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We are a group of Muslim women whose objective
is to be more organized and recognized religiously, socially, and
culturally. In such difficult times for Muslims and due
to the bad intention of the U.S.A. towards Islam and the pro-Imperialist
propaganda of humiliation and repression, we feel that diffusion
of this religion and millenarian culture that dates back to the
seventh century a.C., is essential. “The Messenger believeth in what hath
been revealed to him from his Lord, as do the men of faith. Each
one (of them) believeth in Allah, His angels, His books, and His
apostles. "We make no distinction (they say) between one and
another of His apostles." And they say: "We hear, and
we obey: (We seek) Thy forgiveness, our Lord, and to Thee is the
end of all journeys." (Sura 2:285) This is the message of Islam, this is our message. However, the interests of dominating through
humiliation is manifested when Islam is attacked from diverse sides,
amongst them, presenting the Muslim women as oppressed, without
rights, and as a being inferior to man. The woman occupies a very important place in Islamic society. Islam has a great appreciation for women. Although Muslim women participate actively in different areas – politics, socials, economics-, Islam makes a special emphasis on her roll as a mother and wife, as a constructor of society. To get to know the dignified position of women in Islam it would be helpful to look at history. Many societies have practiced feminine infanticide. This was practiced as a product that could be bought or sold. In France, towards the end of the 6th century a.C., an encounter was held in order to decide if women could actually be considered human beings. Enrique VIII of England prohibited women from reading
the Bible and throughout the middle ages the Catholic Church treated
women as a second class citizen. In the Universities of Oxford and
Cambridge, male and female students did not have the same rights
until 1964! Arabs before the arrival of Islam lived in a society
consumed by ignorance, they buried the newborn girls alive and their
birth was considered shameful. If we keep this image in our minds
and evaluate the position of women in Islam we can find some allegations
from the West against Islam and the accusation against Islam saying
that they deprive women of liberty! However, if we look deeper into
the wisdom of Islam we will prove that liberty was never taken away
from women, rather Islam liberated women from the dark era of inequality
and confusion. Islam vindicate the rights of women and considered
them God’s creatures, just like men. <<Anyone who works
righteousness, male or female, while believing, we will surely grant
them a happy life in this world, and we will surely pay them their
full recompense (on the Day of Judgment) for their righteous works.>>
(Quran 16:97) Woman does not come from
the rib of man and is considered of the same essence. <<He
initiated you from one person…>> (Quran 6:98) The norms and Islamic laws are based fundamentally
on justice, that consists of an fair and not egalitarian distribution,
taking into account the nature of each on in avoiding oppression
from the strongest upon the weakest. <<O people, we created
you from the same male and female, and rendered you distinct peoples
and tribes, that you may recognize one another. The best among you
in the sight of GOD is the most righteous. GOD is Omniscient, Cognizant.>>
(Quran 49:13) Islam considers man and woman to have the same capacity
in developing themselves and leading a just society, that is why
the most capable is referred to for leadership. An example of this
is Dr. Masumeh Ebtekar, current Vice-President of the Islamic Republic
of Iran. The Muslim woman fights for the rights of those who are victims of their own ignorance and social situation, derived from the oppression of their governors. *Fight for the restoration of the rights that Islam
has granted you more than 1400 years ago and that throughout history
has been taken away from you. *Islam motivates women to search for knowledge and
this is evident in the increasing number of Muslim women that have
access to the investigation, scientific-technical, the arts, education,
health, communications, and political positions, without restrictions.
*Participates actively in the International Conferences
for Human Rights. They have stood out because of their cultural
contributions in the last conferences for Women that took place
in Egypt and China. *Women in Bosnia have defended their homeland, despite
the horrendous Serbian subjection. * Algerian women, historically, have had an important
and leading role in defense of their homeland and count on important
feminine institutions currently where there are many ministers and
parliamentarians. *Despite the permanent repression that Palestinian
women suffer, they participate in all types of educative, cultural,
political, and economic areas. In the University of Birzeit, 45%
of the students are women. Muslim women form part of the parliamentarians
as congresswomen. *60% of the alumni at universities in Islamic countries
are women in scientific fields. *Egyptian and Syrian women are represented by female
ministers and parliamentarians. *Muslim women have the right of: “…the men enjoy certain qualities, and
the women enjoy certain qualities…” (Quran 4:32) |
