Allah says: "But when she [Hanna] delivered her [baby Mary], she said . What youre doing by asking that question, which many people do, is assuming that the Quran, in interpretations of it, hasnt changed over time, and that interpretations of it wont change. And its not a causative relationship, but the language veers in that direction, suggesting that if theres a connection it must be that religious beliefs are causing those ideas of inequity. What is the misconception? Finally, Asma Barlas as a theologian takes a much more textual approach, rereading the Quran and, through a hermeneutical approach, doing a feminist reading of the Quran, a text that is the foundation for Muslim belief. This quote talks about sexism in society and how the wife of prophet rode camels on the same earth that women are not allowed to drive on today. This quote tells us about the difference between those who treat them well and those who do not. In gender equality conversations it is often insinuated that in Islam there is no gender equality. Sorry to hear of your problems. Business, & Law. It turns out thats a very important question in my field.. If were thinking about policy, we need a broader range of expertise available to the people who are making the policies. In countries that practice Islamic law, legal reforms to advance the status of women tend to fail due to hard-liners who see it undermining religion . About how all the true believers should obey the commands of Allah and know that they have to treat women well or they will not be called true believers. Barlas acknowledges that patriarchal readings of the Quran can result in oppression. But I think, in general, in a place like America, where Christianity is still the dominant idiom, we are more comfortable accommodating diversity in interpretations of Christianity than we are in minority religions like Islam. It does present a kind of alternative vision of the future relationship between religion and feminism. In response to this situation, Musawah, a . [9]R. Bahi, Islamic and Secular Feminisms: Two Discourses Mobilized for Gender Justice, p. 6. The Quran can be a tool of gender equality. This definition explains why the characterization of the intellectuals that more or less overtly belong to this school of thought as Islamic feminists is far from linear. Pitifully, only a few know how to treat women the way they should be treated. However, we wonder if the extreme level of agency that this Muslim philosopher grants to the believer may not go against the axioma of the divine nature of the Quran, that represents the starting point of Islamic feminism as well as the potential bridge to initiate a dialogue with the more conservatives. And I think that bridge is exciting and interesting to look at. Michael Muhammad Knight, The Taqwacores. Sarah Marsso, Knowledge Building Coordinator at Musawah. What youre doing by asking that question, which many people do, is assuming that the Quran, in interpretations of it, hasnt changed over time, and that interpretations of it wont change. Human beings are not identical units. This quote identifies the truest believer of all. The Quran tells how Allah Almighty advised Adam and Eve to maintain a strategic distance from a particular tree, which they both drew nearer. There are three major strands Im going to talk about: a historical approach, an exegetical approach focusing on Quranic interpretation, and a postcolonial approach. Islam teaches that men and women are equal before God. It may not make any difference. Gender Equity in Islam - International Islamic University Malaysia Incorporated as a not-for-profit foundation in 1971, and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the Forum is tied to no political, partisan or national interests. [*] Ex-Muslims talk about this issue in numerous online posts, YouTube videos, and podcasts. The one where it said you are equal to one another as all the ones I looked at said you are of one another which isnt great when youre trying to prove to someone that men and women are equal in Islam as I am trying to do. This exercise, that requires an excellentmaitriseof the text, may somehow seem a little forced, maybe exactly because as these thinkers themselves argue we have been used to centuries and centuries of traditional male interpretations. They have been commanded in the Holy Quran: i.e., consort with your wives in such a manner that every reasonable person can see how kind and gentle you are to your wife.[iv]. 113-125. She has used her expanded knowledge and critical skills to begin shifting one of Palestines most traditional institutions, the Sharia courts, to take on more progressive stances for women. Whats in a name? [8]M. Al-Sharmani, Islamic Feminism- Transnational and national reflections , p. 84. Fuck that, where's your self-accountability?". Hitherto such tasks have been the exclusive domain of men, who often proceeded to fashion God in a masculinist image that could be relied on to serve and protect their interests. For example, she reads this passage to show that gender difference is not something thats pathologized in the Quran. Virtually everyone concedes that the two genders need to be treated differently in at least some life activities. In response, I lay out the diverse approaches of four Islamic feminist thinkers who are doing important work to challenge this manufactured dichotomy between Islam and concerns for the status of women. At all times follow your heart. I think we need to think about local conditionsin a way that the Islamic tradition does naturally. How the wife is supposed to be treated with equality in every aspect and should not be undermined or belittled. This quote puts the spotlight on how the rights of men and women are just the same and patriarchy is basically a delusion created by our wonderful society. Despite opposition from conservative institutions and fundamentalist groups, SIS is one of the most successful female Muslim-led NGOs that advocates for gender equality in Islam. Myriam Sfeir, the Assistant Director of the Institute for Womens Studies in the Arab World (IWSAW) at LAU is also benefitting from this work. Women are treasured in all forms as humans beings, believers, daughters, sisters, mothers, wives. In the outdoor portion of the exhibit, guests can examine living versions of plants highlighted indoors. Hi, Im not a religious scholar But that is a common translation. Finally, Asma Barlas as a theologian takes a much more textual approach, rereading the Quran and, through a hermeneutical approach, doing a feminist reading of the Quran, a text that is the foundation for Muslim belief. M. Cooke,Multiple Critique: Islamic Feminist Rhetorical Strategies,Nepantla : Views from South,n.1 vol.1, 2000, 91-110. She says, Im doing a reading according to a feminist lens, and shes unapologetic about that. Im glad youve been enjoying the blog! The issue is not then one of gender equality in the absolute sense. 