Women

*
WomenandI
slam*

InIslam, menandwomenar emoralequal sinGod'ssightandar eexpectedt ofulfi

l
l t
hesame
dutiesofwor shi
p, prayer
,fait
h,al
msgi ving,f
asting,andpilgr
imagetoMecca.I slam gener al
ly
i
mpr ovedthestatusofwomencompar edtoear li
erArabcultur
es,prohibit
ingfemal einfanti
cide
andr ecognizi
ngwomen' sfullper
sonhood.I slamiclawemphasi zest hecontractualnatureof
mar riage,r
equir
ingthatadowr ybepaidt othewomanr atherthantoherf ami l
y,and
guar anteei
ngwomen' sri
ghtsofinherit
anceandt oownandmanagepr opert
y.Womenwer ealso
grant edtheri
ghttol i
veinthemat ri
moni alhomeandr eceivefi
nancialmaintainancedur ing
mar riageandawai t
ingperiodfol
lowingdeat handdi vorce.

*
Mar
ri
age*

Thehi storical r
ecor dshowst hatMuhammadconsul tedwomenandwei ghedt hei
ropi nions
seri
ousl y.Atl eastonewoman, Umm War aqah, wasappoi ntedimam ov erherhousehol dby
Muhammad.Womencont ri
butedsi gnificantl
yt othecanoni zationoft heQur an.Awomani s
knownt ohav ecor rectedt heaut hor itati
v erul
i
ngofCal iphUmarondowr y.Womenpr ayedi n
mosquesunsegr egat edf r
om men, wer einvol
v edinhadi t
ht ransmi ssi
on, gavesanct uar ytomen,
engagedi ncommer cialtr
ansact ions, wereencour agedt oseekknowl edge, andwer ebot h
i
nstructor sandpupi lsintheear l
yI slami cperiod.Muhammad' sl astwife, Aishah, wasawel l-
knownaut hor it
yi nmedi ci
ne, histor y
, andr het
or i
c.TheQur anref erstowomenwhopl edgedan
oathofal legiancet oMuhammadi ndependent l
yofthei rmaleki n.Somedi stinguishedwomen
conv ert
edt oIslam pr iortothei rhusbands, ademonst rat
ionofI slam'sr ecogni tionoft heir
capacityf orindependentact ion.Cal iphUmarappoi ntedwoment oser v
easof fici
alsint he
mar ketofMedi na.Bi ographiesofdi st i
nguishedwomen, especi all
yinMuhammad' shousehol d,
showt hatwomenbehav edr elati
v elyaut onomousl yinear lyIslam.I nSuf icircles,womenwer e
recognizedast eacher s,adher ents, “spirit
ualmot hers,”andev eni nherit
or soft hespiritual
secretsoft heirfather s.

*
Tit
tl
es*
Nowomanhel dreli
gioustit
lesinIslam, butmanywomenhel dpolit
icalpower ,somej oint
lywith
thei
rhusbands, othersindependent ly
.Thebest -
knownwomenr ulersinthepr emoder nera
i
ncludeKhay zuran, whogov ernedt heMusl im Empi reundert hreeAbbasi dcal i
phsi ntheei ghth
century;Mali
kaAsmabi ntShihabal -Sulay hi
yyaandMal i
kaAr wabi ntAhmadal -Sulayhiyya, who
bothheldpoweri nYemeni ntheel event hcent ury;Sit
tal-Mulk, aFat i
midqueenofEgy ptinthe
elev
ent hcentury;
theBer berqueenZay nabal -
Naf zawiyah( r
.1061–1107) ;
twot hirteenth-
centuryMaml ukqueens, Shajaral-Dur rinCai r
oandRadi yyahi nDelhi;si
xMongol queens,
i
ncludingKut l
ughKhat un(thir
teenthcent ury)andherdaught erPadi shahKhat unoft heKut l
ugh-
Khaniddy nasty;
thef i
ft
eenth-centuryAndal usianqueenAi shahal-Hurra, knownbyt he
SpaniardsasSul t
anaMadr edeBoabdi l;Sayyidaal -
Hurra, governorofTet ouáni nMor occo( r
.
1510–1542) ;
andf ourseventeent h-centuryIndonesi anqueens.

Nevert
hel
ess,
thestat
usofwomeni npremodernIsl
am ingeneral
confor
mednott
oQurani
c
i
dealsbutt
oprevai
l
ingpatri
archal
cult
uralnorms.Asar esul
t,i
mprov
ementoft
hestat
usof
womenbecameamaj orissueinmodern,refor
mistIsl
am.

*
Equal
i
tybef
oret
hel
aw*

Sincethemi d-ni
neteenthcentury,menandwomenhav equest i
onedt hel egal andsocial
restri
cti
onsonwomen, especi
all
yr egardi
ngeducat ion,seclusion,str
ictv ei
ling,polygyny,sl
avery
,
andconcubi nage.Womenhav epublishedwor ksadv ocati
ngr eforms, establishedschool sfor
girl
s,opposedv ei
li
ngandpol y
gy ny,andengagedi nst udentandnat i
onal i
stmov ement s.
Nat i
onali
stmov ement sandnewst atesthatemergedi nthepost –Wor ldWarI Iperi
odper ceiv
ed
womenandgenderi ssuesascr ucialtosocialdevelopment .Statepoliciesenabl edgroupsof
woment oenterthemal e-dominatedpol i
ti
calsphereandpr ofessionspr eviouslyclosedt othem,
althoughthesepoli
ciesof tencausedpopul arandr eli
giousbackl ash.

Debatescontinueov ertheappr opriateleveloffemaleparti

cipat i
oninthepublicsphere.Women
aretypi
call
yv i
ewedaskeyt oeitherreformingorconser vi
ngt radit
ionbecauseoft hei
rrolesin
maintai
ningfami ly
,socialcontinuit
y ,
andcul tur
e.Women' sstat ushasal sobeenusedasa
meansofdef iningnationalidentit
y.Althoughgov ernmentsoft wenti
eth-
centuryMuslim nation-
stat
eshav epromot ededucat ionforbot hboy sandgirl
sasameansofachi evi
ngeconomi c
growth,thepercentageofgi rl
senr oll
edi nschoolsindevelopingcount ri
eswithlargeandr apidl
y
growingpopulationsremai nslow.Concer nformen'sjobshasgi venaddedincentivetothe
conservati
vecallforwoment oadher etotradit
ionalr
olesashousewi vesandmot hers,alt
hough
economi cnecessityhasledwoment oundertakewhat ev
erwor ktheycanf i
nd,usuall
ylow-paid,
unski
ll
edlabor
.Warandl
abormi
grat
ionhav
eincr
easedt
henumberoff
emal
e-headed
househol
ds.

*
Rol
eint
heEconomy
*

Woment odayar eacti

vepar t
icipantsingrassroot sorganizations; developmentpr ojects;
economi c,educat i
on,health,andpol i
ti
calprojects;rel
iefefforts;char i
tabl eassoci ations; and
socialservi
ces.Moder nref or
mshav emadepol ygynousmar riagesdi f
ficultori ll
egal ;permi t
ted
wivestosuef ordivorceinr eli
giouscour t
s,par t
icularl
yi ncasesofcr uelty ,deserti
on, or
dangerouscont agiousdiseases; pr
ov i
dedwomenwi t
ht herighttocont ractt hemsel vesi n
mar r
iage;requiredhusbandst ofindhousingf oradi vorcedwi fewhi l
eshehascust odyov erthe
chil
dren;increasedt hemi nimum agef orspouses; l
imitedtheabi lityofguar dianst ocont ract
womeni nmar r
iageagainstt heirwishes;providedoppor tuni
tiesf ormi norgi rlswedagai nstthei
r
wishest oabr ogatethemar ri
ageuponr eachingmaj ori
ty;enhancedt her ightsofwomenwi th
regardtochildcust ody;andal l
owedwoment owr it
eclausesi ntomar ri
agecont r
act st hatlimit
thehusband' saut hori
tyov erthem.

I
nt hecontemporaryera,
womenhav eagainassumedl eadershiprol
esi
nt heMuslim worl
d.
BenazirBhutt
owaspr imemini
sterofPaki
stan(1988–90, 1993–96) ,
Tansuç; i
ll
erwaspri
me
minist
erofTurkey(1993–96) ,andShaykhHasinaist hecurrentpr
imemi ni
sterofBangl
adesh
(1996–) .Nonet
heless,t
ensi
onsremainbetweentradi
tionali
sts,whoadvocateconti
nued
patri
archy,
andreformist
s,whoadvocat
econtinuedli
ber at
ionofwomen.

All
ahTaal aisSoverei
gn.I sl
amicpoli
ti
cal sy stem i
sbasedoni t
sspeci fi
cwor ldv
iewt hatis
essenti
altoknowi nanyunder standi
ngofI slam.TheQur '
antel
lsust hatAllahTaalai sthe
CreatorandLor dofthewhol euniver
sei ncludinghumanki ndandal lthatisassociatedwi th
them.Hei sov er
poweringandi sir
resi
stiblydomi nantov eral
lHiscreat i
on.Heknowsal land
governsall.Heisever-
livi
ngandev er-
lastingandal lHiscreati
on,willi
nglyorunwi l
li
ngl y
,is
obedienttoHim.What ev erHewill
sget sdone.I tisHispowert hatisestablishedandnonecan
i
nterf
ereini ti
nanyway .ThusitisAll
ahTaal awhopossessesal lt
hepower sandat tri
but esof
soverei
gntyandnoneel sewhateverpossessesanyoft hese.Therefore,thesoverei
gnt yofthe
ent
ir
euni
ver
seonl
ybel
ongst
oAl
l
ahTaal
aal
oneandnoneot
hert
hanHi
m hasashar
eini
t.

Simil
arly,
sover
eignt
yov eral
lofhumanki ndr i
ghtful
lybelongst oAllahTaal aandnohumanor
nonhumanpowercoul dcont r
olordecideanyoft hehumanaf f
airs.Theonl ydiff
erencebetween
humansandot hersofAl l
ahTaala'
screationisasf oll
ows.Whi leinal loftheuniver
seandev en
i
nt heautonomouspar tofhuman'sownbodyHi ssovereigntyisestabl i
shedautomat i
cal
l
y ,
iti
s
thepartthati
sgrantedautonomybyAl lahTaal awherei tisnotforciblyestabl
ished.I
tisrat
her
establ
ishedbyinvi
ti
nghumanki ndtowi l
li
nglysubmi tthemsel v
esaccor dingtothecourse
establ
ishedbyHimi nthereveal
edscriptures.TheQur '
ani sveryexpl i
citonthis:

I
sitnotHi
stocr
eat
eandt
ogov
ern?(
AlAr
af,
7:54)
.

TheCommandisf
ornonebutAll
ah.Hehascommandedyounott
osurr
endert
oany
onesav
e
Him.Thi
sist
heRi
ghtWayofli
fe,
butmostmenunderst
andnot(
Yusuf
,12:
40).

WehavesentyoutheBooki
nTr
utht
haty
ou(
OPr
ophet
)mi
ghtj
udgebet
weenmen,
asgui
ded
byAl
l
ah(AlNisa,4:
105)
.

I
fanyf
ailtoj
udgeby(thel
i
ghtof)whatAl
l
ahhasr eveal
ed,t
heyar
e(nobet
tert
han)unbel
i
ever
s,
..t
hewrongdoer
s..t
hosewhorebel(
AlMaidah,
5:44-47)
.

Popul
arVi
ceger
ency

Theposi ti
onofhumanki ndisthatofAllah'
sv i
cegerent(khalif
ah),orAll
ahTaala'
srepr
esent
ati
ve
onear t
h.Thenat ureofthisv
icegerency(khi
lafah)describedintheQur '
ani
sasf oll
ows.
What evercapaci
tiesandabil
iti
eshumanspossess, theyar ebestowedupont hem byAll
ahTaal
a.
All
ahTaal abestowedt hesegif
tsonhumanssot hatusi
ngt hem andthewil
lgrantedt
hem by
All
ahTaal a,t
heyf ol
lowandest abl
i
shHi swilli
nt hei
rli
vesasHi srepr
esent
ati
v esandnotas
autonomousent iti
es.

Thi
skhilafahhasbeenent r
ust
edonal l
thosewhoacceptAl l
ahTaal
aast hei
rLordand
Soverei
gn.Theconceptisoneofpopularvicegerency,
shar
edbyall
beli
eversal
ike.This
vi
cegerencyalsomeanst hatl
i
mi t
edauthori
tyhasbeendelegat
edtothosewhor untheaffai
rs
ofbeli
evers.Moreover
,theauthor
it
yisbestowednotonanychosenperson,family
,tr
ibe,
et
hnicit
y,raceorgroupofpeoplebutonallbeli
evers,
menandwomen.TheQur 'anstates:

All
ahhaspr
omisedt
ot hoseamongy ouwhobel
iev
eandworkr
ight
eousdeedst
hatHewi
ll
assur
edl
ymakethem succeed(
thosewhorul
e)andgr
antt
hem vi
ceger
encyi
nthel
andj
ustas
Hemadet
hosebef
oret
hem succeedot
her
s(Al
Nur
,24:
55)
.

Therefor e,thetwocar dinal pri

nciplesofgov ernanceasl aiddownbyt heQur '
anar e:fi
rst,
sovereignt ybelongst oAl l
ahTaal aandsecond, thepopul arvi
ceger encybelongst oallbeli
evers.
Thusl egiti
macyi ntheI slami cpol i
ti
calordercomesf i
rstandf oremostf rom accept i
ngAllah
Taalaast heSov ereignandHi sLaw, i.
e.Shar i
ahast heSupr emeLaw.Second, thatthesociety
mustbegov er
nedbyandi naccor dancewitht hewillofthepeopl e.Thepeopl eort heUmmah
aretheact ualrepositoryofkhi l
afahandt hosei nauthorit
ymusthav etheconf i
denceand
suppor toft heMusl im popul at
ion.Inthiscontext,Shariahprovidesabr oadframewor kwi t
hin
whicht hepeopl eundert heumbr ell
aofDi v
ineGui dancepar ti
cipateindev el
opingaci vil
societ
y
anditsi nstitut
ionsincludi ngv ari
ousor gansoft hestate.

