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Roman
Maria Florenzano
ISLAM; Womens Rights
Contents
Chapter 1: GENERALITY (INTRO) ............................................................... 2
ISLAM AROUND THE WORLD ............................................................... 2
Chapter 2.WOMEN IN ISLAM .................................................................... 4
JUSTICE AND THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN ................................................. 6
SEX IN ISLAM ......................................................................................... 9
THE RIGHT TO DIVORCE ...................................................................... 11
Conclusion:.............................................................................................. 16
Bibliography: ........................................................................................... 17
This day I have perfected your religion for you and completed my
favour to you. I have approved Islam to be your religion. (The
Quran, 5:3)
Islam is the third, that is, the most recent, of the worlds three great
monotheistic religions. Muhammad (Peace and Blessings upon Him
and his Descendants), the founding Prophet of Islam, was born in
Mecca on the Arabian Peninsula in 570 A.D.
This city is therefore considered sacred. Every Muslim, at some point
in his or her life, if at all possible, is expected to make the pilgrimage,
at least once. Muhammad (PBD) is considered to be the last of Gods
great prophets.
Islam is an attitude as much as a religion, voluntarily assumed, a
concept regarding the world and its Creator, and in effect represents
an acceptance of the practices considered relevant to its exercise. It is
a way of life maintained within a doctrine that assumes all aspects of
the human condition.
A Muslim is a person of the Islamic faith. The word originated in the
Arabic language, the feminine is Muslima, and in either case refers to
a faithful believer who submits or delivers himself (or herself) to
Gods will. Thus anyone who submits to God is considered a Muslim,
without fear of error. For this reason the prophets prior to
no way makes her equal to a man. To not decree and define her
particular rights is to commit an act of prejudice against her. Of
course a woman may serve in the military or accept another kind of
work as options, but only if it is her personal wish. Since a woman is
endowed with the gift of bringing new life into the world, her
pregnancy represents demands on her body and on her time, both
before and after the birth of her child, so should take into
consideration in order to define her rights.
The Prophet Muhammad (PBD) spoke regarding the condition and
worth of women during the gestation of a child:
equal as such, since they are two separate beings designed for
different purposes. Equality is not a synonym for justice.
Countless quotes exist, derived from Islamic Tradition, with regard to
justice, and the condemning of oppression, which
Extol the pedestal reserved in Islam for women, and the respect for
woman demanded of all the faithful.
The Prophet Muhammad (PBD) had this to say:
The Paradise is under the feet of mothers.
Women are like flowers, not treat them with violence.
I swear to God who chose me as a Prophet to be affectionate with her
mother for a night, is better than a year to fight the cause of God.
When a child is born, is a godsend. When a girl is born is a sign of
God's mercy for her family.
"In the period from pregnancy until stop breastfeeding, women have a
reward like that of guard for the sake of God protects the borders of
Islam, and if she dies in that time, she has the position of the martyr"
SEX IN ISLAM
Sexual relations are considered by Islam to conform to a biological
human necessity, and imply, in themselves, nothing evil, shameful or
wrong. A natural and reciprocal physical attraction is normal between
men and women. To be beautiful, or attractive, is Gods blessing.
Muhammad (PBD) spoke thus: Marriage is half of Religion.
By the same token, sexual relations are to be encouraged, and
marriage is considered not only acceptable but favourable. Sexual
relations should be confined to the framework of marital values, and
not be considered as a social or commercial value. A woman who
wears make-up and presents herself as attractive and sensual to her
husband, just as a man who keeps himself as attractive as possible for
his wife, have Gods blessing.
The Prophet Muhammad (PBD) spoke thus:
"And it is her duty (of the woman to her husband) that perfumes with
her best perfume, wear their best clothes and ornaments"
"The best of your women is the caste (to safeguard their modesty in
front of others) and earnest (with her husband)"
"That man tells a woman 'I love you' is something that will never
leave the heart of her"
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which the essential basis for marriage has for whatever reason
disintegrated.
When you have divorced women and they have reached the end of
their waiting period, either keep them in kindness or let them go with
kindness. But you shall not keep them, being harmful, in order to
transgress. Whoever does this wrong himself? Do not take the verses
of God in mockery. Remember the favor of God upon you, and what
he sent down to you from the book and wisdom to exhort you. Fear
God and know that he has knowledge of everything. (The Quran,
Trans. Dr.Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din Al-Hilali Al-Baqarah: 231)
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or widowhood occurs, only then, may she return to marry the original
husband. This prevents divorce from becoming a habit and making a
mockery of the law.
If the woman is divorced and pregnant, she may remarry, but only
following the birth of her child.
And if he divorces her, she will not be lawful for him until she
marries a husband other than him, and if he divorces her, there is no
sin upon them to remarry if they think that they can maintain Gods
bounds. These are Gods bounds, which He clarifies for a people who
have knowledge. (The Quran, Al-Baqarah: 230)
The Prophet Muhammad (PBD) comments on the lamentable
circumstance of divorce and the negative aspects of marrying only for
pleasure:
"Marry and do not divorce, since the divorce does shake the Throne
Divine."
"There is nothing more beloved to God, Awe and Majestic, a house
founded in Islam through marriage, and there is nothing more
abhorrent to God, Awe and Majestic, which a house destroyed in
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Conclusion:
Based upon what has been said and elaborated upon throughout this
paper, one can comfortably and confidently say that a woman will
never enjoy her natural honour and full rights and freedoms except
under the protection of the divine and just laws of Islam. Islam
designates certain duties and obligations that necessarily go hand in
hand with the rights. Islam is a divine religion revealed by the
Beneficent and Omniscient, as opposed to man-made laws that dictate
artificial boundaries, privileges, and monopolies. Islam is everlasting
and universal, for the whole of mankind, male and female, rich and
poor, the ruler and ruled, and strong and weak, whether white, black,
red or yellow. They are all equal in the Sight of their Creator, Allah
(The Almighty), who knows best what is of benefit in both this world
and the hereafter.
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Bibliography:
1. El Fadl, Khaled Abou. "The Death Penalty, Mercy, and Islam: A Call
for Retrospection." In Religion and the Death Penalty: A Call for
Reckoning (Erik C. Owens, John David Carlson, and Eric P. Elshtain,
eds.). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing (2004), ISBN 0-8028-2172-3.
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