50 Best Islamic Quotes on Women Rights with Images These are the primary roles of men and women, which of course does not mean that their other roles should be completely dismissed. In order to better understand each authors specific approach, please refer to the bibliography. Gender Equality in Islam Hence, a potential reform in this sense firstly has to come to terms with the traditional, centuries-old reading of religious sources, where we usually find little space for the equality between men and women. Reclaiming gender equality in Islam | UN Women - Arab States Most references to testimony (witness) in the Qur'an do not make any reference to gender. Have a lovely day. The big takeaway, for me, is that local context matters. () Paralllement, le concept de genre, outil danalyse cr aux Etats-Unis par les specialists des tudes fminines, faisait son chemin dans les milieux universitaires.[1][2]. This does not mean that men do not have any role in this regard. If we are talking about absolute equality, it must be clear that many (perhaps, all) atheists, secularists, and feminists do not propose absolute equality of genders. 81100, p. 81. [17]A. Hidayatullah, Muslim Feminist Theology in the United States, in E. Aslan et al.,Muslima Theology: The Voices of Muslim Women Theologians, Peter Lang AG, Frankfurt Am Main, 2013, pp. An expertise in sociology, history, anthropology and linguistics, as well as a feminist mindset, complete the picture[16]. This male-dominated mindset started to be shaken in its foundations in the last decades of the 20th century when, due to social and economic transformations, an increasingly educated female population began to contribute to the family income, partially reversing the traditional distribution of tasks and decisional power within the family pattern. Women's rights in Islam: Fighting for equality - DW - 05/22/2020 So there you are its a vast topic but I hope thats given someinsight into the beauty of being a Muslim woman. She says, Im doing a reading according to a feminist lens, and shes unapologetic about that. That is, it is the responsibility of the husband to provide all the needs of his wife in terms of clothing, food, welfare, etc. These thinkers have charted paths where Islam is not contradictory to feminism and neither is feminism contradictory to Islam. The Quran places both male and female sexes about each other based on biological and physical standpoints. When someone just says, Religion doesnt make sense and its something we need to phase out. [Laughs] Actually, one of the readings that were thinking about in the class I think gets very close to making that argument, because its a quantitative study that associates inequality for women with religious belief overallReligion with a capital R. But what I think that doesnt capture is the way that religions are constantly changing and different religious communities have been responding to questions about the status of women over time in a way that is authentic and effective. Instead, it is an issue of gender equality in the best sense. Ill talk about how Islamic feminism engages with the language of Islam unapologetically. However, from the in- Barlas acknowledges that patriarchal readings of the Quran can result in oppression. Islamic feminism has been interestingly defined as a two-front battle, fought against Islamic traditionalism and Western Imperialism at once[7]. In parallel, also claiming the superiority of men over women is to be condemned: to construct hierarchies between human beingsto attempt to evaluate the superiority of one group or individual over another is to assume a role that belongs exclusively to God. The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. Greetings! ), economic rights (maintenance food, clothing, etc. When someone just says, Religion doesnt make sense and its something we need to phase out. [Laughs] Actually, one of the readings that were thinking about in the class I think gets very close to making that argument, because its a quantitative study that associates inequality for women with religious belief overallReligion with a capital R. But what I think that doesnt capture is the way that religions are constantly changing and different religious communities have been responding to questions about the status of women over time in a way that is authentic and effective. If everyone knew the value of the status that has been given to women then even men would wish that they were given similar value as women. The case for gender equality in the Muslim world - Al Jazeera The Promised Messiah(as) responds by writing: The answer is that men and women are not equal. Im going to talk about how Islamic feminism, as a diverse movement, emerged against what it saw as Western feminisms lack of diversity in perspectives. Still, to understand the world correctly, it is important to know the true origin of meaning and of the ideas ruling the world. Im not a scholar but women have all the rights that all humans are entitled to. Who is most deserving of my fine treatment? He said, , Observe your duty to Allah in respect to the women, and, I went to the Apostle of Allah (PBUH)and asked him: What do you say (command) about our wives? You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. It is true that Western feminists generally do not think of the Quran as an important reference point needing reconciliation, and there is resistance to the term feminism in many Muslim contexts for many reasons. When the original quotation is seen in its proper context, and in the original language, it clearly demonstrates that the Promised Messiah(as) is speaking of the differences between genders that have already been discussed above, and that are already acknowledged by doctors, psychiatrists, and biologists alike, and there isnt an iota of