Shur
aorCommonConsul
tat
ion

Thewhol esy stem ofIsl

ami cStatef rom i
tsincepti
ont ot heselecti
onoft heheadoft hest at
e
andallthosei npositi
onspoweraswel lasitsdealingsmustbeconduct edbyshur a,whetherit
i
scar r
iedoutdi rect
lyorindirect
lythroughsel ectedorel ect
edr epresentat
ives.TheQur'anstates:
"Thei
raf f
airsaredecidedbyconsul tati
onsbet weent hem"( AlShura,42:38).EventhePr ophet(s)
alt
houghhewast herecipientofdirectguidancef r
om t heSupr emeAl lah,wascommanded:
"Consultthem inaffai
rs( ofmoment )"(
Al I
mr an,3:
159) .Foll
owingt hi
sadv iceandlead,Khalif
ah
Omar( r)admoni shed:"Thereisnokhi l
afahwi t
houtconsul tat
ion."(Pl
easer efert
oKanzal
ammal ,vol.5,andHadi thnumber2354) .

Thust hepr acti

ceofshurawast hemechani sm fol
lowedatalllevelsi
nt heselect
ionofpol i
ti
cal
l
eader shipbyMuhammad( s)andhisfoll
owers.Itwast heIsl
ami ccommuni tythatselect
edt he
fi
rstfourr i
ghtl
yguidedkhulafa,al
thoughthemet hodofselectionandt heprocessofappr oval
differ
ed.Theessent i
alpri
nciplewasconsentandconf idenceoft hecommuni tyandt he
account abil
it
yofthoseselectedbeforethecommuni ty.Evenaf t
erwardswhent heher edi
tyrule
creptint hatvi
olat
edthiscommuni tyri
ght,afacadeofbay aa,orcommuni t
y'
sacceptanceof
rulerswasst il
lmaint
ained.

Say yi
dMawdudi (
r)i
nhisrenownedt reati
seKhi l
afatwaMal ookiathasdescr i
bedt hatin
selectingorel ecti
ngpersonstoposi t
ionsofpowert hefoll
owi ngf ourcrit
eri
amustbegi vendue
consider ati
oni ntheli
ghtofQur '
ani
cinjunctions.1.I
tshoul dbeonl ydelegatedt othosewho
acknowl edget hepr i
nci
ples,onwhicht hesy st
em ofkhi l
afahisbased, becausei tcannotbe
entrustedt oper sonswhoopposei t.2.Itshouldnotbeent r
ust edtot yr
antsandt hosewhoar e
disobedi enttoAl l
ahTaalaorknownsi nner sbuttoGod- conscious, consider
ateandr i
ghteous
believers.3.Itshouldnotbegi ventothef ooli
shandi gnorantbutt ot heknowl edgeable,wise
andt hosewhounder st
andthest at
eaf fai
rsandar ecapabl eofr unningit,ment al
lyand
phy si
cally.4.Itshouldbeentrustedtothehonestsuchasar ewor thyoftheser esponsibi
lit
ies.
Di
spensat
ionofEqui
tabl
eJust
ice

Islami cLawbasedont heQur '

anandSunnahi sequal l
yaccessibl etoal landequal lyapplicable
onmember soft hesoci etyfrom thelowestt ot hehi ghest,withoutanydi sti
nct i
onor
discrimi nation.ThePr ophet( s)wasaskedt odecl aret hat:"
Ihav ebeencommandedt omai nt
ain
j
ust i
cebet weeny ou"(Al Shura,42:15).ThePr ophet( s)admoni shed: "Thenat ionsbef orey ou
wer edest royedbecauset heywoul dpuni sht hel owercl asscr i
mi nalsaccor dingt othel awbut
woul dl etgot hosef rom thehi gherclass."Thenl ayingf urt
heremphasi s, hecont inued:"Iswear
byt heAut hor i
tyinwhosecont roli
sMohammad' slife,ifMohammad' sdaught erisguiltyof
stealing, Iwoul dcutherhandof f
"(narratedbyBukhar i
,Kit
abal Hudud, Chapt er11- 12).These
quot ationsshowanov erri
dingconcer nf orj
ust iceinal lit
sdi mensi ons: legal ,
politi
cal,social,
economi candi nt er
national.Also,alltheper sonal ,civil
,poli
ti
cal, social,cul t
uralandeconomi c
rightsofani ndivi
dual areguar anteedunderI slamicl aw.Al lpeopl ehav eequal r
ightsandeach
andev ery onei sequal l
yr esponsiblebef orethel aw.I tistheobl i
gat i
onoft her ul
erst oensur e
thateachmemberoft hesoci etyparticularl
yt heweak, i
sgivenhi sduer ight s.

Fur ther
more,t
herulersarenotprovidedwi thanyar bi
tr
arypower.Esposi toandVolli
nthei
rbook,
Islam andDemocracywr it
e:"I
nthel ongst andingconceptof'ori
ental despoti
sm,'t
herei
sno
senseofasepar ati
onofpower sorst ructuresli
mi t
ingthepoweroft her ul
er.However
,such
unl i
mi t
edpowerwasnotav ail
abl
et oleader sinclassi
calMuslim societi
esandt hi
ssit
uati
onis
visiblebot
hinIsl
ami clawofpoli
ticalstruct
uresandi nactualhi
stori
cal experi
ence.
"

Inf act,t
heent irecorpusoft heIslami clawhasbeendev elopedbyt heIsl
ami cUmmaht hrough
ar ational,popularprocessinwhi cht hel ear
nedandt heconcernedtookpar tbydebat eandopen
discussi on.Itevolvedoutsidethecor ridorsofpoli
ti
calpowerandonceest ablished,theruler
wasasmuchsubj ecttoitaswast hecommoner .Esposit
oandVol lacknowl edge: "
Itwast he
consensusoft hoseschol arsandnott hecommandsandr ulesoftheCaliphs, thatprovi
dedt he
basi sforformal l
aw.Nor ulerwasr ecogni zedasbeingabovet hel
aw, andal lr
ul er
swoul dbe
j
udgedbyt hatlaw. "

Al
-Amrbi
lMar
ufwaNahi
anal
-Munkar

Theabov etermli
terall
ymeanscommandi ngwhatisrightandforbi
ddingwhati swrongand
encompassesawhol egambitofdutiesandresponsi
bili
ti
es.TheQur '
anmakesi tthemi ssi
onof
thebeli
evers:"
Youar ethebestofPeoplesevolv
edforhumanki nd,enjoi
ningwhatisr i
ghtand
for
biddi
ngwhati swr ongandbeliev
inginAll
ah"(AalImran,3:
110).Itmeanst hateveryindi
vi
dual
ofthesocietyhastheright
,naytheduty,tot
ellt
hetruthandstandf orit
,tofurt
herallthati
s
goodandv irt
uousanddohi sutmostt oremovethewr ongsandv i
ceswher everhefindsthem.

TheProphet(s)t
ell
sus:"
Whoev eramongy ouseesav i
ce(orwrong),
heshoul dchangei
twith
hi
shands; i
fheisnotabl
etodot hat
,thenheshouldcheckitwi
thhistongue;andifhecannot
dothat
,thenheshouldconsi
deritbadinhishear
t(andwishforit
sremov al
)andt hi
sist
hesign
ofweakestinfai
th"(recordedi nMusl i
m, Ti
rmidhi,
AbuDaudandI bnMaj ah)
.Anot herf
amous
hadit
hsays;"ThebestJi hadist osaywhati sjust(ortrut
h)i
nthefaceofatyrant"(AbuDaud,
Tir
midhi
,NisaiandIbnMaj ah).Sti
llanotheronesay s;"
Whenpeopleseeat y
rantanddonothol d
hi
shands,itisnotfarthatAl l
ahTaal asendsacommonpuni shmentonthem"( AbuDaudand
Tir
midhi
),t
huscat egorical
lyemphasi zingitsi
mpor tance.

Therefore,al-
amrbil mar ufwanahi anal -munkarent ailsthef r
eedom ofexpr essi
onand
cri
ti
cism, tr
ansparencyandaccount abi l
i
tyandr espectf orhumanr i
ghtsandabi dingbyt he
contractualobli
gati
onsi nr espectofallpeopl eandmi noriti
esi npart
icul
ar.Itwasbecauseof
thi
smi ssionoft heUmmaht hatinst
ituti
onsofnasi ha( advice),shura(consultati
on),
ikhtil
af
(di
sagr eementanddi fferenceofopi ni
on) ,al-
amrbi lmar uf( commandi ngrightandv i
rtue),al
-
nahianal -munkar(forbiddingwr ongandv ice)andhi sbah( publicaccountabili
tyand
ombudsmanshi p)wer eest abli
shedsy stemsoft heIslami cr ul
eandcont i
nuedt oplayt hei
r
i
mpor t
antroleinvariousway satallti
mesoft heI sl
ami chi story.

Concl
udi
ngRemar
ks

TheWest erni deologypl acesagr eatemphasi sont hei nstit

utionofdemocr acy .Yeti ti snotan
unmi xedblessi ngandhasseedsofi tsdest r
uct i
onf rom wi t
hin.Democr acyasdev elopedi nthe
Westi sbasedont heconceptofpopul arsov ereignty.Ther ei snor elevancet ot heet er nal
reli
giousgui danceandabsol ut emor alvaluesi nmat ter sofgov ernance.Asi tev olved, it
developedav arietyofformsofsel f
-gov ernmentandpol i
ticalprocessest odet er minet hewi llof
thepeopl eforr unningtheaf fairsoft hest ate.Althoughi thassucceededi ndev elopi ngsev eral
mechani smsf orpopul arpar ti
cipat i
on, butbecauseoft heabsenceoff ir
m mor al moor ings,i
ts
standardsofr ightandwr onghav ebeensubj ectedt ot hewhi msoft hepeopl e.Consequent l
y,it
hasr esult
edi ndecr imi
nalizationofmaj orev i
lpracticesandmor alsinsexposi ngt hehuman
societytothet y r
anniesofmor al rel
at i
vism, theidiosy ncrasiesofmaj ori
tyrule, racial andcl ass-
basedt ensions, economi cexpl oitat
ionander osionofal lbasicsessent i
alfort hesust enanceof
humansoci et y.Emphasi zingquant ityandcount ingofhands, ithasr eplacedqual ityandet ernal
standardsofr ight,trut
handj ust ice.Int heU. S.ithasbecomeaf acadebehi ndwhi cht he
capital
istclassandt hespecial interestgr oupscont i
nuet or uleanddomi nat eitssoci et y.I
na
numberofot hercount ri
esi ncludingmostoft heMusl i
m wor ld,narrowt ri
bal-cum- classpol it
ics
alongwi ththedomi nanceofapol it
ical el
iteplacedandbackedbyt heWest ernpower shav el ed
totheest ablishmentofonepar tydict atorshipsint henameofdemocr acy.

Refl
ectingonthissit
uation,thewell-
knownI slami cintellectualandact iv
istKhurshidAhmad
writ
inginTheMusl im Wor l
d( vol
ume90, number s1-2, 2000)hast hefollowi
ngtosay ."I
slam
andt heMuslim Umma( si
c)br ooknosy mpat hyforar bitraryandaut hori
tari
anrule.Whatev er
arbi
trarypowerrei
gnsismor eapr oductofcol onial
izationandWest er ni
zati
on,andnotof
Musl i
mi deal
s,hi
storyorcont emporaryaspi
r ations.Theyr egardtheWest er
nsecularversionof
democr acyali
entotheirpri
nci pl
es,val
uesandt radi
tions.Butt heyhav et hei
rownconceptand
ri
chtradit
ionofdemocracyandpeople'
sparti
cipati
ont hatensuresjustrul
e,consul
tati
ve
processesatalll
evel
s,r
espectf
orri
ght sanddissent,
t heindependenceofjudici
aryandpoli
ti
co-
cult
uralpl
ural
ism.Therei
snocontradicti
onbetweenI slam andthisessenceofdemocr acy
."

Itisworthconcl udingthisarti
clewithAhmad' sconcl usi
on, asf oll
ows." Inthecont empor ar
y
post-col
onialhistoryoftheMusl i
m wor l
d,despoti
sm andsecul ari
sm orsoci al
ism hav egone
together,whi
leIslami cresurgenceandpeopl e'sfreedomsandpopul arpar ti
cipationare
compl ementary.Despi t
ef reedom fr
om t hecoloni
al yoke,theMusl i
m Umma( sic)isstil
l
struggli
ngforitsr i
ght-itsdemocr ati
cr i
ght-tofreelydev elopitspolity,soci et
yandeconomyi n
l
ightofitsowni deas,valuesandaspi rat
ions.Itr
efusest ol i
veundert hedi ctateofconcept sand
model sinconflictwithitsfait
h,opposedt oitsvalues,distastefultoitshi storyandr epugnantto
i
t str
aditi
ons.Ifdemocr acymeansr ightsofapeopl et oself-determinationandsel f
-f
ulfi
ll
ment,
thatiswhatIslam andMusl i
m peoplehav ebeenst ri
vingfor ,nothi
ngmor eandnot hingless.
"

Si
raj
Isl
am Muf
ti
,Ph.
D.i
sar
esear
cherandaf
ree-
lancej
our
nal
i
st.

WomenandI
slam

InIslam, menandwomenar emoralequal sinGod'ssightandar eexpectedt ofulfi

l
l t
hesame
dutiesofwor shi
p, prayer
,fait
h,al
msgi ving,f
asting,andpilgr
imagetoMecca.I slam gener al
ly
i
mpr ovedthestatusofwomencompar edtoear li
erArabcultur
es,prohibit
ingfemal einfanti
cide
andr ecognizi
ngwomen' sfullper
sonhood.I slamiclawemphasi zest hecontractualnatureof
mar riage,r
equir
ingthatadowr ybepaidt othewomanr atherthantoherf ami l
y,and
guar anteei
ngwomen' sri
ghtsofinherit
anceandt oownandmanagepr opert
y.Womenwer ealso
grant edtheri
ghttol i
veinthemat ri
moni alhomeandr eceivefi
nancialmaintainancedur ing
mar riageandawai t
ingperiodfol
lowingdeat handdi vorce.

