‘Equal but different.’
Discuss how adequately this sums up the relationship between males and females in Islam.
Many people believe that because of the similarities between men and women, they should be, and are, completely equal and should be treated so. Other people however believe that because of the natural physical and mental differences, they can never be fully equal and that should be respected. Other people however, maintain that equality is an abstract relative concept and so full equality can never be achieved because we’ll never agree on what constitutes true equality.
(Essay) Explain why there are different understandings of the role of women in Islam.
There are many ‘misconceptions’, all over the world, about the Islamic understanding of women. Misconceptions is emphasised because the nature of the Qur’an and Sunnah is such that it is so complex and intricate that it is open to many interpretations. However, on certain things, the Qur’an or the Sunnah make it completely explicit, for instance that men and women are equal in the eyes of God because souls are without gender
Also, many people in ‘the west’ take the treatment of women in ‘Muslim’ countries to define how Islam commands women be treated, however some of this is more cultural than religious. In fact, Muslim women have had rights for over 1400 years that were only granted to Western women in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Women and travel
Salaams
A couple of days ago, the subject of travel came up and I mentioned that I thought it was allowed for women to travel as long as the destination was not more than a couple of days away.
Since that was off the top of my head, I decidded to google it and see what the true wording, evidence for it was. One of the links I found contained this:
We can understand this from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when he promised `Adi ibn Hatim At-Ta’iy (may Allah be pleased with him) three signs when he accepted Islam: that Islam would reach the east and the west; that the companions would obtain the treasures of Kisra, the king of Persia; and that peace would be spread all over the world when Islam reached the east and west so that a woman would be able to travel alone from Yemen to Hadramout not fearing anything but Allah and the wolf, meaning she would fear nothing.
Scholars understand from this hadith that a time will come when women can travel alone when they feel secure.
Is that time now?
The Veil Is Not Oppression, It's Chic, Say Muslim Women
Voices on the Veil: Is the Veil Oppressive or a Celebration of Identity?
When the Taliban lost control of Kabul last November, the world waited for Afghan women to immediately shed their burqas, or all-encompassing robes. But it didn't quite happen that way.
Most women in Afghanistan today still cover their heads as they have done for centuries. And many women across the Islamic world say the hijab, or traditional headscarf worn with loose clothes, should not be seen as a sign of women's oppression, but a statement of their identity and religion.