discrimination or inequality of genders expressed in any of the writings of the Promised Messiah(as). Challenging kinship Apart from monotheism - worshipping just one God - belief in the equality of all human beings in the eyes of God set early Muslims apart from many of their fellow Arabs in. Family Some reformist and feminist scholars argue that the concept of guardianship has formed the basis of particular gender roles in Muslim societies. Abuses against women in the name of culture and through ignorance and a lack of understanding of Islam, do not represent Islam and are contrary to the rights that Allah had ordained and bestowedupon women. Equality in Islam - 4, N. 2, December 2014, pp.83-94 . If you have anything youd like me to write about just get in touch! What Does Islam Say About Female Imams, Western Feminism and Gender Marwa Kouki, a Tunisian woman living in Lebanon, who works in the womens department of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA), also took the Musawah-influenced interdisciplinary gender course. Religious texts of Islam define the parameter of relationship between gender and Islam. In this article, I will explore some of the issues often raised and address the general question: Does Islam discriminate against women or men in its teachings? It does present a kind of alternative vision of the future relationship between religion and feminism. Here, equality would be defined as women playing against women for a level-playing field. In this way, for Islamic feminist theologians like Barlas to bring a feminist reading to the Quran is entirely justified and authentic. For me, this is what I call the renewal of religious discourse.. It originates from political, economic, social and cultural factors. Gender and Islam: Historical and Current Trends It may appear as though gender equality is a foreign import to Islam, with any emphasis on it the result of ex - ternal forces pressuring Muslim communities to reform attitudes and practices related to widespread gender inequality and discrimination. Designed by The relationship between the origins of Islam and the status of women was in fact a lot more complicated. We offer a new knowledge-based discourse and framework to advocate for equality and justice for women living in Muslim contexts. M. Al-Sharmani, Islamic Feminism- Transnational and national reflections,Approaching Religion, Vol. Women and men are 100% equal in Islam but there are contextual differences relating to circumstance and biological sex (women have kids, women often didnt work and were maintained by family). The issue is kind of culture more broadly, and religion is a very big part of that. Theres a section of the Quran that talks about the importance of the power that a man has over a woman, right? Are we talking about absolute equality when it comes to gender relations? 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These cookies do not store any personal information. Because women are valued the most in our religion.j. Islamic feminism ultimately is a search for compatibility based on a deconstruction, a sort of dismantling of all the patriarchal and misogynic interpretations of the Islamic corpus, to suggest a new reading stemming from the basic pillars of gender justice and equality. A. Lambrabet, How can a reformist approach to womens issue in Islam be adopted?, February 2019. Then, the Promised Messiah(as) argues that while the man has been bestowed certain abilities that lay this responsibility on him, he is also taught to treat his wife with the utmost kindness. When we use the expression Islamic corpus, we hint to the fact that these projects of re-interpretation have been focusing on the Quran as well as on theAhadith(the sayings of the Prophet) and on theSharia(Islamic law); anyway, this analysis specifically dwells into feminist deconstructions of the Quran, since we deem that they represent the most logic access point to seize the core of this movement. Alternatively, while analyzing WadudsInside the Gender Jihad, Badran suggests another way to overcome those difficult passages: Elle (Wadud) montre que certaines pratiques prvalant lpoque et sur le lieu de la Rvlation, et que le Coran a tolres et encadres plutt que de les interdire purement et simplement, sont devenues par la suite intolrables. where women are in fact stronger. From the point of view of methodology, Islamic feminism disposes of the same toolkit used by the traditional Islamic establishment, namelytafsir(exegesis) andijtihad. Gender Equality and Islam - Minhaj-ul-Quran It is undeniable that modern issues on gender and sexuality are largely influenced by Western socio-cultural practices. You need greater diversity of views of people at the table. In response to this situation, Musawah, a womens organization working to support equality and justice in Muslim families, is pushing back against the ways in which religion is sometimes misused to justify discrimination against women. [15]R. Bahlul, On the Idea of Islamic Feminism. This is a quote from the Quran: She critiques the readings of specific passages that have misogynist overtones out of context of the text of the Quran as a whole. Gender Equality in the Holy Qur'an - The Muslim Times [9] In these cases, one may decide to introduce a backup reading through more or less intelligible techniques, such as a contextualized and complicated textual analysis. ), political (to vote, just like men). theSquare Centre of gender and sexuality in modern socio-cultural, political and religious discourse is evidence of the need to clarify the position of Islam on such matters, provide reassurance for its believers and treat emerging questions. I mean for what! [i] In spite of these differences, God declares in the Holy Quran: , But whoso does good works, whether male or female, and is a believer, such shall enter Heaven, and shall not be wronged evenas much asthe little hollow in the back of a date-stone [4:125]. Do women have an unfair share in inheritance? All women have been given the status of utmost integrity and value that now paradise is considered to be under their feet. M. Badran, O en est le fminisme islamique ?,Critique internationale- Presse de Sciences Po, vol. This article sheds some light on the differences between men and women found by modern science, and how these results reflect the way justice is met to each of the two sexes .