Thehistoricalrecordshowst hatMuhammadconsul t
edwomenandwei ghedt hei
ropi ni
ons
seri
ously.Atleastonewoman, Umm War aqah, wasappoi ntedimam ov erherhousehol dby
Muhammad.Womencont ri
butedsi gnificantl
yt othecanonizati
onoft heQur an.Awomani s
knownt ohav ecor rectedt heaut horitati
v erul
i
ngofCal i
phUmarondowr y.Womenpr ayedin
mosquesunsegr egatedf r
om men, wer einvol
v edinhadithtransmi ssi
on, gavesanct uarytomen,
engagedi ncommer cialtr
ansact ions, wereencour agedtoseekknowl edge, andwer ebot h
i
nstruct
or sandpupi lsintheear lyIslami cperiod.Muhammad' sl astwife, Aishah, wasawel l
-
knownaut hor i
tyinmedi ci
ne, hi
st ory
, andr het
or i
c.TheQur anref erstowomenwhopl edgedan
oathofallegiancet oMuhammadi ndependent l
yoftheirmaleki n.Somedi sti
nguishedwomen
convert
edt oIsl
am pr iortotheirhusbands, ademonst rat
ionofI slam'sr ecognitionoft heir
capacit
yf orindependentact i
on.Cal iphUmarappoi ntedwoment oser v
easof fici
alsint he
mar ketofMedina.Biographi
esofdist
inguishedwomen,especial
l
yinMuhammad' shousehol
d,
showt hatwomenbehav edrel
ati
vel
yaut onomousl
yinearl
yIslam.InSufi
cir
cles,womenwer e
recognizedasteachers,adher
ents,
“spir
itualmot
hers,
”andeveninheri
tor
soft hespi
ri
tual
secretsofthei
rfathers.

Nowomanhel dreli
gioustit
lesinIslam, butmanywomenhel dpolit
icalpower ,somej oint
lywith
thei
rhusbands, othersindependent ly
.Thebest -
knownwomenr ulersinthepr emoder nera
i
ncludeKhay zuran, whogov ernedt heMusl im Empi reundert hreeAbbasi dcal i
phsi ntheei ghth
century;Mali
kaAsmabi ntShihabal -Sulay hi
yyaandMal i
kaAr wabi ntAhmadal -Sulayhiyya, who
bothheldpoweri nYemeni ntheel event hcent ury;Sit
tal-Mulk, aFat i
midqueenofEgy ptinthe
elev
ent hcentury;
theBer berqueenZay nabal -
Naf zawiyah( r
.1061–1107) ;
twot hirteenth-
centuryMaml ukqueens, Shajaral-Dur rinCai r
oandRadi yyahi nDelhi;si
xMongol queens,
i
ncludingKut l
ughKhat un(thir
teenthcent ury)andherdaught erPadi shahKhat unoft heKut l
ugh-
Khaniddy nasty;
thef i
ft
eenth-centuryAndal usianqueenAi shahal-Hurra, knownbyt he
SpaniardsasSul t
anaMadr edeBoabdi l;Sayyidaal -
Hurra, governorofTet ouáni nMor occo( r
.
1510–1542) ;
andf ourseventeent h-centuryIndonesi anqueens.

Nevert
hel
ess,
thestat
usofwomeni npremodernIsl
am ingeneral
confor
mednott
oQurani
c
i
dealsbutt
oprevai
l
ingpatri
archal
cult
uralnorms.Asar esul
t,i
mprov
ementoft
hestat
usof
womenbecameamaj orissueinmodern,refor
mistIsl
am.

Sincethemi d-ni
neteenthcentury,menandwomenhav equest i
onedt hel egal andsocial
restri
cti
onsonwomen, especi
all
yr egardi
ngeducat ion,seclusion,str
ictv ei
ling,polygyny,sl
avery
,
andconcubi nage.Womenhav epublishedwor ksadv ocati
ngr eforms, establishedschool sfor
girl
s,opposedv ei
li
ngandpol y
gy ny,andengagedi nst udentandnat i
onal i
stmov ement s.
Nat i
onali
stmov ement sandnewst atesthatemergedi nthepost –Wor ldWarI Iperi
odper ceiv
ed
womenandgenderi ssuesascr ucialtosocialdevelopment .Statepoliciesenabl edgroupsof
woment oenterthemal e-dominatedpol i
ti
calsphereandpr ofessionspr eviouslyclosedt othem,
althoughthesepoli
ciesof tencausedpopul arandr eli
giousbackl ash.

Debatescontinueov ertheappropriateleveloffemal
eparti
cipat i
oninthepublicsphere.Women
ar
et y
picall
yviewedaskeyt oeitherreformingorconservi
ngt radit
ionbecauseoftheirrol
esin
maintai
ningfami l
y,socialconti
nuit
y ,
andcul tur
e.Women'sstat ushasal sobeenusedasa
meansofdef iningnationali
dentit
y.Althoughgov er
nmentsoft wenti
eth-
centuryMusli
m nation-
st
ateshav epromot ededucat i
onforbot hboy sandgir
lsasameansofachi evi
ngeconomi c
gr
owt h,t
heper centageofgi r
lsenroll
edi nschoolsi
ndevelopingcount ri
eswithlar
geandr apidl
y
growingpopulati
onsremai
nslow.Concer
nformen' sjobshasgivenaddedincent
ivetothe
conservati
vecallf
orwomentoadheretotr
adit
ionalrolesashousewiv
esandmot hers,al
though
economi cnecessi
tyhasl
edwoment oundert
akewhat everworktheycanfi
nd,usuall
ylow-pai
d,
unski
lledlabor
.Warandlabormigr
ati
onhaveincreasedt henumberoffemale-
headed
households.

Woment odayar eacti

vepar t
icipantsingrassroot sorganizations; developmentpr ojects;
economi c,educat i
on,health,andpol i
ti
calprojects;rel
iefefforts;char i
tabl eassoci ations; and
socialservi
ces.Moder nref or
mshav emadepol ygynousmar riagesdi f
ficultori ll
egal ;permi t
ted
wivestosuef ordivorceinr eli
giouscour t
s,par t
icularl
yi ncasesofcr uelty ,deserti
on, or
dangerouscont agiousdiseases; pr
ov i
dedwomenwi t
ht herighttocont ractt hemsel vesi n
mar r
iage;requiredhusbandst ofindhousingf oradi vorcedwi fewhi l
eshehascust odyov erthe
chil
dren;increasedt hemi nimum agef orspouses; l
imitedtheabi lityofguar dianst ocont ract
womeni nmar r
iageagainstt heirwishes;providedoppor tuni
tiesf ormi norgi rlswedagai nstthei
r
wishest oabr ogatethemar ri
ageuponr eachingmaj ori
ty;enhancedt her ightsofwomenwi th
regardtochildcust ody;andal l
owedwoment owr it
eclausesi ntomar ri
agecont r
act st hatlimit
thehusband' saut hori
tyov erthem.

I
nt hecontemporaryera,
womenhav eagainassumedl eadershiprol
esi
nt heMuslim worl
d.
BenazirBhutt
owaspr imemini
sterofPaki
stan(1988–90, 1993–96) ,
Tansuç; i
ll
erwaspri
me
minist
erofTurkey(1993–96) ,andShaykhHasinaist hecurrentpr
imemi ni
sterofBangl
adesh
(1996–) .Nonet
heless,t
ensi
onsremainbetweentradi
tionali
sts,whoadvocateconti
nued
patri
archy,
andreformist
s,whoadvocat
econtinuedli
ber at
ionofwomen.

1.I
NTRODUCTI
ON:

Todaypeopl
ethi
nkthatwomenar
eli
ber
atedinthewestandthatt
hewomen'
sli
ber
ati
on
movementbeganinthe20t
hCent
ury
.Act
uall
ythewomen'sli
berat
ionmov
ementwas

revealedbyGodtoProphetMuhammad( peacebeuponhi
m)int
hesevent
hcentur
y.TheQur'
an
andt heTradi
ti
onsoftheProphet(
Hadi
thandSunna)guar
ant
eeever
yMusli
m womancertai
n
ri
ghtsanddut i
es.
2.EQUALI
TYVS.SAMENESS

Theser
ight
sar
eequal
tot
hoseofamanbutt
heyar
enotnecessar
il
yident
ical
.Equal
i
ty

andsamenessar
etwodi
ff
erentt
hings.Thi
sdi
ff
erencei
sunder
standabl
ebecauseman

andwomanarenoti
dent
ical
butt
heyar ecr
eat
edequal
s.Thedi
sti
ncti
onbet
weenequal
i
tyand
samenessi
sofpar
amountimpor
tance.Wit
hthi
sdi
sti
ncti
oninmind,
ther
eisnor
oom

toi
maginethatwomani sinferi
ort
oman, j
ustbecauseherri
ghtsarenotidenti
cal.Hadsheis
not
.ThefactthatI
slam gi
vesherequalri
ghts-butnoti
denti
calri
ghts-showst hati
ttakesher
i
ntoconsi
derati
on,acknowledgesher
,andrecogni
zesherindependentpersonali
tyandrol
e.

I
ntheQur'
anAl
l
ahf
requent
lyaddr
essesbot
hthemanandt
hewoman.I
nonepassageAl
l
ah
r
eveal
s:

"ForMusl i
m menandwomen,forbeli
evingmenandwomen,fordevoutmenandwomen,f
or
truemenandwomenwhoar epatient
,formenandwomenwhohumbl et
hemsel
ves,
formen
andwomenwhogi vei
nchar
ity
, f
ormenandwomenwhof ast
,formenandwomenwhoguar d
theirchast
ity
,andf
ormenandwomenwhoengagemuchi nAllah'
s

pr
aise-Fort
hem al
lhasAl
l
ahpr
epar
edf
orgi
venessandgr
eatr
ewar
d."(
33:
35)

3.HumanRi
ght
s:

Womanisrecogni
zedbyI sl
am asequal par
tneri
ntheprocreat
ionofhumankind.Mani st
he
fat
her
,womanisthemot her,andbothareessenti
alforl
if
e.Bythi
spartner
shi
p, womanhasan
equal
shar
eineveryaspect;sheisenti
tl
edtoequal r
ight
s;sheunder
takesequalresponsi
bil
i
ties,
andshehasasmanyqual
i
tiesandasmuchhumani
tyasherpart
ner.So,
four
teencent
uri
esago,
Isl
am mademenandwomenequall
yaccount
abl
etoGodinglor
if
yingandworshi
pingHi
m-

set
ti
ngnol
i
mit
sonherspi
ri
tual
progr
ess.I
ntheQur
'ani
nthef
ir
stv
erseoft
hechapt
erent
it
led

"Women"
,Godsays:"Omankind!Becar
efulofy
ourdut
ytoyourLordWhocreatedyoufr
om a
si
ngl
esoulandfr
om iti
tsmateandfrom t
hem bot
hhavespreadabroadamult
itudeofmenand
women.Becaref
ulofyourdut
ytowardAll
ahinWhom youcl
aim(yourri
ght
s)ofone

anot
her
,andt
owar
dst
hewombs(
thatbor
eyou)
.Lo!Al
l
ahhasbeenaWat
cherov
er

y
ou.
"(4:
1)

Andagai
nint
heQur
'an:

"
Omanki
nd!Ver
il
ywehav
ecr
eat
edy
ouf
rom asi
ngl
e(pai
r)ofamal
eandf
emal
e,and

madey
oui
ntonat
ionsandt
ri
best
haty
oumayknoweachot
her
."(
49:
13;
cf.
4:1)

4.CI
VILRI
GHTS:

Whenwet
henconsi
dert
hear
eaofci
vi
lri
ght
s,educat
ioni
sofgr
eat
esti
mpor
tance.The

Prophet(
pbuh)said:
"Seekingknowl
edgeisamandat
eforev
eryMusl
i
m( mal
eandf
emal
e).
"
Keepingpeopl
eignorantequal
soppressi
on;
whet
hermanorwoman.I
nthe

caseofwoment
hei
rci
vi
lri
ght
swer
econsi
der
ednecessar
yfort
hepr
operf
unct
ioni
ngof
t
hecommunit
y.Recogni
zi
ngheri
ndi
vi
dual
i
ty,
Isl
am gr
ant
sawomanf
reedom ofchoi
ceand
_
expr
essi
on.We

ar
eencour
agedt
ocont
ri
but
eopi
nionsandi
deas.Womenwoul
dposequest
ionsdi
rect
lyt
othe

Pr
ophet(
sal
)andt
oot
herMusl
i
mleader
sandof
fert
hei
ropi
nionsconcer
ningr
eli
gion,

economi
cs,
andsoci
almat
ter
s.(
Qur
'an58:
1-4;
60:
10-
12)

Actual
lyitwas1400yearsagot hatarightt
ovotewasgi ventothewoman.Whent hewomen
camet oProphetMohammad( sal)andsworetheirall
egi
ancetohim,hehadtoacceptt
heiroat
h.
Thi
sest abl
ishedther
ightofwoment opubl
icl
ypar t
ici
pat
ei nt
heselect
ionoft
heirl
eader.Nor
doesIslam for
bidawomanf rom holdi
ngimportantposit
ions

i
ngov
ernment
.

Hi
stor
ical
recor
dsshowt
hatwomenpar
ti
cipat
edi
near
lypubl
i
cli
fe,
accompany
ingMusl
i
m

armiesint
obatt
letonursethewounded,
prepar
esuppl
i
es,
andservet
hewar r
ior
s,andso
on.Theywerenotshutbehi
ndir
onbarsorconsi
der
edwort
hlesscr
eat
uresanddepri
vedsoul
s,
as

weseet
odayi
nsuchdet
eri
orat
ingandmi
sgui
dedsoci
eti
esasTal
i
banAf
ghani
stan.Peopl
ekept

i
gnor
antofI
slam'
str
ueposi
ti
ononwomenduet
oage-
oldcul
tur
alpr
act
icesbegi
ntoacceptt
he

mi
sgui
danceast
rue.Thi
sisespeci
all
yunf
ort
unat
einAf
ghani
stanwher
esomanywomenwer
e

pr
ofessi
onal
s,cont
ri
but
ingt
othewel
lbei
ngoft
hei
rsoci
ety
,formanyy
ear
spr
iort
othe
Tal
i
ban.Notonl
ydoesi
tpoi
sont
hemi
ndsoft
heAf
ghani
peopl
etowar
dIsl
am butal
soi
t

f
ocusesther
estoft
hewor
ld'
sat
tent
iononanaber
rat
iont
hatusest
henameofI
slam so
wrongl
y.

5.ECONOMI
CRI
GHTS:

I
nter
msofcont
ri
but
ionst
osoci
etyt
hest
atusofwomeneconomi
cal
l
yisuni
que.Fr
om t
he

ear
li
estday
sgr
eat
erf
inanci
alsecur
it
ywasassur
edf
orwomen.Womenar
eent
it
ledt
o

r
ecei
vemar
it
algi
ft
s,andt
okeeppr
oper
ti
esandi
ncomef
ort
hei
rownsecur
it
y.No

mar
ri
edwomani
srequi
redt
ospendapennyont
hehousehol
d.Shei
sent
it
ledt
oful
l

f
inanci
alsuppor
tdur
ingmar
ri
ageanddur
ingt
hewai
ti
ngper
iod(
`i
ddah)i
ncaseof

di
vor
ce.Whet
hershei
sawi
feormot
her
,asi
sterordaught
er,
shei
sal
l
owedt
orecei
vea

cer
tai
nshar
eofdeceasedki
n'
spr
oper
ty,
andnoonecandi
sinher
ither
.

