views..I just want u to understand that unknowingly less informative ones could be affected by your views and get into believing it to be word of GOD.Thus plz do mention that it is your views and its whatt u think and the search for Thruth is still on
.
Brother owais ahmed, thank you for the compliment on my writing. You are right, I should make it clearer if something is my opinion, and has no specific authority.
I have since posted a comment regarding my views on polyandry, and I have said that “It is my humble opinion that polyandry is NOT forbidden in Islam”.
@sabiha: Thanks sister!!! I really appreciate your gesture….
Thanks for this good article
Useless article. Waste of time.
Only one thing is clear- women are not treated right so far neither in Western nor in Islamic societies… This is a man’s world..
If the world belongs to man, then perhaps the hereafter will belong to woman.
Anyway, the saying goes, “It’s a man’s world, but he’ll be nothing without a woman”.
Mashallah — The articel tells you hw ISLAM provides better rights to women n liberate them.The article is nt abt wt is goin on currently in our societies!!! u r mixing religion with his followers….. well if a person follows true ISLAM d condition of woman is bound to improve !! However its v who r at fault cz v let alone practicing our religion unfortunately dont even knw wt is in our religion !!!! Its so easy to blame d society …but as a muslim ask urself wt do u knw abt ISLAM ?? wt does ur chilren ,neighbours etc knw abt religion ?? N aftr knowing hw much r they ready to implement in thr lives!!!! D reason why v muslims r being ridiculed n critised is only because we have left our religion n just call ourselves muslims bcz of heridity !!!!
“O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments over their bodies (when abroad) so that they should be known and not molested” (33:59).
I really appreciate the article because, is so resourceful with full information about our Deen may Allah SWT reward you aboundantly Amin
Good article
Goog article
May Almighty Allah (S.W.T.) bless you all that contributes to propagation of Islam and pray that Allah should increase us with Islamic Knowledge and etiquette.
I should be more concise in my criticism; sorry!
Basically, the author often argues in the following form: B is true because A is similar. That is logically fallacious, because similarities between things don’t necessarily entail the truth of something. For instance, responding to the critics of Islamic modesty, the author shows that Judaism also commands modesty similar to that in Islam. He then concludes that Islam is good just because Judaism is the similar. I think the author can see with careful thought that this argument is fallacious. We must remember that Allah asks us to argue in the best of ways. This is a reminder to me first and then everyone else.
I also felt the presence of the same fallacies in this article! Very well critiqued. The article needs to be more logical.
I also saw flaws with the article. Thank you brother, for pointing them out.
Whilst I understand the points you have made regarding the way in which the article is written and the manner in which the arguments are concluded, I do feel that if you know better how to pose an argument then maybe you should channel your efforts into writing an article instead of picking faults and criticising a well intentioned effort to spread the truth. Incidently, the comparison between Judaism and Islam sharing the covering of hair was not to show that Islam is right, but rather that other religions say similar yet Islam is unfer attack for it but other religions are not. To conclude, if you think you are better at arguing a point then have a go. It is easy to pick faults with what others say, but more difficult to research and write an argument based on references.
Just because we are not writing the same article in a better way, doesn’t mean we can’t point out the flaws when an article is written badly. A serious and professional author welcomes feedback.
This is a nice article, but the arguments are logically fallacious. Although I am a Muslim, I will point out mistakes that some non-Muslims would find easily. Also, Muslims should argue in the best way possible, according to the Qur’an. (But Allah knows best.) My criticism is not meant to insult the author, but rather to help him in his next article, insha-Allah.
1. In the first section–Women before Islam–the author describes the dreadful status of women in Pre-Islamic Arabia. Of course, I think this is a good way to show how Islam honors women unlike other, uncivilized societies untouched by Islam. However, the author gives only a few examples of injustice in that era, and fails to provide a source to back up his claims. Now, as Muslims we know that women were treated unfairly in Pre-Islamic Arabia. But for non-Muslims to share our beliefs, they usually must be given proof from reliable sources.
