This weeks look at Muslim Outrage

[nikon777]

Originally Posted by carcassxd

Nowhere in the Muslim world are women treated as equals -






.

How much do you really know about Muslim women's lives or views, and why does it matter? Well, for one thing, Muslims account for 20-25% of the people on this planet, and Islam has become the second main religion in Europe. But did you know that the majority of European and American converts to Islam are women - not men? Would it surprise you to learn that many women in the Muslim world feel sorry for Western women and view them as being victimised? Have you ever stopped to consider why Muslim women who immigrate to the West usually maintain their identity and strive to pass it on to their children? A thinking person may well ask, if Islam is as oppressive to women as some journalists would have us believe, why aren't Muslim women running away in droves? What it is about Islam that attracts any followers outside its heartlands?


The Islamic view of women
First of all, women are portrayed positively in the Qur'an and the Hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad). The Qur'an is the only book of world Scripture in which women are frequently referred to alongside men, and both are described as being friends and partners in faith. The following verses are just a few notable examples:
The believers, men and women, are protecting friends one of another; they promote the right and forbid the wrong, establish prayer, pay the poor-due, and they obey God and His messenger. As for these, God will have mercy on them. Surely God is Mighty, Wise. God has promised to believers, men and women, gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein, and beautiful mansions in gardens of everlasting bliss. But the greatest bliss is the good pleasure of God: that is the supreme felicity. (Qur'an 9:71-72)
Surely for men who surrender to God, and women who surrender
and men who believe and women who believe;
and men who obey and women who obey;
and men who speak the truth and women who speak the truth;
and men who persevere (in righteousness)
and women who persevere;
and men who are humble and women who are humble;
and men who give alms and women who give alms;
and men who fast and women who fast;
and men who guard their modesty and women who guard
(their modesty);and men who remember Allah much and women who remember - Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a vast reward. (Qur'an 33:35)
There is no question in Islam of men and women being at odds with one another, engaged in some kind of historical struggle for power. Rather, the roles of both are complementary and essential. The Qur'an states:
O mankind! Be mindful of your duty to your Lord, Who created you from a single being, and from it created its mate, and from the two of them has scattered countless men and women (throughout the earth). Fear God, in Whose (Name) you demand your rights of one another, and (be mindful of your duty) towards the wombs that bore you. God is ever Watching over you. (Qur'an 4:1)
Do not long for the favours by which God has made some of you excel others. Men shall have a share of what they have earned, and women shall have a share of what they have earned. (Do not envy each other) but ask God to give you of His bounty. God has knowledge of all things. (Qur'an 4:31-32)
The Prophet Muhammad augmented the revelations he received with further teachings and his wonderful personal example, which made him beloved by family and followers alike. He forbade violence against women, and preached against all forms of abuse of power. He warned that both men and women would be held accountable by God for those in their care or under their authority, and said:
Let no Muslim man entertain any bad feeling against a Muslim woman. If he should dislike one quality in her, he will find another that is pleasing. The best of believers are those who are best to their wives and families.

[nikon777]

Women's roles, rights and obligations
Spiritual status
As shown in the Qur'anic verses above, women are considered to be the spiritual equals of men, and they have the same religious duties. This is all the more important when we consider that the main goal of a Muslim is to serve God, and that this world is regarded as no more than a testing-grounds to prepare oneself for eternal life after death. Therefore, worldly accomplishments, fame, wealth and power simply do not have the same attraction for a Muslim, whose main focus is on the Next World. The Qur'an repeatedly draws our attention to the fact that the time we spend in this world is short and unpredictable, and what really counts is our character, how we treat others, and what we do with the blessings God has given us. In this context, home and family are of paramount importance, since stable families are essential to the rearing of well-adjusted children who will transmit their faith and values to the next generation. According to a well-known Arab proverb, 'The mother is a school.'
Social roles
Islam supports the traditional division of labour whereby women assume the main responsibility for home while men are responsible for their financial support, but with an important difference: motherhood and homemaking, like a Muslim's inner life, are not considered to be less important or rewarding than a professional career. Indeed, motherhood is one of the most important professions, and competent mothers who can successfully run a warm and welcoming home, and raise a family of happy, confident and well-disciplined children are becoming increasingly harder to find. Muslim wives and mothers are granted the respect due to all women for the struggles and sacrifices they make for the sake of their families. Furthermore, Muslims consider it unfair to burden women with both the physical and emotional demands of motherhood and the professional demands of the workplace, which end up exhausting so many women and destroying family life for the sake of economic gain. Muslims often express sympathy for women in the West, who often suffer from sexual exploitation and abuse at home and in the workplace, while being unappreciated in their traditional roles. Western women who seek to be respected must often dress and behave like men, and are expected in practise to neglect their children's needs for the sake of their careers. In Islam, femininity is appreciated, and Muslim women may seek a higher education, work outside the home or volunteer their services to benefit the community as long as their primary responsibilities are taken care of. Any money that a Muslim woman earns is her own, to spend as she likes; men remain solely responsible for maintaining the family.
Islamic marriage
Although Muslim parents traditionally play an important role in arranging introductions and helping to choose marriage partners for their children, both husband and wife must freely agree to the marriage. The Prophet granted girls who had been forced into marriages against their will the right to have their marriages annulled.
The relationship between husband and wife in Islam is an interdependent one, based on love and tranquillity. The Qur'an says,
And of His signs is this: He created spouses for you from among yourselves that you might find comfort in them, and He put between you love and mercy. Surely there are signs in that for people who reflect. (Qur'an 30:21) Both parents should strive to establish a stable, loving home and partnership. Major family decision-making should be through consultation and discussion. As the provider, the husband is expected to take the lead, as he is accountable to God for his care of the family. If no agreement can be reached, the wife should be supportive as long as her husband does not ask her to do anything that contravenes religious law. This works well as long as each spouse behaves maturely and treats the other with respect, kindness and consideration.