Al
thoughbot
hmanandwomanar
eent
it
ledt
oinher
itpr
oper
tyofr
elat
ions,
thei
rpor
ti
ons

mayv
ary
.Insomei
nst
ancest
hemanr
ecei
ves2shar
eswher
east
hewomanget
soneonl
y;
t
hisi
sbecauset
hemanbyl
awi
ssol
elyr
esponsi
blef
ort
hecompl
etemai
ntenanceofhi
s

f
ami
l
y.I
tisal
sohi
sdut
ytocont
ri
but
efi
nanci
all
ytoal
lgoodcausesi
nhi
ssoci
ety
.The

woman,
incont
rast
,hasnoobl
i
gat
oryf
inanci
alr
esponsi
bil
i
ties.Shei
spr
ovi
dedf
or,

whet
herbyherhusband,
son,
fat
her
,br
other
,orot
hermal
erel
ati
ve.I
fshehasnor
elat
ion

onwhom shecandepend,
andshehasnoi
nher
it
ance,
thenshei
sther
esponsi
bil
i
tyoft
he

soci
ety
.Shemaybegi
venai
doraj
obt
oear
nherl
i
ving,
andwhat
soev
ermoneyshemakes

wi
l
lbeher
s.So,
int
hehar
destsi
tuat
ionherf
inanci
alr
esponsi
bil
i
tyi
sli
mit
ed,
whi
l
ethe

man'
sisunl
i
mit
ed.

6.RI
GHTSANDDUTI
ESOFAWI
FE:

I
nfur
theraddr
essi
ngr
ight
s,i
tisi
mpor
tantt
olookatt
her
oleoft
hewi
fe.TheQur
'anst
ates:

"
AndamongHi
ssi
gnsi
sthatHecr
eat
edf
ory
oumat
esf
rom among

y
our
sel
vest
haty
oumayl
i
vei
ntr
anqui
l
itywi
tht
hem,
andHehad

putl
oveandmer
cybet
weeny
ou;
Ver
il
y,i
nthatar
esi
gnsf
orpeopl
e
whor
efl
ect
."

Mar
ri
age,
ther
efor
e,i
snotj
ustaphy
sical
oremot
ional
necessi
ty,

buti
nfact
,asi
gnf
rom God!I
tisar
elat
ionshi
pofmut
ual
right
sandobl
i
gat
ionsbasedondi
vi
ne

gui
dance.Godcr
eat
edmenandwomenwi
thcompl
i
ment
arynat
ures,
andi
ntheQur
'an,
Hel
aid

outasy
stem ofl
awst
osuppor
thar
moni
ousi
nter
act
ionbet
weent
hesexes.

Al
l
ahsay
sint
heQur
'an:

"Theyareyourgar
mentsandyouaret
heirgar
ments."(
2:187)
Clot
hingpr
ovi
desphy
sical
protect
ionandcover
sthebeaut
yandfaul
tsofthebody.Aspouse

i
svi
ewedsi
mil
arl
y.Eachpr
otect
stheot
her
,hi
dest
hef
aul
tsandcompl
i
ment
sthe

char
act
eri
sti
csoft
hespouse.Tof
ost
ert
hel
oveandsecur
it
ythatcomeswi
thmar
ri
age,
Musl
i
m

wi
veshav
esev
eral
right
s:t
hef
ir
stonei
stor
ecei
ve'
mahr
'fr
om t
hehusband,
whi
chi
sagi
ftas

par
toft
hemar
ri
agecont
ractAwi
fehast
her
ightt
oki
ndt
reat
ment
.ThePr
ophet(
pbuh)sai
d:

"
Themostper
fectbel
i
ever
sar
ethebesti
nconduct
.Andt
hebestofy
ouar
ethosewho
ar
ebestt
othei
rwi
ves.
"

Godt
ell
susHecr
eat
edmat
esandputl
ove,
mer
cy,
andt
ranqui
l
itybet
weent
hem.Wi
thr
ight
s

comer
esponsi
bil
i
ties.TheQur
'anst
ates:

"
thegoodwomeni
ntheabsenceoft
hei
rhusbandsguar
dthei
rri
ght
sasAl
l
ahhas

enj
oinedupont
hem t
obeguar
ded.
"

Awi
fehast
okeepherhusband'
ssecr
etsandpr
otectt
hei
rmar
it
alpr
ivacy
.Issuesofi
nti
macy

orf
aul
tsofhi
sthatwoul
ddi
shonorhi
m,ar
enott
obeshar
edbyt
hewi
fe,
justashei
sexpect
ed

t
oguar
dherhonor
.

7.WOMANASTHEMOTHER:

Thewomanasmot
heri
sofspeci
ali
mpor
tance.Thi
sissomet
hingt
hatmostofushav
ebeen

bl
essedwi
th.Mot
her
s,i
nIsl
am,
areaccor
dedaspeci
alpl
aceofhonor
.

Amancamet
othePr
ophetMohammad(
sal
)aski
ng:
`OMessengerofAl
l
ah,
whoamong

t
hepeopl
eist
hemostwor
thyofmygoodcompani
onshi
p?ThePr
ophetsai
d,y
ourmot
her
.
Themansai
dthenwhoi
snext
:thePr
ophetsai
d,y
ourmot
her
.Themanaskedagai
n,

t
henwhoi
snext
:thePr
ophetsai
d,y
ourmot
her
.Themanaskedf
urt
herandonl
ythen

di
dthePr
ophetsay
,yourf
ather
.(Al
Bukhar
i)Ki
ndnesst
opar
ent
s,especi
all
ytomot
her
s,

i
saf
oundat
ionst
onei
nthest
ruct
ureofI
slam.

8.EXAMPLESOFMUSLI
M WOMENTODAY:

Iwoul
dli
ket
oment
ionaf
ewcont
empor
aryMusl
i
m womenwhohav
eandcont
inuet
o

cont
ri
but
etot
oday
'swor
ld.

QueenNoorofJor
danLal
ehBakht
iar-aut
horandschol
ar,
psy
chol
ogi
st

Rabi
aTer
ryHar
ri
s-t
ransl
atorandwr
it
er

Haj
aNour
aDur
kee:
Aut
hor
,lect
urer
,teacher

Nahi
dAngha:Psy
chol
ogi
st,
founderI
nter
nat
ional
AWhi
l
eitneedst
obeacknowl
edgedt
hat
at
roci
ti
eshav
ebeencommittedagai
nstwomen

ov
erseasi
nthenameofI
slam,
ital
soneedst
obeacknowl
edgedt
hatsuchpr
act
iceshav
eno
basi
sint
her
eli
gioni
tsel
f.Mor
ethan1400y
ear
sagoI
slam af
for
dedwomenr
ight
scompar
abl
e

t
othosei
nourcont
empor
aryi
nter
nat
ional
humanr
ight
sdocument
s.I
tisnotI
slam butot
her

f
act
ors,
not
abl
ycul
tur
alpr
act
icesal
i
ent
other
eli
gioni
tsel
f,whi
char
ethecauseoft
he

mi
str
eat
mentofwomen.(
SydneyMor
ningHer
ald,
"Gr
im pi
ctur
eofshar
iahi
desi
tsusef
ul

aspect
s",
GhenaKr
ayem andHai
sam Far
ache,
Febr
uar
y18,
2008)

Stat
ementssuchast
hesear
enowcommoni
nourmedi
a.Theyassur
eust
hatt
hehar
sh
tr
eatment

ofwomeni
nIsl
ami
ccount
ri
esi
sther
esul
toft
hecul
tur
eandnotoft
her
eli
gionofI
slam.

Ther
ear
eal
soI
slami
caut
hor
s,l
i
keDr
.Jamal
Badawi
,whowr
it
ear
ti
clesandbookl
etst
hat

pr
omot
eIsl
am'
steachi
ngonwomen.Theycl
aimt
hatI
slam br
ingsl
i
ghti
ntot
hewor
ldandl
eads

humani
tyoutofi
gnor
ance,
especi
all
yint
hear
eaoft
het
reat
mentofwomen.Theyal
soseekt
o

at
tackanddi
scr
edi
twhatt
heBi
blet
eachesandshowt
hatI
slam i
ssuper
iort
oChr
ist
iani
ty.

Mymai
ncr
it
ici
sm wi
tht
heseI
slami
caut
hor
sist
hatt
heyar
esel
ect
ivewi
tht
hemat
eri
alt
hey

quot
efr
om t
heQur
'anandHadi
th.Theyar
ehappyt
oquot
esomepar
tsoft
heQur
'anandHadi
th
whent
hesebooksspeakf
avour
abl
yaboutwomen,
butav
oidquot
ingt
hehar
sherst
atement
s.I
n

t
hisar
ti
cleIam NOTt
ryi
ngt
opr
esentasummar
yofal
lthatt
heQur
'anandHadi
tht
eachabout

women.(
Ibel
i
evet
hatsomeoft
hist
eachi
ngi
shel
pful
.)I
nst
eadIam pr
esent
ingt
her
efer
ences

t
hatmanyI
slami
caut
hor
sdel
i
ber
atel
yav
oidwhent
heywr
it
ethei
rbooksaboutt
hepl
aceof

womeni
nIsl
am.

BEATI
NG

Muhammadbeathi
swi
ves.

.
..He(
Muhammad)st
ruckme(
Aisha)ont
hechestwhi
chcausedmepai
n..
.(Musl
i
m:bk.4,

no.2127)

Muhammad'
scompani
onsal
sobeathi
swi
vesandot
herwomen.

.
..(
Umar
)foundt
hePr
ophetsi
tt
ingsadandsi
l
entwi
thhi
swi
vesar
oundhi
m..
..(
Umar
)deci
ded

t
osaysomet
hingwhi
chwoul
dmaket
hePr
ophetl
augh,
sohesai
d,"
MessengerofGod,
Iwi
sh
y
ouhadseent
hedaught
erofKhar
ij
awhensheaskedmef
orext
ramoneyandIgotupand

sl
appedheront
heneck.
"God'
smessengerl
aughedandsai
d,"
Theyar
ear
oundmeasy
ousee

aski
ngf
orext
ramoney
."AbuBakrt
hengotup,
wentt
oA'
i
shaandsl
appedheront
heneck,

andUmardi
dthesamet
oHaf
sa.(
MishkatAl
-Masabi
h:v
ol.2,
p.690;
Musl
i
m:bk.9,
no.3506,

Si
ddi
qui
)

Nar
rat
edAi
sha:
Aneckl
aceofmi
newasl
ostatAl
-Bai
da'
andwewer
eonourwayt
oMedi
na.

ThePr
ophetmadehi
scamel
kneel
downanddi
smount
edandl
aidhi
sheadonmyl
apandsl
ept
.

AbuBakrcamet
omeandhi
tmev
iol
ent
lyont
hechestandsai
d,"
Youhav
edet
ainedt
hepeopl
e

becauseofaneckl
ace.
"..
.(Bukhar
i:v
ol.6,
bk.60,
no.132,
Khan)

Muhammad'
scompani
onsbeatt
hei
rownwi
ves.

I
yasb.Abdul
l
ahr
epor
tedGod'
smessengerassay
ing,
"DonotbeatGod'
shandmai
dens;
"but

when`Umarcamet oGod'smessengerandsai
d,"Thewomenhav
ebecome
emboldenedtowar
dst
heirhusbands,
"hegavel
icencet
obeatt
hem.Thenmanywomenwent
roundGod's
messenger
'sf
ami
l
ycompl
aini
ngoft
hei
rhusbands,
andhesai
d,"
Manywomenhav
egone

ar
oundcompl
aini
ngoft
hei
rhusbands.Thosear
enott
hebestamongy
ou.
"AbuDawud,
Ibn

Maj
ah,
andDar
imi
transmi
tt
edi
t.(
MishkatAl
-Masabi
h:v
ol.2,
p.692)

I
ntheQur
'anMuhammadcommandedt
hatbeat
ingwaspar
toft
hepr
ocessf
orcont
rol
l
inga

r
ebel
l
iouswi
fe.

Andt
hose(
wiv
es)y
ouf
earmayber
ebel
l
iousadmoni
sh;
bani
sht
hem t
othei
rcouches,
andbeat

t
hem.(
Qur
'an4:
34,
Arber
ry)

`
Umarr
epor
tedt
hePr
ophetassay
ing,
"Amanwi
l
lnotbeaskedaboutwhyhebeathi
swi
fe.
"

AbuDawudandI
bnMaj
aht
ransmi
tt
edi
t.(
MishkatAl
-Masabi
h:v
ol.2,
p.693)

Awomanhast
her
ightnott
obehi
tint
hef
ace.

Haki
m b.Mu`
awi
yaal
-Qushai
riquot
edhi
sfat
herast
ell
i
ngt
hatheasked,
"MessengerofGod,

whatr
ightcananywi
fedemandofherhusband?
"Her
epl
i
ed,
"Thaty
oushoul
dgi
veherf
ood

t
oeat
,cl
otheherwheny
oucl
othey
our
sel
f,notst
ri
keheront
hef
ace,
anddonotr
evi
l
eheror
seper
atef
rom herexcepti
nthehouse.
"Ahmad,
AbuDawudandI
bnMaj
aht
ransmi
tt
edi
t.

(
MishkatAl
-Masabi
h:v
ol.2,
p.691)

Thehusband'
sri
ghtt
obeathi
swi
fei
sShar
iahl
awi
nev
eryschool
ofI
slam.

appendi
xonbeatHer
eisev
eryot
heruseoft
hewor
dint
hei
mper
ati
ve2:
60,
2:73,
4:34,
7:160,

8:
12,
18:
32,
18:
45,
20:
77,
26:
63,
36:
13,
38:
44Vol
ume6,
Book60,
Number466:
Nar
rat
ed

Abdul
l
ahbi
nZama:
Thathehear
dthePr
ophetdel
i
ver
ingaser
mon,
andhement
ionedt
he

shecamel
andt
heonewhohamst
rungi
t.Al
l
ah'
sApost
ler
eci
ted:
--'
When,
themostwi
ckedman

amongt
hem wentf
ort
h(t
ohamst
rungt
heshe-
camel
).
'(91.
12.
)Thenhesai
d,"
Atoughman

whoseequal
wasr
areandwhoenj
oyedt
hepr
otect
ionofhi
speopl
e,l
i
keAbi
Zamawentf
ort
h

t
o(hamst
rung)i
t.
"ThePr
ophett
henment
ionedaboutt
hewomen(
inhi
sser
mon)
."I
tisnot

wi
sef
orany
oneofy
out
olashhi
swi
fel
i
keasl
ave,
forhemi
ghtsl
eepwi
thhert
hesame

ev
eni
ng.
"Thenheadv
isedt
hem nott
olaughwhensomebodybr
eakswi
ndandsai
d,"
Why
shoul
dany
bodyl
aughatwhathehi
msel
fdoes?
"

SATI
SFYI
NGTHEMAN'
SSEXUALDESI
RES

TheQur
'an,
speaki
ngf
igur
ati
vel
yaboutsex,
say
sofwomen:

Womenar
eyourf
iel
ds:
go,
then,
int
oyourf
iel
dswhencey
oupl
ease.(
Qur
'an2:
223,
Dawood)

Muhammadgav
est
rongwar
ningst
owomenwhowoul
dnotaccommodat
ethei
rhusband'
sor

mast
er'
sdesi
re.