2. Regarding the section in which the author analyzes Jewish and Christian texts, I think the comparisons–for the purpose they serve–are logically fallacious. The author is basically trying to show how the rules regarding women in, say, the Old Testament are misogynistic compared to those of Islam; therefore, the rules regarding women in Islam are just. While this argument is ostensibly true, it doesn’t really hold any water because a critical non-Muslim could easily sat that just because A is better than B, doesn’t mean that A is perfect. (T Essentially we should try to show how women are honored in Islam itself without regard to other religions. After all, are anti-Islam non-Muslims curious about the status of women in Islam, or in Judaism and Christianity?
3.
JazakAllah Khair. Succintly written and plenty of evidence given. This will be very handy, thank you so much.
very very nice
A great article. I showed to a christain, read it and could nothing but to nod is head in agreement. Keep it up!!!!
Very qualified discussion, It should be helpful to getting information not only for Other religion people but for also the secular minded muslims. Thaks to You.
B. Faruqui
Assalaammualaikum,
Very good information indeed for all non-Muslim, especially the Western people!
masha allah
Thank you, brother, for the time and effort that you have spent on writing this article.
Thank you for emphasizing Islam’s true definition on the topic.
Insha’allah may Allah swt reward you for your efforts :)
JazaakAllah
masha allah
A very gud topic u hv raised may allah bless u with rewards for this work
Upload as many articles as u can
I’m actually sick of articles that are comparative in nature. Why do feel like we have to talk about other faiths to show our strength? Islam should be enough and if more of us followed our religion correctly than we wouldn’t have so many problems.
Dear Muslimah,
I can see why you would feel that way, however, there is nothing wrong in teaching and preaching the truth (Islam) to mankind. The prophet (peace be upon him) came to this world for that exact reason.
Mankind, Muslim or not, need to be guided and taught or even reminded about what is right and what is wrong. In order to know what is what we need to differentiate/compare between the two. As our brother has mentioned
“This comparison is not being made to put any faith down; it is just to help understand the historical context”.
If learned people don’t share their knowledge with the rest of the community/world then we would all be headed in the wrong direction.
You are entirely right when you say that “if more of us followed our religion correctly than we wouldn’t have so many problems”. However, it is important to take into account that not all of us know our religion properly, but, that doesn’t mean that it is too late to learn. It is thanks to our informed brothers and sisters that our religion keeps growing and we all become more and more educated.
I hope that my opinion helps you understand the importance of why we need to share our religion with the rest of the world.
Salam
Masha Allah what an impressive piece of writing and very broadly discussed the objections and their reasonings.JazakAllah and keep it up
very gud hope it wil help in opening the eyes as wel as wil help in clearng the misconceptions of people which dey r havng related 2 islam. ameen
The Problem is not when our religion says about women and what other religions dont. The Problem is what is going on today as we see it. The problem is the hipocracy that we see everyday in Islamic countries surrounding women and how they are treated. In Islam we have had women who battled on the field on horses beside men but yet in Saudi Arabia, they cant even vote or drive a car. The problem is the misinterpretation of Islam by our so called Muftis and maulanas and the social structure they have created that forbids them of their basic rights as citizens. You can preach Islam all you want but unless it translates into actions and actual soacial justice, nobody really cares. And when it comes to actual reality in our so called Islamic societies we are centuries behind on womens rights. We are the first ones to cry religion but the last ones to actually implement what it says. Someone summed it up very acurately by saying, there are over a billion muslims on earth but there is no sign of Islam.
Those are very powerful words. I’m happy to hear somebody is interested in addressing the social problems instead of ignoring them and using Islam as an excuse to continue oppressing women. If everybody thought this way think of all the problems that would be solved in society.
I say this and I will continue to say this for all eternity, THERE IS NO ISLAMIC COUNTRIES ON EARTH ANYMORE. The problem with preaching, especially to the west, is that you tell them all about this relegion that is supposed to give you inner and outer freedom , then they think “Hey, isn’t Saudi Arabia a Muslim country ?” . Then the next thing you know they hate Islam and everything that has to do with it….
Mohammed,
I feel the same way about Christianity. Islam is my second favorite religion, and I do notice that what the Qu’ran says doesn’t seem to be what happens a lot of the time. At the same time, I notice the same thing in so-called Christian countries and I find it very hypocritical.
Thanks Angela.
