The voice of the woman in Islam
Written by: Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi
Many muslims have adopted the judochristian concept that sees the woman as the cause of human tragedy, because of the role the Bible ascribed her as the seductrice who convinced Adam to not listen to his Lord.By convincing her husband to eat the forbidden fruit, not only did she challenge God, but caused the human race to banned from paradise, so she caused all the (temporary) human suffering.
These Islamic woman-haters who support this biblical myth use archives of pseudo-Islamic literature, some of which filled with weak Ahadith. This myth from the Old Testament circulates among the greater audience within the Islamic community, despite the fact that God in the Quran presses only ADam was responsible for this mistake.
In 20:115 it says:We had, already, beforehand, taken the covenant of Adam, but he forgot: and we found on his part no firm resolve.
Verse 20:121-122 goes further on this subject:In the result they both ate of the tree, and so their nakedness appeared to them: they began to sew together, for their covering, leaves from the Garden: thus did Adam disobey HisLord, and fell into error.
It just doesn't say in the Quran nor in Islamic doctrine that the responsibility for the ban form the Paradise and therewith teh suffering of mankind lies with the woman.
But often we find quotes of Islamic 'imams' and 'scholars' in which we find hatred of women. The result of such misinterpretation of Ahadith and the spreading of negativity that whole societies treat their females bad despite the fact taht Islam gives women a high rank and gives entrance to all domains of life. In Islam the woman is equal to man. She is equally responsible for her own deeds as man. Her testimony is necesary and valuble in court. Her opinon is asked and her good advice is followed.
In contrary to the pseucho-hadith : Ask women their opinion and do the opposite, The Prophet (pbuh) asked his wife Umme Salama advice about a very important matter in muslim community.
Looking at the way the Prophet (pbuh) treated women only prooves that some used hadith are false like this one supposed ot have been told by Ali bin Abi Talib: The woman represents all evil and the biggest evil about her is that man can't stay without her.
Just to give an example there are many 'scholars' and 'imams' who - influenced by this negativity surrounding women - have come the unfounded conclusion about the voice of the woman. They say the woman must only whisper or even be completely silent, except when she's talking toher won husband or otehr women.
The female communicative has become a source of seducing man according to them.
The Quran however specially says that whosoever wanted to ask the wifes of the Prophet (pbuh) a question must do so behind a separation (33:53). Since questions demand answers, theMothers of the Faithful gave fatwa's to those who asked them and told hadith to anyone who wanted to tell others.
Apart from that, it was also their habit to ask the Prophet (pbuh) things in front of other men. They weren't ashamed for their voices nor did the Prophet (pbuh) forbade them.
When he was a Caliph, Umar announced he would make a new rule against mahr (gift husband gives wife during marriage) . An ordinary woman rose from the public and recited averse from the Quran that was contrary to his idea. Umar immediately rejected his own proposal and said: The women of thsi town have more understanding than Umar. (can you imagine any modern Islamic ruler would dot hat?)
Another Quranic example of a woman speaking in public is that of the daughter of an old man (Shu'ayb) written in Quran 28:23. Further the Quran tells about hte conversation between Suleyman and the Queen of Sheba and also about Sheba with her people. All these examples support the fatwa that women must be able to voice their opinion in public life.
Because everything that was permitted to those before us, is also permitted for us, except when unanimously rejected by Islamic doctrine. The only thing forbidden for a woman is to speak in a soft and tempting voice, to seduce theman. This is expressed in Quran as 'abashed speach' , as God states in 33:32:
"O Consorts of the Prophet! Ye are not like any of the (other) women: if ye do fear (Allah), be not to complaisant of speech, lest one in whose heart is a disease should be moved with desire: but speak ye a speech (that is) just."
Seeking excuses to silence women is just one of the injustices to women that certain 'scholars' and 'imams' are trying to pass. They point at hadith such as delivered by al- Bukhari, in which the Prophet (pbuh) says: I have left no bigger evil for men than the woman. They assume that 'evil' here implicates a terrible curse that man has to carry, like one has to carry poverty, hunger, disease, death adn fear. These 'scholars' ignore the fact that man is more tested by his blesings than his tragedies. The hadith is ripped outof it's context by certain 'scholars'.
God says: And know ye that your possessions and your progeny are but a trial: and that it is Allah with whom lies your highest reward. (8:28)
A woman, despite the blessing she brings, can also be a test of God because she possibly takes the attention away from man from his duty towards God. So God shows us that sometimes blessings can sometimes mislead and become curses. Men can use their wifes as excuses to not to for jihad or save money without spending in Allahs'cause.
"So fear Allah as much as ye can; listen and obey; and spend in charity for the benefit of your own souls. And those saved from the covetouseness of their own, -they are the ones that achieve prosperity." (64:16)
The warning is the same as with blessings of richdom and offspring:
"O ye who believe! Let not your riches or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah. If any act thus, surely they are the losers."
The correct sahih hadith tells us: By God. I dont'fear your poverty, but I'm afraid the world will be abundant for you as it was for those before you so you will yearn for that as they yearned for that, and then it will destroy you as it destroyed them.
With this hadith they don't mean the Prophet (pbuh) encouraged to poverty. Poverty is a curse against which the Prophet (pbuh) souhgt shelter with God. It wasn't his intention that his ummah would be derived of abundance and wealth, becuase he said: The highest of good belongs to the pious. (Ahmad en al-hakam0
Women are also a gift for hte pious because the Quran specially states that the muslimmen and muslim women, the pious men and pious women are each other support, in this world and the hereafter.