Tal
qb.`
Ali
repor
tedGod'
smessengerassay
ing,
"Whenamancal
l
shi
swi
fet
osat
isf
yhi
s

desi
reshemustgot
ohi
m ev
eni
fshei
soccupi
edatt
heov
en.
"Ti
rmi
dhi
transmi
tt
edi
t.(
Mishkat

Al
-Masabi
h:v
ol.2,
p.691)

Nar
rat
edAbuHur
air
a:ThePr
ophet(
p.)sai
d,"
ifamani
nvi
teshi
swi
fet
osl
eepwi
thhi
m an

sher
efusest
ocomet
ohi
m,t
henangel
ssendt
hei
rcur
sesonhert
il
lmor
ning.
"(Bukhar
i:v
ol.7,

bk.62,
no.121,
Khan)
FIRSTEDI
TION

51
TheMusl
i
m mal
eisal
l
owedmul
ti
plewi
vesandanunl
i
mit
ednumberofsl
avegi
rl
s:

Andt
hose(
men)whopr
eser
vet
hei
rchast
it
ySav
ewi
tht
hei
rwi
vesandt
hosewhom t
hei
rri
ght

handspossess,
fort
hust
heyar
enotbl
amewor
thy
.(Qur
'an70:
29-
30,
Pickt
hal
l
)

Howev
er,
whi
l
eMuhammadhadmanywi
vesandsl
avesgi
rl
s,andt
aughtt
hisi
ntheQur
'an,
he

woul
donl
yal
l
owhi
sson-
in-
law,
Ali
,tohav
eonewi
fe.Why
?BecauseAl
iwasmar
ri
edt
o

Muhammad'
sdaught
er,
Fat
ima.

Nar
rat
edAl
-Mi
swarbi
nMakhr
ama:
Ihear
dAl
l
ah'
sApost
lewhowasont
hepul
pit
,say
ing,

"
BanuHi
sham bi
nAl
-Mughi
rahav
erequest
edmet
oal
l
owt
hem t
omar
ryt
hei
rdaught
ert
oAl
i

bi
nAbuTal
i
b,butIdon'
tgi
veper
missi
on,
andwi
l
lnotgi
veper
missi
onunl
ess'
Ali
binAbi

Tal
i
bdi
vor
cesmydaught
eri
nor
dert
omar
ryt
hei
rdaught
er,
becauseFat
imai
sapar
tofmy

body
,andIhat
ewhatshehat
est
osee,
andwhathur
tsher
,hur
tsme.
"(Bukhar
i:v
ol.7,
bk.62,

no.157,
Khan)
Whathy
pocr
isy
!

Pol
ygamyi
sfundament
all
ydi
ff
erentt
omonogamy
.Inamonogamousmar
ri
aget
hemanand

womenbot
hpr
omi
set
obesexual
l
yfai
thf
ult
oeachot
herandt
obi
ndt
hemsel
vest
oeachot
her

al
one.Howev
er,
inapol
ygamousmar
ri
ageonl
ythewomani
sboundt
othemanandmustbe

sexual
l
yfai
thf
ult
ohi
m.Themani
sfr
eet
okeepl
ooki
ngf
orot
herwomen.Pol
ygamy

compl
etel
ychangest
hewayamant
hinksaboutwomenandwhati
tmeanst
obef
ait
hful
to

t
hem.

I
slam i
spol
ygamousandmonogamousSomesayt
hatt
hepol
ygamywasonl
yforacer
tai
n

si
tuat
ionoft
oomanywomenbutpar
adi
sehaspol
ygamy
.Musl
i
msmenuset
hepr
omi
seof

pol
ygamyt
oent
icement
oembr
aceI
slam

ht
tp:
//www.
abc.
net
.au/
pm/
cont
ent
/2008/
s2422121.
htm pol
ygamy-f
indv
erseondonotdeny

whatAl
l
ahhasnotl
awf
ul.66:
1Amani
sal
l
owedt
ohav
eot
herwomenandMusl
i
m menknow

t
hatt
heyar
eal
l
owedt
his.Muhammadnev
erst
oppedl
ooki
ngf
ornewwi
ves.Anyat
tract
ive
womanhet
ook.(
Hadi
thsf
rom I
bnSa'
daboutMuhammadl
i
kingwomenandper
fume)Hei
sa

badexampl
eforus.Pol
ygamyi
saman'
sri
ghti
nIsl
am,
33:
50,
66:
1Pol
ygamyi
snat
ural
;

womenwantonemanandmenwantmany
.Butdowomenwantt
hei
rmant
ohav
emany
?None

ofMuhammad'
swi
vesexpect
edMuhammadt
obef
ait
hful
tot
hem al
one.ManyMusl
i
msmay

choosenott
opr
act
icepol
ygamybutt
heQur
'anandSunnahdot
eachi
t.66:
1say
sthaty
ounot

denywhatAl
l
ahhasmadel
awf
ulandi
nthecont
extt
hisr
efer
stopol
ygamy
.Thi
sdoesnot

honourwomen.Muhammaddoeshonourwomenbydoi
ngt
his,
thi
sisnotgoodgui
dance

Vol
ume7,
Book62,
Number7:
Nar
rat
edSai
dbi
nJubai
r:I
bn'
Abbasaskedme,
"Ar
eyou

mar
ri
ed?
"Ir
epl
i
ed,
"No.
"Hesai
d,"
Mar
ry,
fort
hebestper
sonoft
his(
Musl
i
m)nat
ion(
i.
e.,

Muhammad)ofal
lot
herMusl
i
ms,
hadt
hel
argestnumberofwi
ves.
"

MUHAMMAD'
SADVI
CEFORMARRI
AGEchi
l
dbr
ides

Nar
rat
edJabi
rbi
n'Abdul
l
ah:
WhenIgotmar
ri
ed,
All
ah'
sApost
lesai
dtome,
"Whatt
ypeof
l
adyhav
eyoumar
ri
ed?
"Ir
epl
i
ed,
"Ihav
emar
ri
edamat
ron'
Hesai
d,"
Why
,don'
tyouhav
ea

l
i
kingf
ort
hev
irgi
nsandf
orf
ondl
i
ngt
hem?
"Jabi
ral
sosai
d:Al
l
ah'
sApost
lesai
d,"
Whydi
dn'
t

y
oumar
ryay
ounggi
rlsot
haty
oumi
ghtpl
aywi
thherandshewi
thy
ou?
'(Bukhar
i:v
ol.7,
bk.

62,
no.17,Khan)
NOTESONTHEISLAMICRELI
GIONCOMPI
LEDBYREDEEMERMOYOFORTHE
FAMILYANDRELIGI
OUSSTUDI
ESA’LEVELSYLLABUS.

FI
RSTEDI
TION

52

Thi
sisav
erydi
stur
bingst
atementbyMuhammad.Don'
tj
usti
gnor
eitormakeexcusesf
or

hi
m;i
tisMuhammadhi
msel
fwhosay
sthathehasapr
efer
encef
ory
ounggi
rl
s.Andt
hisi
s

whathedi
dwhenhewas52y
ear
sol
d.

Nar
rat
edHi
sham'
sfat
her
:Khadi
j
adi
edt
hreey
ear
sbef
oret
hePr
ophetdepar
tedt
oMedi
na.He

st
ayedt
her
efort
woy
ear
sorsoandt
henhemar
ri
ed'
Aishawhenshewasagi
rlofsi
xyear
sof

age,
andheconsumedt
hatmar
ri
agewhenshewasni
ney
ear
sol
d.(
Bukhar
i:v
ol.5,
bk.58,
no.

236,
Khan)
Youmaysayt
hatMuhammad'
ssexual
rel
ati
onshi
pwi
tha9y
earol
dgi
rlwhenhewas52was

j
ustpar
toft
hecul
tur
eoft
hatt
ime.I
tmayhav
ebeenpar
toft
hecul
tur
e,butt
hisi
snott
he

r
easont
hatMuhammadgi
ves.Hesai
ditwasAl
l
ahwhor
eveal
edandj
ust
if
iedt
hisr
elat
ionshi
p:

Nar
rat
ed'
Aisha:
Thatt
hePr
ophetsai
dtoher
,"Youhav
ebeenshownt
omet
wicei
nmydr
eam.

Isawy
oupi
ctur
edonapi
eceofsi
l
kandsome-
onesai
d(t
ome)
.'Thi
sisy
ourwi
fe.
'WhenI

uncov
eredt
hepi
ctur
e,Isawt
hati
twasy
our
s.Isai
d,'
I
fthi
sisf
rom Al
l
ah,
itwi
l
lbedone.
"

(
Bukhar
i:v
ol.5,
bk.58,
no.235,
Khan)

Muhammadact
ionsar
emor
ethanj
ustcul
tur
al;
theyar
ebel
i
evedt
obet
her
evel
ati
onoft
he

per
fectMusl
i
mli
fe;
theyar
ethebasi
sofI
slami
clawandat
ti
tudet
omar
ri
age.Thi
siswhy

I
mam Bukhar
iincl
udedt
hem i
nhi
scol
l
ect
ion.Thi
swast
hechar
act
erofMuhammadandpar
t

oft
hewayt
hator
thodoxI
slam t
reat
swomen.

Sur
ah2:
228,
chi
l
dbr
ide
ABDUCTI
NGAWOMANFORMARRI
AGE

Bukhar
i:Vol
ume9,
Book86,
Number100:
Nar
rat
edAbuHar
air
a:Al
l
ah'
sApost
lesai
d,"
A

l
adysl
aveshoul
dnotbegi
veni
nmar
ri
ageunt
ilshei
sconsul
ted,
andav
irgi
nshoul
dnotbe

gi
veni
nmar
ri
ageunt
ilherper
missi
oni
sgr
ant
ed.
"Thepeopl
esai
d,"
Howwi
l
lsheexpr
essher

per
missi
on?
"ThePr
ophetsai
d,"
Bykeepi
ngsi
l
ent(
whenaskedherconsent
).
"Somepeopl
e

sai
d,"
Ifaman,
bypl
ayi
ngat
ri
ck,
present
stwof
alsewi
tnessesbef
oret
hej
udget
otest
if
ythat

hehasmarr
iedamat
ronwi
thherconsentandt
hej
udgeconf
ir
mshi
smar
ri
age,
andt
he
husband

i
ssur
ethathehasnev
ermar
ri
edher(
bef
ore)
,thensuchamar
ri
agewi
l
lbeconsi
der
edasal
egal

oneandhemayl
i
vewi
thherashusband.
"--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
-

-
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--Bukhar
i:Vol
ume9,
Book86,
Number101:
Nar
rat
ed'
Aisha:
All
ah'
sApost
le

sai
d,"
Iti
sessent
ial
tohav
etheconsentofav
irgi
n(f
ort
hemar
ri
age)
.Isai
d,"
Avi
rgi
nfeel
s

shy
."ThePr
ophet
;sai
d,"
Hersi
l
encemeansherconsent
."Somepeopl
esai
d,"
Ifamanf
all
sin

l
ovewi
thanor
phansl
avegi
rlorav
irgi
nandsher
efuses(
him)andt
henhemakesat
ri
ckby
br
ingi
ngt
wof
alsewi
tnessest
otest
if
ythathehasmar
ri
edher
,andt
hensheat
tai
nst
heageof

puber
tyandagr
eest
omar
ryhi
m andt
hej
udgeaccept
sthef
alsewi
tnessandt
hehusband
knows

t
hatt
hewi
tnesseswer
efal
seones,
hemayconsummat
ehi
smar
ri
age.
"

DI
VORCE

Easy

TEMPORARYMARRIAGESNOTESONTHEISLAMICRELI
GIONCOMPI
LEDBYREDEEMERMOYO
FORTHEFAMILYANDRELIGI
OUSSTUDI
ESA’LEVELSYLLABUS.

FI
RSTEDI
TION

53

Vol
ume6,
Book60,
Number139:
Nar
rat
edAbdul
l
ah:
Weusedt
opar
ti
cipat
eint
hehol
ywar
s

car
ri
edonbyt
hePr
ophetandwehadnowomen(
wiv
es)wi
thus.Sowesai
d(t
othePr
ophet)
.

"
Shal
lwecast
rat
eour
sel
ves?
"Butt
hePr
ophetf
orbadeust
odot
hatandt
hencef
ort
hheal
l
owed

ust
omar
ryawoman(
tempor
ari
l
y)bygi
vi
ngherev
enagar
ment
,andt
henher
eci
ted:
"Oy
ou
whobel
i
eve!Donotmakeunl
awf
ult
hegoodt
hingswhi
chAl
l
ahhasmadel
awf
ulf
ory
ou.
"

f
indot
herhadi
thssay
ingnott
odoi
t.Howi
sthi
sdi
ff
erentf
rom pr
ost
it
uti
on.I
stheWestr
eal
l
y

decadentorj
usthonest
.

CI
RCUMCI
SION

TheQur
'annev
erment
ionsci
rcumci
sion.Thepr
act
iceofmal
eorf
emal
eci
rcumci
sioncomes

f
rom t
heHadi
th,
Shar
iahandt
heconsensusofI
slami
ccommuni
ti
es.

TheHadi
th

Nar
rat
edUmm At
iyy
ahal
-Ansar
iyy
ah:
Awomanusedt
oper
for
m ci
rcumci
sioni
nMedi
na.The

Pr
ophet(
peace_
be_
upon_
him)sai
dtoher
:Donotcutsev
erel
yast
hati
sbet
terf
orawoman

andmor
edesi
rabl
eforahusband.(
Abu-
Dawud:
bk.41,
no.5251,
Hasan)

TheShar
iah

Thef
oll
owi
ngr
efer
encet
oShar
iahcomesf
rom Ahmadi
bnNaqi
bal
-Mi
sri
,Rel
i
anceoft
he
Tr
avel
l
er-ACl
assi
cManual
ofI
slami
cSacr
edLaw.Thi
sbookcomeswi
tht
heappr
oval
al-

AzharUni
ver
sit
y.