Wow Asif, you hit it right on the nose!! You are right, it’s not Islam that’s the problem. It’s us Muslims that faik to follow our own religion that gives it a bad name. Until WE act differently, thn the rest of the world will see us the same…
Thanks Danya. I feel very strongly about Women’s rights, because If you shed a little light on the word “Woman”, you will see Mothers, Daughters, Wives, and Sisters. How can any society deprive them of basic rights, equal pay, equal status as men, and social justice.
u’ve mentioned the main problematic point … appreciated..
Asif, those are my sentiments exactly. You have put it very well. I have noticed extreme hypocrisy in Muslims families here in the UK.
Sabiha, it is up to us to educate and change the status quo, so our next generations would have a better world to live in. I wish, I could meet all progressive Muslims like you and form a group to put our words in action.
Asif, I wish the same.
@Asif : u really brought out d reality of wts happening ryt nw in world !!! I really appreciate it n as u cn judge frm comments most ppl wd agree with it….
But thr must b a reason to it??? N wts d reason ?? D reason is dt v being a follower of ISLAM dont hv knowledge abt ISLAM !!!! Hw many muslims actually knw wt r women ryt’s in ISLAM ?? Hw many of us really understand our religion ??? Its unfortunate to say dt our children hardly knw anything about our beloved Prophet n Quran !!! most of us just read Quran without even knowing d meaning of it !!!!
Tell me why ppl need to go to a maulana just to knw hw much Zakat he has to pay or other such simple questions ?? These r simple calculations an average person cn make !!! Its we who become dependent cz v ourself dnt hv any knowledge !!!
U were ryt n u had gud point n blaming society is acceptable ….but v r also to be blamed for nt hvin knowledge!!!!
Great Article, keep it up. Have you ever thought of making pamphlets and spreading them around??? Just an Idea.
More of these materials they are very educative
Jazaakumullahu khayran
Islam is very logical way to live.
western concept of women liberation by banning the veil is ridiculous… makes me laugh about their stupidity..
I am just in awe of islam .. what a logical and practical approach towards life.. allah is the greatest.. love u allah..
Why would you call anyone stupid? You complain that people are critical of Islam and you turn around and are critical of others! There seems to be a lack of tolerance and acceptance from all aspects & beliefs.
Thanks G! for your suggestion, pls we all have to use appropriate words to give our opinion.
Very good info Masha Allah to Isllam
Nice article. However i want to add that in islam men should ask permission from their 1st wife if they can bring another wife, and if the 1st wife doesn’t allow and still the man married again then it is considered as a sin.
I was also under this impression that a man should take the permission of his first wife before marring another women, however, if its been agreed at the time of marriage with the first wife that he would not marry another woman until she gives the permission only then its fardh on him to seek permission otherwise not. Its good to tell/inform the first wife of the second wife but not fardh.
if my husband wishes to take another wife then he will only have one for i will leave him he may have her but he wont have me
Thank you! It’s nice to see a woman stand up for her rights!
Brethren! Do u know better than ur creator? He only gives command and it become necessary for us to follow it. May Allah(swt) assist us.
mmmm .. ok… that are the reason i dont belive in god :)
Then, you are not following the God’s wish
I mean EXCEPT Prophet Muhammad SAW. Sorry for the mistake
Hmm…that too would be a good point for the Author to write !
Jazakallah kher ya akhi Hasan. Commenting on the women’s statement, i am a women too with same sensitive feelings and emotions, but as far as i know, a husband doesnt need permission from his first wife to marry other woman. Only he has to be fair between his wives.
luved it…..
What an incredible dose of information… Subhanallah
Alhamdulilah for ISLAM!
May almighty Allah bless n increase your knowledg for you. Amin
jazakallah. Islam is the best way of life
mosha Allah. Its a good article brother.
Masha Allah
These as said it all, islam is d true religion of Allah, we cherish our women a lot
Thanks brother Hassan for such intellectual writing.Surely ,if the world had many Hassans like you,then operating on ignorance would be a capital offence worth the maximum sentence/penalty one could serve .Thanks for your effort for really iam a better placed person now.
This article is a must read by both muslims and non muslims. Its time people knew the truth and stop criticing!
