Time to act on women's issues
By SAMAR FATANY | ARAB NEWS
Some are misinterpreting Islamic teachings to the detriment of weaker sex
The debate among scholars and the lack of Muslim consensus on Islamic teachings continues to slow the progress of women and delay the pace of reforms in many Muslim countries today.
Musawah, a Malaysian-based Muslim research project, has gathered enough evidence to prove that discrimination against women in Islamic countries does not accurately reflect the teachings of the Quran. The program calls on Muslim governments to integrate the perspectives of traditional Islam with those of contemporary human rights. It strives to integrate Islamic teachings, universal human rights, national constitutional guarantees of equality with the realities of men and women.
In Saudi Arabia, the social debate between religious scholars and reformers continues to address the current political and civil laws that are applied to govern the lives and roles of women in society. There are still many laws and regulations that discriminate against women based on the assumption that women are inferior; therefore, they should never be allowed to lead or hold public office or even have a say in decisions that affect their lives. These opinions are communicated and accepted nationwide through Friday sermons, religious teachings and schoolbooks.
Ideas and opinions about the role of women are expressed by daily columnists and writers of literature and frequently debated on talk shows. There are those who adhere to a rigid interpretation of Islam, and there are those progressive thinkers who dispute the discriminatory rulings against women in the name of Islam. Decision makers need to address the ambiguities in the teachings of the Ulema, and more efforts need to be made to influence religious change to empower women and recognize their rights.
The divergent opinions among modern scholars do not help, either. Many still cling to the inherited traditional role of women being confined to bearing children, cooking, washing and being totally obedient and subservient to the will of the husband. There are hard-liners who still regard women as intellectually, physically and morally inferior. The society remains male-dominated; men are given absolute power, and male intellectual structures form the basic framework for thought and action.
This situation is unacceptable in our present day and age. Women should not be kept in need of male domination in all aspects of life. We live in the 21st century, and the technological and industrial advancements have revolutionized our way of living. The world is moving at a very fast pace, and there are many challenges facing the average Saudi family; most obvious of all is the high cost of living. Economic necessities and social responsibilities toward our children dictate that the majority of mothers earn a living in order to provide for their families and share in the expenses to afford a life of dignity and comfort.
The traditional social role of women no longer applies to present-day society. The new image of a more modern Saudi woman capable, educated and a contributing member to her family and society at large should be encouraged and promoted in our textbooks and religious sermons.
Economists affirm that investment in women is the most effective means to eliminate poverty; however, the half-hear-ted approach toward the empowerment of women impedes progress and endangers the economic well being of out nation.
Women need more job opportunities and better wages to survive and support themselves and their families. When women suffer, whole families suffer. We need to bring harmony and justice to the Saudi family in order to build a progressive, healthy society. We need to bring stability to Saudi families and create a happy and less stressful environment in all Saudi homes
Social injustice against women requires appropriate and effective, codified Shariah laws so that all are aware of women's legal rights and so violators can held accountable for misdeeds.
THE way to reform begins with the will to amend laws, apply new national gender policies, and establish institutions to implement them. We must allow greater representation of women at all levels of government to address women's affairs and concerns.
Social activists and reformers should seek advice from global Muslim organizations, such as Musawah, and learn from their experience to implement the true teachings of Islam and influence change within Saudi society. At the same time, religious scholars need to discuss these concerns with the reformers and find mutual ground to move this country forward. Anyone who thinks these problems can be ignored without severe economic consequences to the nation is living in a fool's paradise and forcing the rest of us to share the accommodation.
It is truly regrettable that our own men, who should be wise in such matters of justice, need to be reminded it was time to end what could be described as misinterpreting the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the denial of the rights of their own mothers, wives, sisters and daughters. They need to be reminded of what the Prophet said: The best of you are those that are best to their women-folk, and I am the best amongst you to my family.
It is time for Saudi women to join hands with their sisters in Islam who seek to end discrimination against women and publicly reclaim Islam's spirit of justice for all.