Ar
abi
cTextAst
ransl
atedi
nthebookWhatt
heAr
abi
c

act
ual
l
ysay
s

e4.
3Ci
rcumci
sioni
s

obl
i
gat
ory(
O:f
orbot
h

menandwomen.Formen

i
sconsi
stsofr
emov
ingt
he

pr
epucef
rom t
hepeni
s,

andf
orwomen,
remov
ing

t
hepr
epuce(
Ar.bazr
)of

t
hecl
i
tor
is(
n:nott
he

cl
i
tor
isi
tsel
f,assome
mi
stakenl
yasser
t).(
A:

Hanbal
i
shol
dthat

ci
rcumci
sionofwomeni
s

notobl
i
gat
orybutsunna,

whi
l
eHanaf
isconsi
deri
ta

mer
ecour
tesyt
othe

husband.
)(p.59)

Ci
rcumci
sioni
s

obl
i
gat
ory(
forev
ery

mal
eandf
emal
e)by

cut
ti
ngof
fthepi
ece

ofski
nont
hegl
ans
oft
hepeni
soft
he

mal
e,but

ci
rcumci
sionoft
he

f
emal
eisbycut
ti
ng

outt
hecl
i
tor
is(
thi
sis

cal
l
edkhuf
aad)
.

I
tisi
nter
est
ingt
onot
icehowt
hist
ransl
atorhassof
tenedt
heAr
abi
ctomakei
tmor
eaccept
abl
e

t
oaWest
ernr
eader
.Howev
er,
thef
actr
emai
nst
hatf
emal
eci
rcumci
sioni
sShar
iahl
awf
or

sever
aloft
hemai
nSunni
school
s.NOTESONTHEISLAMI
CRELIGI
ONCOMPI LEDBY
REDEEMERMOYOFORTHEFAMI LYANDRELIGI
OUSSTUDIESA’
LEVELSYLLABUS.

FI
RSTEDI
TION

54

Femal
eci
rcumci
sioni
spr
act
icedi
nmanyI
slami
ccount
ri
es,
forexampl
e,Egpy
t,Sudan,
Iraq

andSomal
i
a.
Hemadei
tal
awt
hatt
heybeci
rcumci
sedandt
hewomen,
too,
andheor
der
edt
hem nott
okeep

t
heSabbat
handnott
obebapt
ized.

ht
tp:
//www.
tr
ueor
thodoxy
.or
g/non_
chr
ist
ian_
isl
am_
stj
ohndamascus_
fount
ain_
knowl
edge.
sht

ml
Addt
hehadi
thaboutci
rcumci
sionf
rom bukhar
iandshowhowi
tdoesnotspeci
fymenor

womenandt
hatwomenhav
etodowhatt
heycan.compar
etoBi
blewhi
chsay
sonl
ymal
e.

BEI
NGRECOGNI
SEDI
NPUBLI
C

Theheadcov
eri
ngi
ssot
hatwomencannotber
ecogni
sed.Fi
ndv
erseandhadi
th.Nopubl
i
c

i
dent
it
y.ht
tp:
//www.
ji
hadwat
ch.
org/
2007/
05/
al-
azhar
-f
atwa-
on-
adul
t-
suckl
i
ng.
html
Musl
i
m

3425

MENTALCAPACI
TY

TheQur
'ansay
sthatt
het
est
imonyofawomani
snotequal
tot
hatofaman.I
tsay
sthatt
he

t
est
imonyoft
wowomeni
srequi
redt
obeequal
tot
het
est
imonyofoneman.
Cal
li
ntwomal
ewi
tnessesf
rom amongy
ou,
buti
ftwomencannotbef
ound,
thenoneman

andt
wowomenwhom y
ouj
udgef
itt
oactaswi
tnesses.(
Qur
'an2:
282,
Dawood)

Whyi
sitt
hatt
het
est
imonyofawomani
sonl
ywor
thhal
fthatofaman?Muhammadexpl
ains

i
nthef
oll
owi
nghadi
th.

Nar
rat
edAbuSai
dAl
-Khudr
i:ThePr
ophetsai
d,"
Isn'
tthewi
tnessofawomenequal
tohal
f

t
hatofaman?
"Thewomensai
d"y
es"
.Hesai
d"Thi
sisbecauseoft
hedef
ici
encyoft
he

women'
smi
nd.
"(Bukhar
i:v
ol.3,
bk.48,
no.826,
Khan)

Vol
ume9,
Book88,
Number219:
Nar
rat
edAbuBakr
a:Dur
ingt
hebat
tl
eofAl
-Jamal
,Al
l
ah

benef
it
edmewi
thaWor
d(Ihear
dfr
om t
hePr
ophet
).Whent
hePr
ophethear
dthenewst
hat

t
hepeopl
eoft
hePer
siahadmadet
hedaught
erofKhosr
aut
hei
rQueen(
rul
er)
,hesai
d,"
Nev
er

wi
l
lsucceedsuchanat
ionasmakesawomant
hei
rrul
er.
"

BEAUTYTREATMENT

Vol
ume6,
Book60,
Number408:
Nar
rat
edAl
qama:
'Abdul
l
ah(
binMasud)sai
d."
All
ahcur
ses
t
hosel
adi
eswhopr
act
icet
att
ooi
ngandt
hosewhogett
hemsel
vest
att
ooed,
andt
hosel
adi
es

whor
emov
ethehai
rfr
om t
hei
rfacesandt
hosewhomakear
ti
fi
cial
spacesbet
weent
hei
rteet
h

i
nor
dert
olookmor
ebeaut
if
ulwher
ebyt
heychangeAl
l
ah'
scr
eat
ion.
"Hi
ssay
ingr
eacheda

l
adyf
rom Bani
Asdcal
l
edUm Yaqubwhocame(
toAbdul
l
ah)andsai
d,"
Ihav
ecomet
oknow

t
haty
ouhav
ecur
sedsuch-
and-
such(
ladi
es)
?"Her
epl
i
ed,
"Whyshoul
dInotcur
set
hesewhom

Al
l
ah'
sApost
lehascur
sedandwhoar
e(cur
sed)i
nAl
l
ah'
sBook!
"Um Yaqubsai
d,"
Ihav
e

r
eadt
hewhol
eQur
an,
butIdi
dnotf
indi
nitwhaty
ousay
."Hesai
d,"
Ver
il
y,i
fyouhav
eread

i
t(i
.e.t
heQur
an)
,youhav
efoundi
t.Di
dn'
tyour
ead:
'Andwhat
soev
ert
heApost
legi
vesy
ou

t
akei
tandwhat
soev
erhef
orbi
dsy
ou,
youabst
ain(
from i
t)
.(59.
7)Sher
epl
i
ed,
"Yes,
Idi
d,"

Hesai
d,"
Ver
il
y,Al
l
ah'
sApost
lef
orbadesucht
hings.
""Shesai
d,"
ButIseey
ourwi
fedoi
ng

t
heset
hings?
"Hesai
d,"
Goandwat
chher
."Shewentandwat
chedherbutcoul
dnotsee

any
thi
ngi
nsuppor
tofherst
atement
.Ont
hathesai
d,"
Ifmywi
fewasasy
out
hought
,Iwoul
d
notkeepheri
nmycompany
."NOTESONTHEISLAMI
CRELIGI
ONCOMPI LEDBYREDEEMER
MOYOFORTHEFAMI LYANDRELIGIOUSSTUDI
ESA’
LEVELSYLLABUS.

FI
RSTEDI
TION

55

-
--
-Vol
ume6,
Book60,
Number409:
Nar
rat
edAbdul
l
ah(
binMus'
ud)
:Al
l
ah'
sApost
lehas

cur
sedt
hel
adywhousesf
alsehai
r.

WOMENAREUNCLEAN

Oy
ewhobel
i
eve!Dr
awnotnearunt
opr
ayerwheny
ear
edr
unken,
til
lyeknowt
hatwhi
chy
e

ut
ter
,norwheny
ear
epol
l
uted,
sav
ewhenj
our
ney
ingupont
her
oad,
til
lyehav
ebat
hed.And

i
fyebei
l
l,oronaj
our
ney
,oroneofy
oucomet
hfr
om t
hecl
oset
,ory
ehav
etouchedwomen,

andy
efi
ndnotwat
er,
thengot
ohi
ghcl
eansoi
landr
uby
ourf
acesandy
ourhands(
ther
ewi
th)
.

Lo!Al
l
ahi
sBeni
gn,
For
giv
ing.4:
43

THEREAREMOREWOMENI
NHELLANDLESSI
NHEAVEN

I
bnAbbasr
epor
tedt
hatAl
l
ah'
sMessengersai
d:Ihadachancet
olooki
ntopar
adi
seandI
f
oundt
hatmaj
ori
tyoft
hepeopl
ewaspoorandIl
ookedi
ntot
heFi
reandt
her
eIf
oundt
he

maj
ori
tyconst
it
utedbywomen.(
Musl
i
m:bk.36,
no.6596-
6601,
Siddi
qui
)

(
Muhammad)passedbyt
hewomenandsai
d,"
Owomen!Gi
veal
ms,
asIhav
eseent
hatt
he

maj
ori
tyoft
hedwel
l
ersofHel
l
-fi
rewer
eyou(
women)
."Theyasked,
"Whyi
sitso,
OAl
l
ah'
s

Apost
le?
"Her
epl
i
ed,
"Youcur
sef
requent
lyandar
eungr
atef
ult
oyourhusbands.Ihav
enot

seenany
onemor
edef
ici
enti
nint
ell
i
genceandr
eli
giont
hany
ou.Acaut
ioussensi
blemancoul
d

bel
edast
raybysomeofy
ou.
"Thewomenasked,
"OAl
l
ah'
sApost
le!Whati
sdef
ici
enti
nour

i
ntel
l
igenceandr
eli
gion?
"Hesai
d,"
Isnott
heev
idenceoft
wowomenequal
tot
hewi
tnessof

oneman?
"Theyr
epl
i
edi
ntheaf
fi
rmat
ive.Hesai
d,"
Thi
sist
hedef
ici
encyi
nheri
ntel
l
igence.

I
sn'
ti
ttr
uet
hatawomancannei
therpr
aynorf
astdur
inghermenses?
"Thewomenr
epl
i
edi
n

t
heaf
fi
rmat
ive.Hesai
d,"
Thi
sist
hedef
ici
encyi
nherr
eli
gion.
"(Bukhar
i:v
ol.1,
bk.6,
no.

301,
Khan)
WOMENHAVEACROOKEDNATURE

Nar
rat
edAbuHur
air
a:Al
l
ah'
sApost
lesai
d,"
Thewomani
sli
kear
ib;
ify
out
ryt
ost
rai
ght
en

her
,shewi
l
lbr
eak.Soi
fyouwantt
ogetbenef
itf
rom her
,dosowhi
l
eshest
il
lhassome

cr
ookedness.
"(Bukhar
i:v
ol.7,
bk.62,
no.113,
Khan)

CONCLUSI
ON

HasI
slam br
oughtl
i
ghti
ntot
hewor
ldandl
eadhumani
tyoutofi
gnor
ancer
egar
dingwomen?

I
sthehar
sht
reat
mentofwomeni
nIsl
ami
ccount
ri
esj
ustamat
terofcul
tur
eandnotr
eli
gion?

I
nor
dert
oanswert
hesequest
ionsy
oumustconsi
deral
lofwhatt
heQur
'anandHadi
tht
each

andnotj
ustasel
ectf
ewv
erses.Dr
.Badawi
,andI
slami
cwr
it
ersl
i
kehi
m,onl
ytel
lhal
fthe

t
rut
h.Theysel
ectr
efer
enceswhi
chmakeI
slam appearat
tract
ive.Ther
efer
encesIhav
e

pr
esent
edar
etheot
herhal
fofwhatI
slam t
eaches.Thi
steachi
ngbecomesi
mpor
tantt
oMusl
i
m

l
eader
snotwhent
heyar
epr
omot
ingI
slam butwhent
heyar
einpower
.

Concl
usi
on-I
tisnothar
dtof
indoutwhatt
heQurhadsay
.Ther
efor
ewhydoMusl
i
mssay
t
hisi
sthecul
tur
enotbook?Musl
i
msar
eindeni
alaboutwhatt
hequThecul
tur
eisv
eryof
ten

*
Womenpar
ti
cipat
ioni
npol
i
ticsi
nIsl
ami
crel
i
gion*

*
ProductofFRSVi
rt
ual
Class*

*
0774985698t
ojoi
n*

• *
Poli
ti
calparti
cipat
ionisawayt oful
fi
lone'
sr esponsi
bil
i
tyt
osociet
y.Takingpart
i
nthepoli
ti
calsyst
em canv ar
ies,fr
om v
oti
ngi
nelect
ions,t
oholdi
ngaposi
ti
onasalegisl
ator
oraj
udge,t
obeingaheadofst at
e.*

*
• Foreachoft
heser
olesI
slami
chi
stor
ypr
ovi
desmodel
sforwomen.
*

• Tr
adi
ti
onal
l
ypol
i
ticsl
i
kebusi
nessi
sthe"
spher
e"ofmen.I
npol
i
ticsnotonl
ythatmen

• aredominat
ingi
nnumber sbutalsoinoutlookauthori
tari
an,pr
ohi bi
toryandantagoni
sm.
Lastfewdecadeshaswi tnessedthatpol
it
icalpar
tici
pati
onhast akendiff
erentformsin
di
fferentcountri
esnotbecauseofchangesi nint
ernalpol
iti
calsyst
em, butalsoduetothe
i
nternationalsi
tuat
ionoveral
l
.
• Si
ncethewomenor ganizat
ionandf emini
stgroupshav
ebecomemor eandmoreaware
oftheimportanceoft
aki
ngpar tint
hepr ocessofdecisi
onmakingt
opr oceedinimpr
ovingt
he
social
conditi
onofwomen, t
heirparti
cipat
ioninpol
it
icshasdemonstr
atedasubstant
ial
amount
ofimaginat
ionandcreat
ivi
ty.

• Her
eiti
stobenot
edt
hatAl
l
ah,
hasnotspeci
fi
edanypar
ti
cul
arr
olef
oral
lmenoral
l
women.