Masha Allah!
amazing comparison based on good knowledge…….appreciated
what an instresting article jazakumjahu khaheran
very informative article…lyk it.
Very clear and informative , would like to read more of these
Recently, an online disagreement arose between a male Muslim student and myself. What does Islam say about polyandry? To the best of my knowledge, Islam doesn NOT forbid polyandry. I said to him, “in the Qur’an or Hadith, polyandry is not forbidden, therefore, it cannot be a sin”. He said, “Does the Qur’an allow or mention polyandry? No, it does not. Case closed. Do not question Allah’s laws”. I said, “I am not questioning Allah’s laws, I am saying this law [about polyandry] does not exist”
I gave biological and evolutionary reasons why married women would have relations with, and bear children by, other men.
I also gave figures of paternity in the UK. Depending on region, between 5 and 30% of children are NOT the biological offspring of the man they call Dad.
Hasan says in this article, “No one is unaware of the part mistresses play in Western society”. Well, that ‘mistress’ is sometimes married herself. Also, in my experience, society is less aware of the role of the ‘male mistress’ because women are more discreet about their own conduct.
I have since learnt about this following line…
Allah states in the Holy Qur’an: “(And prohibited to marry are) those who are already in the wedlock (of a man) from women except those that your right hands possess (i.e. slaves).” [Surah An-Nisa 4: 24]
The clause, ‘except those that your right hands possess’, is wide open to interpretation. The term could easily include married women.
I would like to ask, what is Hasan’s opinion on polyandry? Does he agree that it is NOT forbidden in Islam? What is his general view on the issue?
the verse “….except those that your right hands possess…” could not easily include married women but it actually ‘only’ includes married women !! and the subject of the ones whom the right hands possess is really vast and even the best of interpreters can get confused in it !! i myself don’t hold much knowledge on the subject and hence can’t speak…. but of the little i know is that married women are prohibited in marriage except for the condition given…. you’l have to learn more and go deep into the topic of the ones whom the right hands possess… i recommend you to watch videoz on the subject by Brother Nouman Ali Khan or by Dr. Zakir Naik… :)
Arguments can just go on indefinitely…. better than that is to seek knowledge !!! :)
May Allah (swt) Bless us and Guide us towards the Right Path !!
Throughout history, it has never been necessary for a woman to bear children by one man, as that would limit the genetic divesity of her offspring. It is not against a woman’s biological nature to have relations with more than one man before the onset of menopause.
The author talks about male infidelity in marriage, and how Islam has the solution in allowing polygyny. But what about female infidelity within marriage? How would Islam deal with that?
Polyandry is natural, that is why Islam has not forbidden it.
sabiha if u knew any slight moral values or even a bit knowledge about islam u wudnt have said “polyandry is natural, that is why islam has not forbidden it.”
i mean seriously are u for real?? this question isnt even debatable ! it is 110% forbidden in islam!
yh ur right fatima,,,,,,
<3
Fatima,
Are YOU for real? Can’t you just discuss the topic reasonably and reply to the points Sabiha mentioned instead of yelling and judging. People like you, who scare other people so they won’t think or use their brains, I call them “mental terrorists”. Let the girl think and do her research and analyze the evidence. What is so wrong with you?
assalama -o-alaikum: well i agree with wt sister Mariam has said ,that even d best interpreters would differ in thr opinion abt d surah …… As ar as i knw hvin more then husband is nt allowed in Islam .. I also doubted it n had doubts over it ….but listening to one of the lecture of Dr Zakir Naik convinced me dt its nt allowed!!!
he gave many reasons of why its nt allowed…. one of them ws–
If a woman hs more thn 1 husband she wd nt knw who d father of d child dt she is bearing!!!
A woman is unable to give proper attention to each husband cz of d physiological n mental changes dt she goes through during her cycle ..
n he gave many more reasons ..which i cant recall !!!! I knw my reply wont b able to convince u fully ….but as sister Mariam said acquiring knowledge is d correct way to go!!! listen to Dr Zakir Naik’s video or article …
I saw Dr Zahir Naik on youtube talking about the issue of polyandry. His arguement was extremely weak.