Samar Fatany is a Jeddah-based broadcaster and author.
http://arabnews.com/opinion/columns/article456070.ece
By SAMAR FATANY | ARAB NEWS
Some are misinterpreting Islamic teachings to the detriment of weaker sex
The debate among scholars and the lack of Muslim consensus on Islamic teachings continues to slow the progress of women and delay the pace of reforms in many Muslim countries today.
Musawah, a Malaysian-based Muslim research project, has gathered enough evidence to prove that discrimination against women in Islamic countries does not accurately reflect the teachings of the Quran. The program calls on Muslim governments to integrate the perspectives of traditional Islam with those of contemporary human rights. It strives to integrate Islamic teachings, universal human rights, national constitutional guarantees of equality with the realities of men and women.
In Saudi Arabia, the social debate between religious scholars and reformers continues to address the current political and civil laws that are applied to govern the lives and roles of women in society. There are still many laws and regulations that discriminate against women based on the assumption that women are inferior; therefore, they should never be allowed to lead or hold public office or even have a say in decisions that affect their lives. These opinions are communicated and accepted nationwide through Friday sermons, religious teachings and schoolbooks.
Ideas and opinions about the role of women are expressed by daily columnists and writers of literature and frequently debated on talk shows. There are those who adhere to a rigid interpretation of Islam, and there are those progressive thinkers who dispute the discriminatory rulings against women in the name of Islam. Decision makers need to address the ambiguities in the teachings of the Ulema, and more efforts need to be made to influence religious change to empower women and recognize their rights.
The divergent opinions among modern scholars do not help, either. Many still cling to the inherited traditional role of women being confined to bearing children, cooking, washing and being totally obedient and subservient to the will of the husband. There are hard-liners who still regard women as intellectually, physically and morally inferior. The society remains male-dominated; men are given absolute power, and male intellectual structures form the basic framework for thought and action.
This situation is unacceptable in our present day and age. Women should not be kept in need of male domination in all aspects of life. We live in the 21st century, and the technological and industrial advancements have revolutionized our way of living. The world is moving at a very fast pace, and there are many challenges facing the average Saudi family; most obvious of all is the high cost of living. Economic necessities and social responsibilities toward our children dictate that the majority of mothers earn a living in order to provide for their families and share in the expenses to afford a life of dignity and comfort.
The traditional social role of women no longer applies to present-day society. The new image of a more modern Saudi woman capable, educated and a contributing member to her family and society at large should be encouraged and promoted in our textbooks and religious sermons.
Economists affirm that investment in women is the most effective means to eliminate poverty; however, the half-hear-ted approach toward the empowerment of women impedes progress and endangers the economic well being of out nation.
Women need more job opportunities and better wages to survive and support themselves and their families. When women suffer, whole families suffer. We need to bring harmony and justice to the Saudi family in order to build a progressive, healthy society. We need to bring stability to Saudi families and create a happy and less stressful environment in all Saudi homes
Social injustice against women requires appropriate and effective, codified Shariah laws so that all are aware of women's legal rights and so violators can held accountable for misdeeds.
THE way to reform begins with the will to amend laws, apply new national gender policies, and establish institutions to implement them. We must allow greater representation of women at all levels of government to address women's affairs and concerns.
Social activists and reformers should seek advice from global Muslim organizations, such as Musawah, and learn from their experience to implement the true teachings of Islam and influence change within Saudi society. At the same time, religious scholars need to discuss these concerns with the reformers and find mutual ground to move this country forward. Anyone who thinks these problems can be ignored without severe economic consequences to the nation is living in a fool's paradise and forcing the rest of us to share the accommodation.
It is truly regrettable that our own men, who should be wise in such matters of justice, need to be reminded it was time to end what could be described as misinterpreting the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the denial of the rights of their own mothers, wives, sisters and daughters. They need to be reminded of what the Prophet said: The best of you are those that are best to their women-folk, and I am the best amongst you to my family.
It is time for Saudi women to join hands with their sisters in Islam who seek to end discrimination against women and publicly reclaim Islam's spirit of justice for all.
Samar Fatany is a Jeddah-based broadcaster and author.
http://arabnews.com/opinion/columns/article456070.ece