• Thereisnothi
ngproposedorsuppor
tedi
nTheQur
'anasi
ngul
arr
oleorsol
edef
ini
ti
onof
asetofr
oles,
exclusi
vel
y,f
oreachgender.

• Hencethi
sletindiv
idualst
hefreewil
ltodecideontheirt
asksandr ol
esbestsuit
edt o
thei
rcir
cumstances.Thisoffcour
seispossiblebymaintai
ningfai
rnessandequali
tythrough
mutualconsul
tat
ion,compassion,contempl
ationandempat hybetweenthoseaff
ectedbyt he
deci
sion.
• Thispaperi
ntendst
odi scussandhighli
ghtt
hepol
iti
calpar
ti
cipat
ionandf emal
e
empowermentaswel last
hehi st
ori
calov
erviewofther
oleoffemaleparti
cipat
ionwit
hgender
per
spect
ivei
nI sl
am aswellaswomenpol it
ici
ansofPaki
stan,
real
iti
esandchoices.

*
Int
roduct
ion*

Soci
alr
esponsi
bil
i
tyi
nIsl
am i
sder
ivedf
rom t
heQur
'ani
cver
sewhi
chst
ates:
"And[
asf
or]t
he

bel
i
ever
s,bot
hmenandwomen-t
heyar
efr
iendsandpr
otect
orsofoneanot
her
:they[
all
]

enj
oint
hedoi
ngofwhati
sri
ghtandf
orbi
dthedoi
ngofwhati
swr
ong.
"(Qur
'anSur
ah

Tauba:
71)
.Thei
njunct
ionl
aiddowni
nthi
sver
secompel
swomenandment
oper
for
mfort
he

pr
ogr
essofsoci
ety
.Henceaper
soni
nani
ndi
vi
dual
capaci
tyi
sencour
agedt
otakeact
iver
ole

i
nsoci
etyr
athert
hanj
ustapassi
veone.Howev
erwhenweendeav
ourt
oasser
tour
sel
vesas

Musl
i
m womenwear
elabel
l
edofbei
ngi
nfl
uencedbyt
heWestandt
ryi
ngt
ocr
eat
edi
vi
sion

andput
ti
ngMusl
i
msandI
slam t
odi
sgr
ace.Womeni
nthepol
i
tical
per
spect
iveofPaki
stanar
e

notanexcept
ional
case.Al
thoughhi
stor
yrev
eal
sthemaj
orr
olepl
ayedbyt
hewomeni
nthe

pol
i
ticsofPaki
stan,andhav
epr
ovi
dedl
eader
shi
ponoccasi
on,t
hei
rlev
elofpar
ti
cipat
ion

cont
inuedt
obei
nadequat
e.Womenr
epr
esent
ati
vesar
eseeni
nsuccessi
veassembl
i
es,
butt
he

f
ewt hathavecopedt ogetther ear
efrom aver
ynarrowadv ant
agedsectionoft
hesociet
y.
Near
lymaj orit
yoft hem achi evethei
rconsti
tuencyi nheri
tedfrom family
.Regardl
essof
womenpol i
ticall
eaders'
rolesince1947,t
hewomenr epresentat
ionintheassembli
eshasnever
r
eachedadoubl efigur
e.Thequest ionher
eisthatwhywomengoesont obemarginal
i
zedin
t
hepol i
ti
caldevel
opment ,despitet
headopti
onofadul tauthori
zati
on.Theyhavebeen'gr
ant
ed'
17percentseatsatthefederalandprovinci
all
evel
sand33percentatt
helocalgover
nment,
butt hatdoesnoti mpl
yt heyar eont hesamef ooti
ngast hei
rmalecount
erpart
s.They
arer epeat
edl
yremindedthattheirf
reedomsaregrantedandendowmentsgi
ventothem byt
he
presentgover
nment.

*
Isl
ami
cPer
spect
ive*

Wit
htheadventofIsl
am womenweregi
venasayi
nelect
ingt
hei
rleader
.Thepr
ocessthr
ough
whi
chtheleaderofanIsl
ami
cStat
eisconf
ir
medbythepeopl
eisknownasBai'
ah,whi
chisa

sy
mbol
i
cagr
eementorbondbet
weent
hel
eaderandt
hepeopl
ewher
eint
hel
eaderpr
omi
sest
o

f
oll
owandobser
veI
slami
clawsandt
hepeopl
einr
etur
n,pr
omi
set
hei
rfai
thf
ulnesst
owar
ds

hi
m.Ther
efor
eBai
'
ahcanbeconsi
der
edt
heel
ect
ionoft
hel
eaderaswi
thouti
tthesupposed

l
eaderhasnol
egi
ti
macyandcannotper
for
m ast
heheadoft
hest
ate.

*
ProphetMuhammad*

(
pbuh)r
ecei
vedt
hebai
'
ahf
rom t
hepeopl
e.TheQur
'andeal
swi
tht
hei
ssueofwomengi
vi
ng

t
hebai
'
aht
oPr
ophetMuhammadandAl
l
aht
ell
sMuhammad(
pbuh)t
oacceptt
hepl
edgeof

t
hewomen: "OProphet!Whenev
erbel
i
ev i
ngwomencomeunt ot
heet
opledgethei
ral
l
egi
ance
t
othee.
..
thenacceptthei
rpl
edgeofal
legi
ance.
"(Qur
'anSur
ahal
Mumtahana:12)
I
nIsl
am t
her
eisnosuchpr
ovi
siont
hatwomencannotpar
ti
cipat
einpol
i
ticsandhol
dposi
ti
on.

Wedonotf
indanyv
ersei
ntheQur
anwhi
cht
hwar
tthewomenf
rom hol
dingposi
ti
onsof

l
eader
shi
p.Muchpr
opagat
edhadi
tht
hatt
hePr
ophetsai
d,`
Apeopl
ewhoent
rustpowert
oa

womanwi
l
lnev
erpr
osper
',
hasbeenshownt
obeunr
eli
abl
eonsev
eral
count
s.I
tisani
sol
ated

andunsuppor
tedoneandt
her
efor
enotbi
ndi
ngi
nIsl
ami
claw,
andi
naddi
ti
ont
her
eisr
eason

t
obel
i
evei
tmayhav
ebeenf
orgedi
nthecont
extoft
hebat
tl
e,whi
chA'
i
sha(
RAa)t
hePr
ophet
's

wi
dowl
edagai
nstt
hef
our
thKhal
i
fahAl
i(RA)
.Inv
iewoft
heexampl
essetbywomenr
uler
s

i
nhi
stor
y,i
tisal
socl
ear
lyf
lawedandf
alse.Thewor
dimam asusedi
ntheQur
'anmeansa

sour
ceofgui
dance(
e.g.Qur
'anSur
ahBaqar
a,2:
124)
.Theconnot
ati
oni
snotl
i
mit
edt
opr
ayer

onl
y.Thus,
thel
eadershoul
dhav
ewanabi
l
ityt
oleadandgui
det
hepeopl
eal
ongt
hepat
hof

I
slam.Thati
stosay
,thel
eadershoul
dfol
l
owt
het
eachi
ngsofI
slam i
nleader
shi
pandshoul
d

actasar
olemodel
.
Leadi
ngpr
ayeri
snotaobl
i
gat
orycr
it
eri
onf
orl
eader
shi
p,al
thoughi
tissy
mbol
i
cal
l
ypopul
ar.

Thus,
theassumpt
iont
hatt
hel
eadermustact
ual
l
yleadt
hepr
ayeri
snotact
ual
l
yrequi
red.The

Qur
'anspeaksf
avor
abl
yandposi
ti
vel
yoft
he*
QueenSaba*andt
hewaysheseekadv
icesf
rom

hercounsel
ors,
whodef
err
edt
ohergooddeci
siononhowt
odeal
wit
hthet
hreatofat
tackby

t
hemi
l
itar
yofSol
omon. She(
theQueenSaba)sai
d,`
O chi
efs,adv
isemer
egar
dingmy

si
tuat
ion;
Inev
erdeci
demat
terunt
ily
ouar
einmycompany
.'Theysai
d,`
Wear
ecar
ri
ersof

st
rengt
handpossessor
sofmi
ght
ycompet
ence,
andt
hecommandi
syour
s,soconsi
derwhat

y
ouwi
l
tcommand.
'Shesai
d,`
Sur
elyt
heki
ngs,
whent
heyent
erat
own,
rui
nitandmaket
he

nobl
estofi
tspeopl
etobel
ow.Andsur
elyIam goi
ngt
osendt
hem apr
esent
,andt
oseewhat

(
repl
y)t
hemessenger
sbr
ingback.
'Ther
ear
enosuchdemandsi
nIsl
ami
clawst
hat
r
efer

woment
oconf
inet
hemsel
vest
ohousehol
ddut
ies,
incont
rastwef
indear
lyMusl
i
m womeni
n

al
lwal
ksofl
i
fe.Thepr
imeexampl
eisHazr
atKhadi
j
a,t
hef
ir
stwi
feoft
hePr
ophet
,mot
herof

al
lhi
ssur
viv
ingchi
l
dren,
wasabusi
nesswomanwhohi
redhi
m asanempl
oyee,
andpr
oposed

mar
ri
aget
ohi
mthr
oughat
hir
dpar
ty.Womenwer
egi
vent
her
esponsi
bil
i
tyofr
unni
ngt
he

af
fai
rsoft
heSt
ate.Awoman-Shi
fabi
nt'
abdAl
l
ah-wasappoi
ntedcont
rol
l
eroft
hemar
ket

ofMadi
nahbyt
hePr
ophetandt
heKhal
i
fahUmar(
RA)
,notnor
mal
l
yknownf
orhi
s

br
oadmi
ndedat
ti
tudet
owomen,
reappoi
ntedher
,tosuper
viset
hemar
ket
.Hazr
atUmar(
RA)

usedt
otakeadv
icef
rom her
.Hazr
atUmar(
RA)al
soappoi
ntedHazr
atUmm Haki
m Bai
za,
whowast
hepat
ernal
auntofPr
ophetMuhammad(
PBUH)al
ear
nedwomen,
att
hepostof

Khi
l
afat
.Thecr
it
eri
onf
orl
eadi
ngpr
ayeri
sanabi
l
ityt
oreadt
heQur
an,
under
standi
ngoft
he

Qur
an,
andknowl
edgeoft
het
eachi
ngsofPr
ophetMuhammad(
Hadi
th,
Sahi
hofMusl
i
m).

Hencegenderormal
enesshasnot
hingtodowit
hthi
sobli
gati
on.or
eov
er,
Umm War
aqa,
an
Ansar
iwomanwhowaswel lver
sedintheQur
an,l
eadherpeopl
e

i
npr
ayer(
Hadi
th,
SunanofAbuDawud)
;(MusnadAhmedI
bnHanbal
).Quot
edf
rom Just
ice

Ami
rAl
i"Fol
l
owi
ngt
hef
oot
stepofUmmehWar
aqat
heKhal
i
faWal
i
dIIofBanuUmmai
ah

sentoneofhi
sKaneez(
slav
e)gi
vi
ngherhi
stur
ban,
tot
hemosqueofDamascusandor
der
ed

hert
oleadi
ntheJuma(
Fri
day
)Pr
ayer
.Att
hismosquet
her
ulerhadt
oleadt
heJumapr
ayer
.

Thi
sinci
denthappenedi
nthehi
stor
yofDamascusy
etnoObj
ect
ionf
rom anyquar
ter
;any

j
uri
sthascomei
ntol
i
ghtorr
epor
tedi
nthehi
stor
y.Hundr
edsandt
housandsoft
hemal
eatt
hat

t
imel
i
stenedt
heKhut
bah(
ser
mon)f
rom t
hewomanandf
oll
owedheri
nthepr
ayer
.Inaddi
ti
on

t
oUmm War
aqal
eadi
ngherf
ami
l
yinpr
ayer
,awomannamedGhazal
a,i
nthe7t
hcent
ury

A.
D.,
ledMusl
i
m menandwomeni
npr
ayer
.Notonl
ydi
dshel
eadMusl
i
m meni
npr
ayer
,she

r
eci
tedt
het
wol
ongestchapt
ersi
ntheQur
andur
ingt
hatpr
ayer(
manyt
radi
ti
onal
imamsdo

notacceptGhazal
aasl
egi
ti
mat
epr
ecedentbecauseshebel
ongedt
otheKhawar
ijschool
;

howev
er,
thi
sdoesnotnecessar
il
yinv
ali
dat
eheract
ions.

Womencanbeaheadoft
hest
ateaccor
dingt
otheI
mam Mal
i
k,I
mam Ti
bri
andI
mam Abu
Hani
fa.
"Women'
svi
ewswer
eof
tenl
i
stenedt
o,r
espect
ed,
andgener
all
ysuppor
ted,
byt
he

Pr
ophetascanber
epor
tedi
ntheHadi
thl
i
ter
atur
e.Att
het
imeofTr
eat
yofHuday
biawhent
he

Makkanswhomadeanagr
eementwi
thhi
mthatheandt
heMusl
i
mscoul
dret
urnt
hef
oll
owi
ng

y
earst
oppedt
hePr
ophet
'spi
l
gri
maget
oMakkah.Het
oldt
hepeopl
etoshav
ethei
rheadsand

of
fert
hei
rsacr
if
iceswher
etheywer
e,butt
heywer
erel
uct
antt
oobey
,soheaskedhi
swi
fe

Umm Sal
mah,
andsheadv
isedhi
mtol
eadt
hem bydoi
ngsohi
msel
f.Het
ookheradv
ice,
and

i
twor
ked."
Hazr
atAy
esha(
RAa)
,thef
ir
stwomanl
eaderofI
slam wasat
eacherofbot
hmen

andwomen.I
ntur
nherst
udent
s,bot
hgendert
aughtot
her
showt
ogov
ern,
howt
oor
gani
ze

Musl
i
m communi
ti
es,
andhowt
oar
rangeMusl
i
mfami
l
yandsoci
all
i
fe.Thegr
eatschol
arsof

hadi
thgott
hei
rlear
ningf
rom Ay
esha.TheNobl
ePr
ophetbor
ewi
tnesst
oHazr
atAy
esha'
s

i
ntel
l
ect,t
houghtful
ness,andrat
ional
approacht
oli
fe.Atat i
meofcri
sisshehadnohesitat
ion
i
ntakingovercommandoft heIslami
carmyanddir
ect i
ngiti
nthef
iel
dofbattl
e.Duri
ngpeace
t
imeshegav erel
igi
ousruli
ngsandhelpedthemostlearnedoft
heCompanionsoftheProphet

t
omakeadi
sti
nct
ionbet
weent
her
ightandt
hewr
ong.Al
ltheFi
qhandLawsofI
slam ar
e

r
elat
edt
oHazr
atAy
esha.I
tisaboutt
imet
hatMusl
i
msst
art
edr
emember
ingHazr
atAy
esha.