Of the reasons he gave against polyandry, he said the following (in no particular order);
1. Paternity would be an issue.
2. More pressure on wife.
3. It is medically harmful for her to have marital relations with more than one man.
1. Paternity is not an issue regarding survival, and even if paternity must be clarified, it is easy for her to calculate if marital relations between each husband take place two weeks apart.
2. Polyandry can ease pressure on the wife if second/subsequent husband provides emotional, financial, or practical support that first husband is unable to provide.
3. The medical issue is a lie. If it were medically harmful for women to have marital relations with more than one man, Islam would not permit re-marriage for widows and divorcees.
Also, I’d like to add, the health concerns arising from promiscuity apply to both men and women.
Let us all be guided by true Islam, not a man-made cultural interpretation.
Polyandry has been happening since the beginning of history. Nowhere in the Qur’an is it clearly forbidden. The practice is as old as the oldest profession.
Dear sister Sabiha
i hope u agree to the fact that Dr. Zakir Naik is far far more knowledgeable than us… it is only ‘our’ intellect which makes us think his discussions wer weak…. which actually r not… its just the play of our minds !! :)
neway… u say there iznt a verse sayin polyandry is forbidden… there actually is…. the one that u urself mentioned…. ” and forbidden to u r ‘married women’ except the ones whom ur right hands posses”…. now this verse clearly states that married women r prohibited to be married to…. but there still remains an exception…. i’l try my best to explain from what i knw..
in the pre-islamic era, women wer considered as property.. they wer literally used and thrown away like pieces of garbage… after the advent of Islam, women wer given a status… a very high priveledge Alhamdlillah… there wer certain rulingz ofcourse to which one had to adhere but those rulingz wer set by Allah… and thus which ought to be correct in any aspect whether we can imagine it or not !! neway… comin to the main topic of discussion… ofcourse u wud knw that there wer many wars fought between the Believers and the Disbelievers…. and ofcourse many disbilievers wer married too…. whose wives wer also fightin against the Muslims…. so durin the consequences of these wars, which wer mostly won by the Muslims (All Praise to Allah Alone), many men and women wer taken as captives by the Muslims…. Allah ordered the Believers to kill the Disbelievers(men), but if they ask forgiveness, grant them forgiveness…. such is the decree of Allah, The All-Forgiving.. the Disbelieving women on the other hand wer given to the Believing men so that they be taken care of…. these ‘married women’ wer not sent back to their husbands since their husbands wer non-muslims…. their being under the guardianship of a muslim wuz better than them being under their husbands !!! henceforth, these ‘married women’ wer the ones whom the Believers right hands possessed or as we call them ‘concubines’ !! the Believers cud thus marry them or they cud continue supporting them financially…. this is basically the exception which has been mentioned…. note that these women wer married already, but wer under the protection of the Believing Men Alhamdulillah !! :)
i dont knw how well u understood or how badly i explained…. but this wuz wat i cud do !!
i say again… Arguments wud take us nowhere…. dont doubt the laws put up by Allah (i am not sayin that u do) or even the Scholars who put up so much energy to seek the Truth just to spread what they knw to ignorants like us !! :)
and Allah knows Best… May He (swt) Guide us as He Guided the ones before us.. May we not be from the ones who were Guided and then went astray… May Allah impart in us the Truth and give us the Glad Tidings of Jannah ! Aameen.
one more thing… i hope u dont actually believe we’ve been formed by the process of evolution, that men wer apes once !! u mentioned ‘evolutionary facts’ so i thot maybe… if i’m wrong, please forgive !
Let there be Peace !
Salaam alaikum
Sabiha,
I agree with you about Dr. Naik’s argument. too weak and has some huge scientific fallacies! In addition, if it’s the problem of paternity, does that mean that polyandry is ok since now we can do a DNA test?!
I don’t think polygamy is correct (including polyandry and polygyny). The relationship should be between one man and one woman. This is my personal opinion, which I’m not trying to impose on anybody.
last thing, this is just a general comment. when people talk about how Islam is not against women, they always compare to the era when women were treated as property and had no rights at all. but if you try to apply this nowadays, we’ll find that those rights under Islam are less than the rights provided by the American/ European constitutions and laws. This in my opinion means that Islam provided a minimum at a time when there was no minimum, but it doesn’t mean that this is the ceiling of women’s rights.
