Misconceptions About Women Islam
The Misconceptions about Women in Islam
While people in the west think that women in Islam are oppressed, they do not know that Islam liberated women from oppression. There are many people who have opinions about the religion of Islam, but mostly about the women who follow it. Westerners have this idea that women in Islam are disrespected, mistreated and oppressed. In actuality, these allegations are incorrect. Women in Islam have rights and are not oppressed. The veil is widely misunderstood and many do not know what it represents. In many ways, men and women are equal as much as they are not; and this is in every religion. In Islam women are given many rights, such as owning properties, having an education, working, and marrying who she wants. In the Holy book, the Qu’ran, it explains that women are allowed to own inheritance or properties. However, it is less than, for instance, the brother of a woman, because when she marries she can combine her inheritance with her husbands. “…a male shall have as much as the share of two females; but if their be females only, numbering more than two, then they shall have two-thirds of what the deceased leave; and if there be one, she shall have half.” (4:12, Qu’ran). Having an education is very important to the religion of Islam; and Islam deeply encourages it. There are also a great deal of criticism about women and marriage and how she is forced to marry whoever the woman’s parents want but that is not true. In the Qu’ran it states in chapter 4 verse 20 that “It is not lawful for you to inherit women against their will, nor should you detain them wrongfully that you may take away part of that which you have given them,” The religion is on the side of a woman just as much as a man. John Esposito, a leading expert on Islam spoke to a wide range of audiences including members of the Congress, the Bush Administrator, government agencies, military, and the media. He wrote a book, Islam; What Everyone Needs to Know
While people in the west think that women in Islam are oppressed, they do not know that Islam liberated women from oppression. There are many people who have opinions about the religion of Islam, but mostly about the women who follow it. Westerners have this idea that women in Islam are disrespected, mistreated and oppressed. In actuality, these allegations are incorrect. Women in Islam have rights and are not oppressed. The veil is widely misunderstood and many do not know what it represents. In many ways, men and women are equal as much as they are not; and this is in every religion. In Islam women are given many rights, such as owning properties, having an education, working, and marrying who she wants. In the Holy book, the Qu’ran, it explains that women are allowed to own inheritance or properties. However, it is less than, for instance, the brother of a woman, because when she marries she can combine her inheritance with her husbands. “…a male shall have as much as the share of two females; but if their be females only, numbering more than two, then they shall have two-thirds of what the deceased leave; and if there be one, she shall have half.” (4:12, Qu’ran). Having an education is very important to the religion of Islam; and Islam deeply encourages it. There are also a great deal of criticism about women and marriage and how she is forced to marry whoever the woman’s parents want but that is not true. In the Qu’ran it states in chapter 4 verse 20 that “It is not lawful for you to inherit women against their will, nor should you detain them wrongfully that you may take away part of that which you have given them,” The religion is on the side of a woman just as much as a man. John Esposito, a leading expert on Islam spoke to a wide range of audiences including members of the Congress, the Bush Administrator, government agencies, military, and the media. He wrote a book, Islam; What Everyone Needs to Know
References: A. Timmerman, Christiane, (Oct 2000) Muslim Women and Nationalism: The Power of the Image. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a2h&AN=5098294&site=ehost-live B. Culture and the law in Islam Women Living Under Muslim Law. (Feb 95) http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a2h&AN=7620289&site=ehost-live C. Weinman, Latifa, (Mar/Apr94) Peace and freedom for women. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a2h&AN=9404131283&site=ehost-live D. Adamson, C. (2007, Winter). Gendered Anxieties: Islam, Women 's Rights, and Moral Hierarchy in Java. Anthropological Quarterly, 80(1), 5-37. Retrieved May 24, 2008, from Academic Search Alumni Edition database. E. Anway, Carol, L (Dec 95) Daughters Of Another Path: Experiences Of American Women Choosing Islam. Missouri: Yawna Publications. F. Hasan, Asma Gull (2000). American Muslims; The New Generation. New York. The Continuum International Publishing Group Inc. G. Esposito, John L (2002) Islam; What Everyone Should Know. New York. Oxford University Press Inc. H. Saheeh Internation ( 1997) The Qu’ran. Riyadh. Abdulqasim Publishing House.