By: Syed Shahzaib Haider
Islam in our everyday life works to amplify the voices of women. Their participation in the peace process and in conflict resolutions and for prosperity. I recognize the only method for women to ensure the full participation countrywide is reclaiming religion. Now, this matter is vitally important to me because as a Muslim I am very proud of my faith and one of the reasons for that is that It gives women the strength and determination to do their work every day so gracefully that I believe no other religion provides. It’s the reason they can go out and work and explore their abilities. But we cannot overlook the damage that has been done in the name of religion.
The misrepresentation, misuse and manipulation of religious scripture has influenced our social and cultural norms, our laws, our daily lives severely. Sometimes things we hear are hilarious when they say that God judge people differently based on gender it was too abnormal for me accept because I was never taught by my parents the same, they always said that we are all human in eye of God at the first place. And later when I learnt the holy Quran myself I realized it was totally an error of understanding of not all the scholars but by many, and most of these Islamic scholars you will find saying that will be from Pakistan or India or some other third world country. In fact, what I have learnt so far is that the God is merciful, helpful, a friend and a giver.
In a traditional Muslim society, a girl at early age is made-up to be familiarized the cultural aspects. The word Haram mean (religiously prohibited) and Aib mean (culturally inappropriate) is exchanged so carelessly in our society which is the saddest part as if they meant the same or have the same consequences. If we see an average young girl in our society in a mediocre family, we can easily find out that it’s too difficult for her to live a routine life because she often will have to face a conversation after conversation of her role in a society. But on the other side if we read or do a little research our self its completely contrary of what our practice is. One will be surprised to know after reading that how stress-free it is for a woman in our faith to live a prosperous life. She can be a leader she can be innovative strong girl politically, economically and in many other ways she can contribute, without going beyond any of the legitimized Islamic approvals.
Let’s take an example from the early age of Islam, When Um-ul-Momineen Hazrat Khadija R.A financed the Islamic movement, and then if we see the role of Um-ul-Momineen Hazrat Bibi Ayesha R.A who’s the teacher of not only thousands the women but the male companions of Prophet (S.A.W.W). why weren’t our we taught broadly about these examples, or is it that we aren’t letting our women to learn the role of these women during the evolution of Islam? Why only we in the whole Muslim-Ummah comprises of more than fifty countries aren’t letting our women being relegated to the positions which has no disparity to the teachings of our faith.
Sadly, the reason is that no research has been conducted comprehensively to address this very social problem. Since the decision makers the people who gets to control the message in our country are not women, most of the religious institutions are dominated by men and driven by male leadership and they create policies (Fatwas) to their ease. Until the system is changed and the female part of our society is given complete freedom to learn and do the research on Islam and its teachings related to the women. we can’t realistically expect to have full economic and political women participation in our society. The foundation is wrecked and we all know that one cannot build a house on a wrecked foundation. It’s a high time to realize not only for women but for men in our country that we need to have a cultural shift.
We actually need to have women’s right organizations not only non-governmental but by the government some state level organizations. Need to highlight Islamic teachings which gives freedom to the women who are being totally neglected and not being told that they are or can be the vital part of society they are not just supposed to do household but much more within the boundaries drawn by the religion. similarly, as the men are doing. A man is bound parallel to the women to follow and obey the legitimate Islamic laws. We need run campaigns by the literate segment of society by means of billboards, Posters, television commercials, documentaries rallies etc. It is high time that the taboo issues like domestic violence needs to be discussed widely to understand the agony of women, I often ask myself as a man that when will we stop treating them as a child of a lesser God? Are we prepared to answer God hereinafter for all the harshness that we carry out to the women in our country?
The writer is special correspondent and columnist at The Dayspring. He can be reached at [email protected]