At the end, I’d like to thank you for your post. Although I disagree with the polygamy in general, I really admire your thinking outside the box and not being afraid of criticism..
Sarah,
Thank you for your response to my comment.
You are right about the comparisons about women in Islam and women in ancient history. Today, in 2012, one does not have to follow any particular religious faith to be aware of her rights.
Regarding polygamy; the reason I mention polyandry so much is that the issue of sex is so dominant in all cultures.
In most Islamic countries, men are permitted to have up to 4 wives simultaneously. Married women have to suppress their sexuality if they are married to an ugly, ogre-like, uncaring man. They have no outlet for their sexuality.
In Western cultures, sex is used as a marketing tool. In advertising, women are displayed like sex objects or ornaments, and are encouraged to expose their skin or contours. The porn industry relies on women willing to shed their clothes and their sexual inhibitions.
All these ‘rules’ around sex benefit men only. I believe that for all cultures, the best way to counter-balance this would be to condone female adultery or female multiple marriages.
Though monogamy is regarded as ideal socially, the scientific truth is that it is not necessary for human survival. Male polygamy means more humans in the next generation, female polygamy means more genetic diversity for the next generation.
Also, in reality, people can be married to one person, but find them sexually repulsive. Usually women find their husbands sexually repulsive and would be only too glad if he took on a mistress whom he could use as an outlet for his lust.
Due to paternity issues, men may not so readily agree with the wife sleeping with another man, but some do turn a blind eye. Plus, there’s contraception and, as you mention, DNA testing, so paternity is even less of an issue.
Also, during times when the husband is away for long periods, a wife could experience times of fear, loneliness, and financial downturn. That’s when taking on a lover/husband (who is willing to share his time and resources) is a solution that solves multiple problems.
In history, women have always been adulterous with male servants, the husband’s brother, or ‘clients’ (ladies of the night). If those unions had been registered as marital unions then that would make the women polyandrous.
Also, I have witnessed time and time again, women having a male guest in the house when the husband is at work and the children are at school or asleep. A lot of these women are Muslims and do their daily prayers on a regular basis. They also wear hijab (headscarf).
My point is, it is not against human nature for a woman to seek sexual pleasure with men other than her husband.
I am humbled that you believe in monogamy, because, despite my stance on polygamy, I am also a true believer in a happy, monogamous unions. But this is more likely for people who are divorced, widowed, or had several previous sexual relationships (impossible in Islamic countries).
Dr Naik is an attention-seeker, he doesn’t always know what he’s talking about. Anyone who separates religion from science must NOT be trusted, for they can pass on their own opinions as religious scriptures or religious law. The uneducated will not know any better.
From the comments on this thread, it is clear to see that the vast majority are uneducated. Indeed, it is regarded by religious groups that if you know about The Creator, read The Holy Book, and abide by Holy Law, then worldly education is less important.
I find it saddening that religion tends to draw in the illiterate and uneducated. These people give religion a bad image, as they are unwilling to accept scientific evidence. These people would serve their purposes better by not commenting on religious blogs.
Please also remember, religious interpretations are made by men, have always been made by men. So it is not beyond comprehension that they will contain fallacies regarding gender roles and rights.
Thank you again for your support on my comments. No, I am not afraid of online criticism. Offline, I wouldn’t have the guts to argue this way :-)
Sabiha, I’d partly agree with what you’re saying. The quranic verse 4: 24 does imply a married woman can have a sexual relationship with another man under certain conditions, whilst remaining married.
The term “Ma malakat aymanukum”, literally “whom your oaths possess”, implies that the man has taken an oath to provide for the woman. As such we are not talking about casual sex or irresponsible affairs. Since the Quran repeatedly states “Guard your privates, except for your wifes and those whom your oaths possess”, it is clear that it opposes casual sex.
In addition, the quran places great weight on telling the truth and keeping promises – 2:42 “do not confound the truth with falsehood, nor keep the truth secret while you know” 5:1 “O you who believe, honour your contracts.” Thus it is clearly against secret affairs or having another relationship against the wishes of your first spouse.
