How Islam Honours Women

Assalamualaikum, May Peace be with you.

Islam, a religion that wishes PEACE as greeting to muslims and strangers alike, are accused of being the religion that ill treats people and condones war. *smirk* Such blatant lie and every man with an unsound mind will believe it to be true. Cos only they can believe such a fake propaganda. For one with a sound mind will say 'no religion teaches bad thing'. That is what I told a friend when he asked me to verify the story which was written by the Egyption born muslim women who later converted to Christianity.

Well, the essence of that article basically say how women are opressed in Islam and how Islam encourages violence. It's funny for me to read about the author who CLEARLY mentioned that it was her UPBRINGING which led her to believe that all Jews are bad. Now, did she point out a line in Quran that says Hate them jews? Heck, for anyone who ever read Quran, will know that Jew's are among the People of the Book - the members of the religions who abide by the Divine Books revealed by God. Throughout Islamic history, the People of the Book have been always treated with tolerance in Muslim societies. This was particularly evident in the Ottoman Empire. It is a well known fact that the Jews, whose rights were denied and were exiled by the Catholic Kingdom of Spain, took refuge in the lands of the Ottoman Empire.

I am no scholar to be talking much abt this. What I wanted to quote here are verses from Quran that shows how women should be regarded.

Men are allowed to marry 4 PROVIDED they can be justful to all of them:
004.003
YUSUFALI: If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, Marry women of your choice, Two or three or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or (a captive) that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice.

Marrying a women WITHOUT their consent is not permissable:

004.019
YUSUFALI: O ye who believe! Ye are forbidden to inherit women against their will. Nor should ye treat them with harshness, that ye may Take away part of the dower ye have given them,-except where they have been guilty of open lewdness; on the contrary live with them on a footing of kindness and equity. If ye take a dislike to them it may be that ye dislike a thing, and Allah brings about through it a great deal of good.


Punishment to women should they DISOBEY their husbands should never be HARSH
004.034
YUSUFALI: Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband's) absence what Allah would have them guard. As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (Next), refuse to share their beds, (And last) beat them (lightly); but if they return to obedience, seek not against them Means (of annoyance): For Allah is Most High, great (above you all).


Women CAN get a DIVORCE
004.128
YUSUFALI: If a wife fears cruelty or desertion on her husband's part, there is no blame on them if they arrange an amicable settlement between themselves; and such settlement is best; even though men's souls are swayed by greed. But if ye do good and practise self-restraint, Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.

Islam DOESN'T condone ADULTERY
017.032
YUSUFALI: Nor come nigh to adultery: for it is a shameful (deed) and an evil, opening the road (to other evils).

Anyone who wants to ACCUSE women of adultery shall have 4 witness (its not a rule imposed only if women wants to accuse their men!!)

024.004
YUSUFALI: And those who launch a charge against chaste women, and produce not four witnesses (to support their allegations),- flog them with eighty stripes; and reject their evidence ever after: for such men are wicked transgressors;-
024.006
YUSUFALI: And for those who launch a charge against their spouses, and have (in support) no evidence but their own,- their solitary evidence (can be received) if they bear witness four times (with an oath) by Allah that they are solemnly telling the truth;
024.007
YUSUFALI: And the fifth (oath) (should be) that they solemnly invoke the curse of Allah on themselves if they tell a lie.

Women are RESPECTED, men are NOT to slander women at will!
024.023
YUSUFALI: Those who slander chaste women, indiscreet but believing, are cursed in this life and in the Hereafter: for them is a grievous Penalty,-


As for how Islam advocates peace, there are many verses for that too. I happen to find a website that this is also answered there..so please browse 'em through there. Some excerpts are here :

1. Behave with courtesy :
Consider, for instance, the following verse, which is supposed to instruct Muslims as to how they should deal with non-Muslims in the midst of hostilities (such as war): 9:6 And if any of the Idolatries (who are fighting you) seeks thy protection, grant him protection, so that he might [be able to] hear the word of God [from thee]; and thereupon convey him to a place where he can feel secure:
If Muslims are to behave with such clemency and magnanimity vis-a-vis the infidel during times of war and conflict, how much more should be expected of their interactions with non-Muslims during times of peace?

2. Respect his freedom of choice to be a "Disbeliever" - as this is a right bestowed upon humanity by God:
Quran 18:29 proclaims, "The truth is from your Lord": it is the free will of any person to believe (in God) or to be an Infidel (Un believer).

3. Even if a Muslim should be convinced that someone is a non-believer, still he must accept that his fate is in the hands of God alone, since no one human can condemn another - this must be left to the judgment of God.
Quran 88:25-26 for behold, unto (ONLY) Us (means God) will be their return, Then it will be for (ONLY) Us to Judge (humans).
22:17 Those who believe (in the Qur'an), those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Sabians (can mean an ancient religion or people with no specific religion), Christians, Magians, and Polytheists,- God will judge between them on the Day of Judgment: for God (alone) is witness of all things.


http://www.islamforpeace.org/quran.html


I think the above have helped to shed some light. Please feel free to add on or correct should I misquoted/misstated anything. Allah is all knoweth. May HE bless us all with peace and mutual respect. Insya Allah


Wassalam,
~Nisha~


original-June 3 2010