Of particular interest are the following two Hadith:
- Let no Muslim man entertain any bad feeling against a Muslim woman, and
- The best of believers are those who are best to their wives and families.
Nevertheless, violence against women is often justified by referring to some selected parts of the Quran which are taken out of context. Although it is true that adultery is not permitted by Islam, this does not only apply to women. Men are equally not supposed to have intimate relationships with a woman who is not their wife. In combination with the fact that violence against women is strongly condemned, there is no basis for imprisoning women who are victims of rape or domestic violence.
When reading the Quran, it is very clear that statements such as ‘women should not laugh out loud’, and ‘women should not be seen outside the house’ do not have a basis in Islam and must have been introduced at a later date, most likely as the result of a male dominant society. It is worth bearing in mind that modesty in behaviour and dress applies to both men and women.
Although the world generally believes women can be treated badly in Islam, there is more than enough proof that this is not the case. In addition, Muslim women have historically been fully involved in all aspects of society including business, politics and religion which in itself is a powerful tool in combating growing cultural sensitivities around women in the workplace[3].The question then is how to change this perception, and who would be responsible for doing this. Education and communication are key to change the rather distorted view on women’s rights in Islam. Women, whether Muslim or not, should not rely on men to come to this conclusion on their own, but should take matters in their own hands starting with themselves and their own families.
(Source: Nina Magazine)