Now, the early muslims clearly took “Ma malakat aymanukum” to mean female slaves, as Mariam describes. However that is a highly problematic meaning – I’m not a big fan of polygamy, but it’s far less problematic a concept that adultery. Still, I think multiple partners is not something to be encouraged. It makes people very jealous, it wastes a lot of time that should be used working for the betterment of humankind, and it can spread diseases.
Harun,
Thank you for your contribution. I have never claimed to be a religious scholar on Islam, my claim has always been science.
Regarding polygamy/monogamy; understanding the logics of biology is all you need. Since we believe Islam to be the true and final message, it follows that the Islamic teachings on sexual relations will be in line with biological science.
Your references are very helpful. I will use them in future debates. Again, thank you for your contribution.
Dear Fatima,
My arguements on polyandry have always been based on biological and evolutionary facts. Your response to my arguement appears to be emotionally driven. You are quick to judge my moral values, while at the same time questioning my existence.
Am I for real, you ask. That’s the beauty of internet. No one can be sure if anyone online is real. For example, I do not know if you are real.
Why isn’t polyandry debatable. It is practiced in certain parts of the world, and can have economical, financial, and biological advantages.
And how can something be 110% forbidden? What is your source for saying polyandry is forbidden? You don’t have one, because there is no source in the holy Qur’an that clearly forbids the the practice of polyandry. Even the scholars are baffled.
Wouldn’t it be easier to admit it? That polyandry is not forbidden in Islam, therefore, cannot be considered a sin?
@sabiha : the topic is still controversial you cant just assume that since there is doubt so it is acceptable.. If a thing in controversial we try to remain away from it (in practical life) …So until we are fully convinced that it is allowed ,,sayin it is not a sin would be just an assumption n hypothesis with no proof.
You cant just say a thing is not a sin because its controversial and yet to be explored.
So untill we have authentic proof of its validness or invalidness we should try to avoid n refrain from it.
Hope that is just …..
Sabiha, I hope you realize that there is no such thing as “evolutionary” facts in Islam. Accpeting the ideology of evolution would be denying the existence of Almighty Allah from the very beginning.
Praise be to Allaah.
With regard to why Islam does not allow a woman to marry more than one man, the imams (may Allaah have mercy on them) have explained the wisdom of the Lord behind that. For example, Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
That is the wisdom of the Lord and His kindness and mercy towards His slaves and His taking care of their affairs. Exalted be He far above anything other than that. His laws are above suggesting anything other than that. If it were permitted for a woman to have two husbands or more, the world would be corrupted, lineages would be lost, the husbands would kill one another, there would be great misery and tribulation, and there would be continuous trouble.
How could a woman be in a good position if she were shared by a number of men who were fighting all the time? How could the men who share her be in a good situation?
The fact that sharee’ah brings the teachings it does is one of the greatest signs of the wisdom of the Lawgiver and His mercy and care.
If it is said, how come men are taken care of and given free rein to satisfy their desires and move from one wife to another according to their desires and needs, when a woman’s sex drive is the same as a man’s?
The answer is that because women are usually hidden behind veils and inside their houses, and women tend to be more even-tempered than men, and less active than men, and men have been given more physical strength and energy which makes men’s desires greater than woman’s and men are affected by these desires more than women, a man is allowed to marry more partners than a woman is. This is one of the things that have been given exclusively to men and not to women, one of the things in which they have been given something more than women, just as they are also favoured over women in that only men can be Messengers, Prophets, caliphs, kings, governors and judges, and go out for jihad, etc., and men have been made qawwaamoon (protectors and maintainers) of women, taking care of them, working to provide them with the means of living, exposing themselves to danger, travelling about in the land and exposing themselves to all sorts of trials in order to take care of their wives.
The Lord is Ever-Appreciative and Forbearing, so He appreciates the men’s efforts and has rewarded them by giving them something that He has not given to the women.
If you compare the exhaustive efforts and hard work that men do for the sake of woman with the jealousy that women suffer, you will find that the men’s share of effort and exhaustion is greater than the women’s share of having to put up with jealousy.
This is the perfect justice, wisdom and mercy of Allaah, may He be praised as He deserves
Saboohi, I’m so sorry. By mistake, I added my comment as a reply to your comment. I have since added my comment as a comment, at the end of all comments. Sorry about this.