Written by: Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi
Many muslims have adopted the judochristian concept that sees the woman as the cause of human tragedy, because of the role the Bible ascribed her as the seductrice who convinced Adam to not listen to his Lord.By convincing her husband to eat the forbidden fruit, not only did she challenge God, but caused the human race to banned from paradise, so she caused all the (temporary) human suffering.
These Islamic woman-haters who support this biblical myth use archives of pseudo-Islamic literature, some of which filled with weak Ahadith. This myth from the Old Testament circulates among the greater audience within the Islamic community, despite the fact that God in the Quran presses only ADam was responsible for this mistake.
In 20:115 it says:We had, already, beforehand, taken the covenant of Adam, but he forgot: and we found on his part no firm resolve.
Verse 20:121-122 goes further on this subject:In the result they both ate of the tree, and so their nakedness appeared to them: they began to sew together, for their covering, leaves from the Garden: thus did Adam disobey HisLord, and fell into error.
It just doesn't say in the Quran nor in Islamic doctrine that the responsibility for the ban form the Paradise and therewith teh suffering of mankind lies with the woman.
But often we find quotes of Islamic 'imams' and 'scholars' in which we find hatred of women. The result of such misinterpretation of Ahadith and the spreading of negativity that whole societies treat their females bad despite the fact taht Islam gives women a high rank and gives entrance to all domains of life. In Islam the woman is equal to man. She is equally responsible for her own deeds as man. Her testimony is necesary and valuble in court. Her opinon is asked and her good advice is followed.
In contrary to the pseucho-hadith : Ask women their opinion and do the opposite, The Prophet (pbuh) asked his wife Umme Salama advice about a very important matter in muslim community.
Looking at the way the Prophet (pbuh) treated women only prooves that some used hadith are false like this one supposed ot have been told by Ali bin Abi Talib: The woman represents all evil and the biggest evil about her is that man can't stay without her.
Just to give an example there are many 'scholars' and 'imams' who - influenced by this negativity surrounding women - have come the unfounded conclusion about the voice of the woman. They say the woman must only whisper or even be completely silent, except when she's talking toher won husband or otehr women.
The female communicative has become a source of seducing man according to them.
The Quran however specially says that whosoever wanted to ask the wifes of the Prophet (pbuh) a question must do so behind a separation (33:53). Since questions demand answers, theMothers of the Faithful gave fatwa's to those who asked them and told hadith to anyone who wanted to tell others.
Apart from that, it was also their habit to ask the Prophet (pbuh) things in front of other men. They weren't ashamed for their voices nor did the Prophet (pbuh) forbade them.
When he was a Caliph, Umar announced he would make a new rule against mahr (gift husband gives wife during marriage) . An ordinary woman rose from the public and recited averse from the Quran that was contrary to his idea. Umar immediately rejected his own proposal and said: The women of thsi town have more understanding than Umar. (can you imagine any modern Islamic ruler would dot hat?)
Another Quranic example of a woman speaking in public is that of the daughter of an old man (Shu'ayb) written in Quran 28:23. Further the Quran tells about hte conversation between Suleyman and the Queen of Sheba and also about Sheba with her people. All these examples support the fatwa that women must be able to voice their opinion in public life.
Because everything that was permitted to those before us, is also permitted for us, except when unanimously rejected by Islamic doctrine. The only thing forbidden for a woman is to speak in a soft and tempting voice, to seduce theman. This is expressed in Quran as 'abashed speach' , as God states in 33:32:
"O Consorts of the Prophet! Ye are not like any of the (other) women: if ye do fear (Allah), be not to complaisant of speech, lest one in whose heart is a disease should be moved with desire: but speak ye a speech (that is) just."
Seeking excuses to silence women is just one of the injustices to women that certain 'scholars' and 'imams' are trying to pass. They point at hadith such as delivered by al- Bukhari, in which the Prophet (pbuh) says: I have left no bigger evil for men than the woman. They assume that 'evil' here implicates a terrible curse that man has to carry, like one has to carry poverty, hunger, disease, death adn fear. These 'scholars' ignore the fact that man is more tested by his blesings than his tragedies. The hadith is ripped outof it's context by certain 'scholars'.
God says: And know ye that your possessions and your progeny are but a trial: and that it is Allah with whom lies your highest reward. (8:28)
A woman, despite the blessing she brings, can also be a test of God because she possibly takes the attention away from man from his duty towards God. So God shows us that sometimes blessings can sometimes mislead and become curses. Men can use their wifes as excuses to not to for jihad or save money without spending in Allahs'cause.
"So fear Allah as much as ye can; listen and obey; and spend in charity for the benefit of your own souls. And those saved from the covetouseness of their own, -they are the ones that achieve prosperity." (64:16)
The warning is the same as with blessings of richdom and offspring:
"O ye who believe! Let not your riches or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah. If any act thus, surely they are the losers."
The correct sahih hadith tells us: By God. I dont'fear your poverty, but I'm afraid the world will be abundant for you as it was for those before you so you will yearn for that as they yearned for that, and then it will destroy you as it destroyed them.
With this hadith they don't mean the Prophet (pbuh) encouraged to poverty. Poverty is a curse against which the Prophet (pbuh) souhgt shelter with God. It wasn't his intention that his ummah would be derived of abundance and wealth, becuase he said: The highest of good belongs to the pious. (Ahmad en al-hakam0
Women are also a gift for hte pious because the Quran specially states that the muslimmen and muslim women, the pious men and pious women are each other support, in this world and the hereafter.