Womenpar
li
amentar
ianinPaki
stanThef emi
nizat
ionofpowerrequi
resbey
ondelecti
ngmore
woment
opubli
csector
.Whatonesolici
tednotthatthecandi
datei
sawoman, butrat
heri
fshe

i
spr
o-women.I
fwef
ocusonel
ect
ingj
ustwomen,
wemayendupr
ecr
uit
ingmor
ewomeni
n

of
fi
cebutnothav
ingv
oicef
orwomenanddoi
ngsamebusi
ness-
as-
usual
pol
i
tics,
whi
chi
sof

nouset
othewomenofourcount
ry.Af
teragr
eatwor
ldwi
dest
ruggl
e,womenmanagedt
owi
n

t
her
ightt
ovot
ebutt
hei
rexpect
ati
ont
hati
twoul
dinev
itabl
eleadt
owi
del
ywomen'
s

r
epr
esent
ati
onwasnotmet
.Inst
ead,
womenhav
etogoonboar
donanot
herext
ensi
veand

t
oughst
ruggl
etogetwomenr
epr
esent
ati
oni
npar
li
ament
.Maj
orpar
toft
hisst
ruggl
e
was

convi
nci
ngandmotiv
atingwomenv oter
stosupportwomencandidateasthei
rrepresent
ati
ves.
Almosti
never
ycountr
yar oundtheglobethety
picalchannel
sofaccesstonat
ionallegi
slat
ures
i
scenter
edonpoli
ti
calparti
es.Unfort
unatel
ywhenwomenCi tet
hisArti
cle:
DrFarhatNaz

Rahman&DrKi
ranMemon"
Pol
i
tical
Par
ti
cipat
ionofwomen:

WeberSoci
ology& Ant
hropol
ogyent
eredpar
li
ament
,thei
rst
ruggl
ebecomesf
arf
rom ov
er

asinpar
li
amentt
heyent
erthemaledominat
edsphereasitwaslongestabli
shed,
organi
zed,
runbymenworki
ngfort
hei
rvest
edinter
estandl
aunchprocedur
esfortheirownconveni
ence
hem WomeninParl
i
amentsTher
ewasnodel i
ber
ateconspir
acytoexcl
udewomen.I twasnot

ev
enani
ssue.Mostl
ong-
est
abl
i
shedpar
li
ament
swer
eapr
oductofpol
i
tical
processest
hat

wer
emal
e-domi
nat
edor
excl
usi
vel
ymal
e.

Subsequentl
egi
slatureswere,forthemostpart,model edont heseestabl
i
shed
assembli
es.I
nevitabl
y,t
hesemaledominatedor
ganizat
ionsrefl
ectcer
tainmal
ebiases,t
he
preci
sekindvar
yingbycountryandcul
tur
e.Unti
lrecent
ly,thi
s"i
nsti
tut
ional
masculi
nit
y"has
beenan

i
nvi
sibl
echar
act
eri
sti
cofl
egi
slat
ures;
itwasembedded,
per
vasi
veandt
akenf
orgr
ant
ed.Onl
y

r
ecent
lyhav
elegi
slat
ures'
mascul
i
nebi
asescomeunderscr
uti
ny.I
ndeed,
inmostcount
ri
es,
the

pol
i
tical
rol
eofwomeni
nlegi
slat
ureshasbecomeapubl
i
cissueonl
yint
hesecondhal
foft
he

t
went
iet
hcent
ury
.Today
,womenconst
it
ute11.
7percentofl
egi
slat
ivemember
swor
ldwi
de.

I
ntheNor
diccount
ri
es,
thei
rnumber
sar
ehi
ghestat36.
4percent
,whi
l
eint
heAr
abSt
ates
t
hei
rrepr
esent
ati
oni
sonl
y3.
3percent
.Onl
y14.
1per
centofr
epr
esent
ati
vesel
ect
edt
o

Par
li
ament
sar
oundt
hewor
ldar
ewomen,
upf
rom 11.
7in1997.Theper
cent
ageoff
emal
e

cabi
netmi
nist
erswor
ldwi
dehasr
isenf
rom 3i
n1987t
o6.
2per
centi
n1996.I
near
ly1995,

Swedenf
ormedt
hewor
ld'
sfi
rstcabi
nett
ohav
eequal
number
sofmenandwomen.Oft
he189

hi
ghest
-r
anki
ngdi
plomat
stot
heUni
tedNat
ions,
onl
yel
evenar
ewomen.

Al
mostnowomenser
vedont
hemi
l
itar
yst
affofUNpeacekeepi
ngbet
ween1957and1979.

I
n1993,
2per
centoft
hemi
l
itar
ycont
ingent
sofpeacekeepi
ngwer
ewomen.Thr
oughoutt
he

hi
stor
yofUNpeacekeepi
ng,
ther
ehav
ebeenonl
y2womeni
ntopdeci
sion-
maki
ngposi
ti
ons.

Womenconst
it
utehal
foft
heci
ti
zensi
nthi
scount
ry.Oppor
tuni
ti
esf
orwoment
obe

r
epr
esent
edi
npol
i
tical
bodi
esandt
oinf
luencepol
i
tical
mat
ter
sar
eani
mpor
tantpar
amet
erof

democr
acyandt
husani
ntegr
alaspectofpol
i
ticaldev
elopmentandt
hedemocr
ati
zat
ion

pr
ocess.I
ncr
easi
ngt
heact
ivepar
ti
cipat
ionofwomeni
npol
i
ticsandt
her
epr
esent
ati
on
of

womeni
nposi
ti
onsofpowerr
emai
nsacr
uci
alst
ept
owar
dsobt
aini
ngagenderbal
ancei
n

pol
i
tics.Onear
eai
nwhi
chwomenhav
egai
nedv
eryl
i
ttl
eaccessi
stheabsenceofwomeni
n

keyposi
ti
ons.Thef
atherofnat
ionQuai
d-e-
Azam MohammadAl
iJi
nnahwhof
oughtt
hecase

ofaseparat
estat
eont hebasisofI
slam st
rongl
yencour
agedandsuppor
tedwomen
par
ti
cipat
ioninpoli
ti
cs.FatimaJinnaht hesist
erofQuaidwhor emainedari
ghthandf
or
hi
m also
par
ti
ci
pat
edi
npol
i
ticsdur
ingPaki
stanmov
ementandaf
tert
heest
abl
i
shmentofPaki
stanas

wel
l
.Hei
sonr
ecor
dforsay
ingt
hatt
heemanci
pat
ionofMusl
i
m meni
snotpossi
bleunl
ess

Musl
i
m womenar
einv
olv
edi
nthi
sst
ruggl
easequal
par
tner
s.Whent
hemov
ementf
orcr
eat
ion

ofPaki
stangat
her
edmoment
um,
Musl
i
m womencameoutont
hest
reet
sandwer
eact
ivei
n

t
hedemonst
rat
ionsandagi
tat
ionst
hatt
ookpl
acef
ori
ndependence.I
n1940Mr
.Ji
nnah

announced,
"Womenar
esupposedt
ocr
eat
easenseofgener
alpol
i
tical
consci
ousness.They

shoul
dst
andshoul
dert
oshoul
derwi
thmeni
npr
act
ical
pol
i
tics.
"In1948,
int
hei
mmedi
ate

af
ter
mat
hofI
ndependence,t
wov
erydet
ermi
nedl
adymember
sofPaki
stan'
sConst
it
uent

Assembl
y,Begum Shai
staI
kram Ul
l
ahandBegum JahanAr
aShahnawaz,
managedt
oachi
eve

aphenomenal
lev
elofpol
i
tical
successf
ort
hewomenofPaki
stan.Thr
oughdedi
cat
edand

f
ocusedhar
dwor
k,t
heysucceededi
nget
ti
ngt
heMusl
i
m Per
sonal
LawofShar
iahpassedunder

whi
chwomenwer
egr
ant
edt
her
ightt
oinher
itpr
oper
ty,
incl
udi
ngagr
icul
tur
all
and.I
roni
cal
l
y,

i
nthehi
stor
yofPaki
stan,
nev
erev
erasi
ngl
ewomanr
epr
esent
edasachi
efmi
nist
erofanyof

t
hef
ourpr
ovi
nces.

Oncet
hewomanhol
dtheposi
ti
onoft
hegov
ernorofSi
ndhi
.e.Begum RanaLi
aqatAl
iKhan

butaf
tert
hatt
hisposi
ti
oni
sal
soaf
orbi
ddenf
rui
tforwomen.Womenar
egr
ant
edmi
nist
ri
es

ofeducat
ion,
soci
alwel
far
e,l
awandpopul
ati
onorot
herl
essi
mpor
tantdepar
tment
s.Theot
her

al
thoughther
ewasnoi ntent
ionalorpl
annedconspi
racyagai
nstwoment oexcl
udeorprohi
bit
mini
stri
esorcruci
alsectorsli
keindust
ri
es,economi
csandf i
nance,
heal
th,exci
seandtaxat
ion,

f
orei
gnandi
nter
ior
,homemi
nist
ri
es,
def
ence,
communi
cat
ion,
medi
a,et
car
est
il
lani
ght
mar
e

f
orwomenpar
li
ament
ari
ans.Themar
ti
alpowerofpr
ecedi
ngHeadMushar
rafhasgav
e
ext
remeadj
ust
ment
sinwomen'
soppor
tuni
tyt
ogov
ernment
alpar
ti
cipat
ioni
nPaki
stanabov
e

thel
astt
hreey
ear
s,chi
efl
yacr
osst
hei
ntr
oduct
ionofquot
asy
stems.Af
tert
henewi
nnat
e
power

ar
rangementwasgav
einPaki
stani
nAugust2001,
thousandsofwomenhadbeenel
ect
edt
o

t
hei
nnat
ebodi
esf
inear
tgr
assor
igi
nlev
elacr
osst
he33%keptchai
rsquot
aforwomen.

AsPPPi
nthei
rlastadmi
nist
rat
ionconcededt
hev
ital
por
tfol
i
ooft
henat
ionwi
deencount
er

t
alkert
othewomanandaddi
ti
onal
l
ythev
ital
andpr
ohi
bit
eddepar
tmentofext
ernal
mat
ter
s

wasgi
vent
othewomani
nPPPr
egi
me.Butsodi
stantt
hepostofChi
efJust
icei
ntheEl
evat
ed

orDomi
nantCour
tisy
etpr
ohi
bit
edf
rui
tforPaki
stani
woman.I
nSout
hAsi
a,t
hemaxi
mum

numberoff
emal
eleader
shasemer
ged.Benazi
rBhut
toofPaki
stan,
Indi
raGandhi
ofI
ndi
a,

Khal
i
daZi
aandHasi
naWaj
i
dofBangl
adeshandSi
ri
vamoBandr
anai
kaandChandr
ika

Kumar
atungaofSr
iLankaar
esomeoft
hemor
epr
omi
nentamongt
hem.Thegener
all
evel
of

pol
i
tical
par
ti
cipat
ionamongSout
hAsi
anwomendoesnotr
efl
ectasi
mil
art
rend.Pol
i
tical

par
ti
ci
pat
ioni
sof
tenl
i
mit
edbyconst
rai
ntsl
aidont
hei
rmobi
l
ityandr
olesbasedont
hesoci
o-
cul
tur
alper
cept
ions.Sout
hAsi
ahasbeensl
owi
npol
i
tical
empower
mentandr
epr
esent
ati
onof

i
tswomen(
Rust
agi
,2004)
.Concl
usi
onI
tiswi
del
ybel
i
evedt
hati
ncr
easi
ngt
henumberof

womeni
ndeci
sion-
maki
ngposi
ti
onswi
l
lleadt
oposi
ti
vechangesf
orwomenandsoci
ety
.

Howev
er,ev
ent
houghwomencanr
unf
orof
fi
cei
nmostcount
ri
es,t
hei
rpr
esencei
n

gov
ernmenti
sst
il
lver
ylow.

Onl
y24womenhav
ebeenel
ect
edheadsofst
ateorgov
ernmenti
nthi
scent
ury
.In1995t
her
e

wer
e10womenheadsofst
ate.Al
thoughwomen'
srepr
esent
ati
onatt
hehi
ghestl
evelof

gov
ernmenti
sgener
all
yweakesti
nAsi
a,f
ouroft
hese10hel
dof
fi
cei
nthi
sregi
on.Al
though

womenr
emai
nsi
gni
fi
cant
lyunder
-r
epr
esent
edi
ntoday
'spar
li
ament
s,womenar
enowl
ooki
ng

bey
ondt
henumber
stof
ocusonwhatt
heycanact
ual
l
ydowhi
l
einpar
li
amenthowt
heycan

makeani
mpact
,what
evert
hei
rnumber
smaybe.Theyar
elear
ningt
her
ulesoft
hegame,
and

usi
ngt
hisknowl
edgeandunder
standi
ngt
opr
omot
ewomen'
sissuesandconcer
nsf
rom i
nsi
de

t
hewor
ld'
slegi
slat
ures.I
nsodoi
ng,
theyar
enotonl
yincr
easi
ngt
hechancesoft
hei
rown

success,
butar
eal
sopav
ingt
hewayf
oranewgener
ati
onofwoment
oent
ert
hel
egi
slat
ive

pr
ocess.Howcanwomenmaxi
mizet
hei
rimpactont
hepol
i
tical
processt
hroughpar
li
ament
?
Whatst
rat
egi
esar
emostusef
uli
nincr
easi
ngt
hei
ref
fect
iveness?Whatl
essonscanwomen

MPsshar
ewi
tht
hoseaspi
ri
ngt
oent
ert
hef
iel
d?I
nwhatway
shav
ewomeni
mpact
ed
on

pol
i
tical
processes?Theact
ual
impactwomenpar
li
ament
ari
anscanmakewi
l
ldependona

numberofv
ari
abl
es,
incl
udi
ngt
hepol
i
tical
cont
exti
nwhi
cht
heassembl
yfunct
ions,
thet
ype

andnumberofwomenwhoar
einpar
li
ament
,andt
her
ulesoft
hepar
li
ament
arygame.Women

needt
obeaboutt
het
ransf
ormat
ionofpol
i
ticsasi
tiscur
rent
lyor
gani
zed,
tot
akepol
i
ticsov
er

i
nourowni
mageandourownv
oice.