Are you willing to understand us?

Question

What comes to your mind when you think of a Muslim woman? A mysterious, veiled victim of male oppression, awaiting Western liberation? A slogan-shouting terrorist? An uneducated foreigner with whom you have little or nothing in common? Unless your social circle includes Muslim friends and acquaintances, the chances are that your impressions of Muslim women have largely been formed by negative media stereotypes - images that usually have little to do with real life, and may have been designed to attract more viewers, sell more products, or gain support for someone's political agenda.
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?

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.

Answer 1

You go girl...! I am proud of being a muslimah! nothing greater than being an Islam. Those who don believe in Islam, I feel sorry for you. Those who knows Islam but refeuse to believe, I feel sorry for you too...May Allah forgive all those ignorant peoples and those who chose to continue insult and slander Islam. And as Muslim wife to I am happy and satisfied in serving my husband and my religion..

Answer 2

You lost me with the only book of world scripture statement...come on now! that is a false statement you come across as a religious bigot.That is fine if you like being subjugated but I guarantee you the majority of women do not want to be denied an education or stripped of their human rights, thank God my daughter was born in a free society and I do firmly believe human rights are not an internal state matter everyone in the world deserves basic human rights.I do realize some Muslim nations treat their women relatively well although it is hard for me to remember which ones may I add I have spent time in the middle east.Peace be with you.

Answer 3

Hi!

I understand your concern...What I am sure about is that...to you right now everything looks to be in place as far as Islam is concerned but I know that the spirit in Islam can never be of the TRUE GOD...It is just a matter of time before you found out.The evidence is overwhelming...September 11.Sadam Hussein and many more.

In Islam, there is a form of godliness, but not true godliness that comes from the TRUE GOD.Many who are in Islam have learned to live by its laws but TRUE PEACE is not embedded in the heart.They can be nice people, but once an opportunity presents itself, anger and war will manifest...out of the abundance of the heart do men speak...By the fruits, do people know what your religion is.

You skipped parts in the Qoran, where women are suppose to be beat if they refuse to do certain things.If you want me to quote those verses, I will.

There are many ex-Muslims who we prayed for and demons of war, suicide and envy manifested...this is not fiction.This is real stuff that we have witnessed with our eyes.

Please contact me if you are in search for the TRUTH and not to protect a RELIGION.

God bless you.

Answer 4

I doubt anyone who is a Muslim can ever understand their customs, however i don't see how we can't respect your culture. I feel you are stereotyping all the controversial aspects of our lifestyles, much like how some of the west stereotype Muslims. Also, i consider it very short sighted to assume that considering something normal is the same as accepting it, for example prostitution is very common in the west, but ill bet all the money i have that its just as common over there. the same goes for adultery. as for alcohol, fornication, homosexuality and apostasy, it is not a right of passage to be a westerner, it is something that people have the right to choose to pursue. The true answer is that you understand as little of our culture as we do yours.

Answer 5

I understand that stereotypes are impossed on women and it doesn't matter whether it is a society or religious stereotype it is wrong. You are asking for acceptance of a particular stereotype as being positive whereas I maintain that there are no stereotypes only individuals.
I accept that there are ood and bad muslims as well as Christians, buddhists,atheist, pagans, pantheists etc. and that they can be of either gender.
Please don't try to replace one stereotype with another.

Answer 6

Yes, I'm friends with muslim women in my real life. But honestly, my friends are freaked out by them. I don't understand why. I think most people tend to base things on appearances because they're just used to doing things that way.

Answer 7

I am willing to understand, yes, and have understood alot. But only for the sake of teaching its perversion and heresies to those in my ministry. I do not and will not ever believe in a God named Allah. I serve the risen Savior, Jesus Christ, the one and only true God. So understanding Muslim and converting are not even close to each other in my mind. There is no oppression in Christ Jesus, Male or female.

Answer 8

Women are required to wear that garb. Men aren't. Nothing you're going to say is going to change that.

A veiled victim of male oppression? Yes. No matter what the Holy Book has to say, in REAL LIFE, that's what's happening. At least... in certain parts of the world.

Answer 9

I believe Muslim women are deceived by Muhammad, and the Qu'ran. I think they are living sub-standard lives because of them. All human beings are entitled to happiness and freedom. And the Qu'ran denies them both. But unless she has experienced that freedom to some degree, then the Qu'ran is all that she knows, and thinks that is how life should be. How mistaken they are. And Muslim men certainly won't reveal anything otherwise to them.

Answer 10

People aren't afraid, I think they just don't see why.
In your Religion you have such strict rules and a God that most do not understand, while in other religions there are less strict, non-sense rules.