Misconceptions of the Muslim Woman
Misconceptions of the Muslim Woman
One of the misconceptions of the Western world concerns the women in Islam, it has been projected by the media and others that the Muslim woman is a second class citizen put down and disrespected by the men, hidden by a burka/aabaya or covering so that no one will see her when she goes outside,uneducated and regulated to her house and abused by the husband or father.
I would like to answer these accusations one by one. First of all the covering that the Muslim women are wearing outside is in accordance with the command of Allah. Allah says in the Holy Quran, " O Prophet Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And God is Oft Forgiving, most Merciful." (chapter Al Ahzab verse59). This is both an act of obedience to Allah and an act of worship, it is also an act of protection.
In the Western world it is the women who are disrespected because of their dress which is reveling and tight. Because of this many men feel free to make vulgar remarks and feel free to touch a perfect stranger as she walks by minding her own business. It is also the number one cause of rape. Campus rape is the number one crime across colleges and universities the United States !! Men in prison for rape were asked what they looked for in the women they were going to rape. The consensus was accessibility!! In other words they said that they were looking for women who had on very short and scanty clothing. Since most dresses today are only inches away from their private parts one could not get more accessible. The other thing they look for are women who are wearing backpacks, shoulder bags, or had many things in there hands. Backpacks and shoulder bags make it easier for them to drag the women down. Also hair that was medium to long in length was ideal for dragging the women backwards. The Muslim woman who abides by the command of Allah is spared this unnecessary derogation. The body is not exposed to cause vulgar remarks and excitement in men nor is her hair a weapon against her. On the contrary the Muslim women's dress is a protection for her and men respect her for who she is...a Muslim woman who is a man's wife, mother or sister. Doors are opened for them and a respectful tone is used to them, they are treated like ladies by perfect strangers. Only those who are ignorant make snide remarks about "their covering, tent, or rags," thus exposing their own ignorance. So you see it is not because of the father or husband, the father or husband by insisting that the women or daughter cover herself only wants to protect her and doesn't wish to see her make a fool of herself like the Western women.
Secondly let us address the accusation that the Muslim women is uneducated not just uneducated but illiterate. First of all please be informed that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world today. This means the fastest growing religion in the United States , Britain , Italy , Germany etc,etc. Since 1950 to the year 2000 Islam has grown 253% while at the same time Christianity with all of its missionaries and money has only grown 54% in 50 years! (World Almanac and Book of Facts1992, U.S. News and World Report 1990, Encyclopedia Brittanica 1989) The women embracing Islam in the United States for instance have a higher rate of education then the men who are embracing Islam!! In other words the women have more Bachelors, Master's and PhD's then the men!!!! Ask yourself if women are that educated would they leave their present religion to embrace one that will make her a second class citizen? This is not unique to the United States alone but is being found in more and more countries even in Third world countries.
Thirdly, we will address the situation that Muslim women are regulated to their homes. Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessing be upon him) said that the best place for a woman is in her home. This is truer today than any other time in history. The women are segregated from men and not without reason. Who has not heard of the sexual harassment that abounds in the work place of non-Muslim society? Men, bosses and management expect sexual favors and demand such from women in order for advancement or just the fact to keep their jobs. Those who are brave enough to confront such a situation pay the price either immediately or in the future where it can be a determent for other jobs...the stigma follows her. This is found from the lowest paid position to those working in the White House.We are also very much aware of the many "office affairs" that abound, indiscretions, adultery, and fornication that seem to be the usual for office work place. The Muslim women are spared this humiliation and keeps her innocents when she lives a fulfilling life as a wife and mother.
Since the 1960's the media started to portray the "SUPER MOM." The perfect woman who was not only a mother but a working woman as well.The woman who chose to stay home and take care of her children and husband were made to feel like an insignificant parasite on society. Children and babies were now taken to Day Care Centers to be taken care of by strangers even to the point of exposing them to harm through abusive situations while "mom" could feel fulfilled. This is not a put down to the mother that out of necessity was forced to work. This "Super Mom" syndrome became an epidemic. Today the word Super Mom has been dropped it is now expected for the woman to work. The poor woman not only competes on a mans level but is paid in some cases 40% less then the man for the same job with the same amount of education. Is this equality? This poor woman must not only perform 8 hours of work outside the home but must still do all of the jobs that is expected of a wife and mother. In other words there is still the house to clean, the food to be ****ed, the laundry to be done, the P.T.A. meetings to attend, the children to be seen too and the husband to be cared for. Contrary to the misconception that men are helping out at home most of the home child care responsibilities fall on the woman, when the man is tired he either rest or goes out for a little recreation. The woman has been ensnared and entrapped and the many millions who would like to stay at home and be a housewife and mom are now regulated to the drudgery of working outside the home. It is expected that the young couples getting married today find that the woman will continue working and with the cost of living today it makes it almost impossible for her not too, to say nothing of the luxuries that they become accustomed too.
We see the price that has been paid through the breakdown of society. It is not without saying,"That the hand that rocks the cradle rules the nation." Two generations have now been raised on this women working outside of the house syndrome and the price has been paid when we see the child who have had to fend for themselves. Without a mother to come home to after school the children have been left to their own devises. Alcohol, drugs gangs and sexual experimentation as young as 5th and 6th grader has led to grave problems among youngsters and teens that doesn't go away but only increases as they get older."More children in the U.S. live in poverty, are neglected, abused or killed, become pregnant, commit suicide, lack health care, drop out of school, and are imprisoned than in any other industrialized western nation." (Child Welfare League of America , Washington D.C. )
The family values have only been dropping lower and lower until one is forced to say where are they? Still we find in all societies today Muslim women both professionals and non professionals holding down all types of jobs, while the best place is for her to be overlooking her home she is not forbidden to be a contributing part of society as long as it does not endanger her or go against her religion.
And lastly to address the situation of abuse. The companions of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) asked him to whom respect (not worship) was due after Allah. The Prophet answered, "Your mother." he was asked again and he said "Your mother," he was asked a third time and they were told,"Your mother and then your father." The woman in Islam is highly respected, in the farewell sermon of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) he exhorted the men to "Treat women kindly." In Islam it forbidden to slap anyone across the face even an animal. It is like wise forbidden to hit anyone hard enough to leave marks or bruses.Spousal abuse is not allowed in Islam nor is it a part of our religion. In the United States every 4 minutes a woman is abused, molested, and every 90 seconds rapped!!! And this in a country that prides itself as being Christian. A woman is beaten with either fists or a weapon that she must seek medical attention in the emergency room. These are only the reported ones perhaps neighbors who called the police. What about those not reported? Those women who are too ashamed, embarrassed or intimated? That means more then every hour 15 women have been abused. Violence against women in the United States is horrendous. 21,000 domestic crimes are reported every week!! 1.1 million assaults are committed against women in their home!! More than 2,000 women are raped every week!! And 90 women a week are murdered!! This is the kind of respect for women that is given outside of Islam.
These are the misunderstanding perpetuated by non Muslim, but as you can see it is not what our religion is or teaches. Those who are so ready to condemn without knowledge should inform themselves and look first at their own Western countries and their treatment of women.
By Khadija Watson
Misconceptions of the Muslim Woman 
موضوع: Misconceptions of the Muslim Woman 