[nikon777]

Originally Posted by Brickboy240

I know its hard to do, but we have to take the Muslims on a case by case basis and not lump everyone into one group. -Brickboy240

This my friend is whats Ive been pounding into carcassxd's head for the last several posts. yet i guess I'm the one "beyond reason"


As far as your post on the treatment of woman carcassxd, yet again you still dint get it. you find websites full of anti islamic propaganda and/or ill informed media and use this is your defense. hello, I'm actually Muslim, i know better than you do whats correct and whats not. I know whats from Islam and whats not. If you go home and beat your wife and your catholic, do all catholics beat their wives? You still don't get it. you want to post incorrect info on a religion you've only read about and been spoon fed all you now about it by the media. Then you proceed to lump all Muslims together as a whole because in some 3rd world country the men who claim they are women beat their wives.

[carcassxd]

you find websites full of anti islamic propaganda and/or ill informed media and use this is your defense.

haha nice try that piece on Islams disgrace of women came from Time Magazine.

hello, I'm actually Muslim, i know better than you do whats correct and whats not.

ahhh ha!

Then you proceed to lump all Muslims together as a whole

I'll say (and I beleive I stated it earlier in this thread) that I beleive there are many peaceful muslims on this earth who do not subscribe to the extremesit views adopted by others.

because in some 3rd world country the men who claim they are women beat their wives.

not sure i follow you there.

[nikon777]

carcassxd: haha nice try that piece on Islams disgrace of women came from Time Magazine.

Duoh!!..now there's an authoritative source! like i said before, youre a sheep. apparently time magazine and Newsweek are your Shepperd. We all know that the media is correct on everything they cover, they never put a slant on their stories, and tell the whole truth all the time. We should trust what they print 100%. Now I'm sorry i must go now, Newsweek says pigs are flying and i wanna get a picture.

[O.C. 4 U]

I guess the amish are abusing their womenfolk too, cause they make em wear traditional clothing.

[carcassxd]

Duoh!!..now there's an authoritative source! like i said before, youre a sheep. apparently time magazine and Newsweek are your Shepperd.

Lets be honest with ourselves here. It wouldnt matter what source it came from, you would still dispute it as it does not adhere to YOUR interpretation of Islam. Fair enough. Furthermore (in typical liberal fashion) you resort to name calling by labeling me a "sheep." There are many slurs that come to my mind pertaining to you but I will refrain (as per the forum rules). For now, its probably best we just agree to disagree. You may have the last word if you so choose. Thanks for the civilized (somewhat) debate.

[nikon777]

Originally Posted by carcassxd

Lets be honest with ourselves here. It wouldnt matter what source it came from, you would still dispute it as it does not adhere to YOUR interpretation of Islam. Fair enough. Furthermore (in typical liberal fashion) you resort to name calling by labeling me a "sheep." There are many slurs that come to my mind pertaining to you but I will refrain (as per the forum rules). For now, its probably best we just agree to disagree. You may have the last word if you so choose. Thanks for the civilized (somewhat) debate.

Yes i called you a sheep. As you also called my religion "archaic" i believe.

"It wouldnt matter what source it came from, you would still dispute it as it does not adhere to YOUR interpretation of Islam."

HA! .. youre finally getting it! Only its not my interepretation its the CORRECT interpretation. Theres only one interpretation, some in the religion choose to follow it, some dont.

Oh and your political innuendoes are cute, but I'm an independent buddy.

[nickb]

So Nikon... would your time be better spent lobbying some news agencies? Maybe they could help you clear up everything. Arguing here seems inefficient to me.

[nikon777]

Originally Posted by nickb

So Nikon... would your time be better spent lobbying some news agencies? Maybe they could help you clear up everything. Arguing here seems inefficient to me.

If i can enlighten one person here about Islam's true message I'm happy. Newsgroups will continue to do what they've been doing for years. No amount of lobbying will change that.