Muslim women?

Question

Let's show them their stereotype that muslim women are forbidden education is wrong. IF you are in college or a college grad, state what your major is/was and what you plan to do with it. Also state your country, so they know for a fact that muslim women in Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, everywhere, are in fact attending college and becoming Doctors and businesswomen. I will start. I am a college graduate with a degree in the area of Travel. I plan to open up my own travel agency someday but for now, until my two little ones get bigger, they need me.

Answer 1

MY Female FAMILY MEMBERS (we are of Arab descent though we are actually from Pakistan.)

My aunt from Pakistan: an Oxford University, Bristol university, Fatima Jinnah University graduate. She is now serving in the Pakistani govt!

My cousin: serving the united nations

My Gran (late); She was a member of oil and natural resources exploration team, then did s bit of charity work.

My aunt on fathers side: A G.P here in England.

My sister (number 1): studying dentistry

My sister (number 2): Pharmacist

My Mum: was a teacher when she was younger, she gave it up for the sake of having a family.

Answer 2

Ooo, good question sis!

I am from the States so my story isn't as "shocking" as sisters' from "Muslim" countries, lol! I'm working on my degree in Interior Design. I plan to do an internship with the top-notch firm in my area (pray for me!), then go on to open my own. I'm leaning towards an influence in residential design but I also want to have commercial design under my belt to leave even more options open for me.

This is actually my fourth major, lol! First I did Internet Technologies. There's just too much competition there, so many people are doing the same, so I do free-lance work every while and then. I then switched to Nursing but that didn't go as planned so I went with General Education. Then I got married and decided I wanted something more related to the home and family, and I crave art and expression and fell in love with the idea of being a Designer. My aunt told me I am making a career out of going to school, lol!

My sister-in-law in Egypt has her Master's in Botany, and her father refused to let her get married until after she finished. I'm not sure what my mother-in-law's degree is, lol, but she's a school councellor. She still works although my father-in-law is retired. They don't need the money, she just loves her work.

Good idea to help squash that stereotype, bravo sis!

Answer 3

I am a Canadian woman, became Muslim just a year and a bit ago.

Due to circumstances beyond my control, I am not the most highly educated person by formal standards, but I have educated myself quite nicely over the years. Almost every Muslimah I know is a professional in some career. Doctors, fashion designer, a few chemists, lawyers, social worker, pharmacists, a doctor/herbalist, accountants, educators, and a few have their own businesses, on line or shop.

What has impressed me in the past has been listening to more mature Muslimahs discussing career options with yournger women in the first years of university. They stressed the importance of a career that could be "put aside" once the children came, then picked up again once the need was less, or perhaps a very limited time on the job.

It was so much healthier than spending 10 years in school and missing the best time to be a young mother, the natural rhythm of life.

Eventually these stereotypes will disappear. I know when I reverted, my family automatically thought I would do burka and black. Same silly stereotypes ... slowly they will disappear.

Answer 4

I did my Masters in Mass Communication from Punjab University Pakistan.
Right now in usa and INSHAALLAH planning to continue my studies and ALHUMDULILAH my husband is also encouraged me because MASHAALLAH he is a very good practicing Muslim and knows the importance of education.
Also for the information of some ignorant people that i have many well educated friends from Afghanistan as well, Islam never stops women to get education.
There are two kinds of knowledge which are very important for a human being. Secular knowledge (non-religious knowledge) is for day to day problem-solving and religious knowledge is "for a smooth life on earth and hereafter." Religious knowledge included knowledge of the Qur'an and the laws of Islam which was the basis for the Muslim way of life.
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "Attainment of knowledge is a must for every Muslim man and woman."

Answer 5

Being a person qualified in Islamic studies, I would like to explain that Muslim women are exempted from religious duties during the menstruation. This rule actually relieves women from having to keep the five daily prayers, fasting and other duties while she is in the uncomfortable physical condition of menstruation. How can one imagine a woman being asked to fast in this situation? I must clarify, however, that some people generalize and prohibit all types of "prayers". The ritual prayer in Islam is called "salat" and it has to be done 5 times a day in a certain way. This "salat" is not required from women during their menstruation. The English word "prayer" is more general than the Islamic "salat", and can include other types of prayers like the supplication that one does any time of the day, and without having to do the rituals of the Islamic "salat". This type of prayers is not prohibited for women. In other words, menstruating women can keep praying to God, talking to Him, praising Him, asking for His love and forgiveness, but without doing it in a ritual "salat." The "submission" site is not an Islamic site. It belongs to a sect that was created by "Rashad Khalifa", a Christian Egyptian who claimed that he was Muslim, then made a big publicity about a false discovery called the "numerical miracle of the Quran". In the same book he claimed that he defined the exact date of the end of the world, which totally contradicts what the Quran and the Sunna preach. Later his truth was discovered. He also claimed that the Sunnah is not part of Islamic law and that we don't have to follow it, so that's why his sect is totally outside Islam. Hope this makes things clear. Salaam-peace.

Answer 6

I am British, live in the UK, became a Muslim about 2 years ago and am MSc educated. I studied after I got married. I had lived in the Middle East for a few years and was definitley inspired by my having seen that the education of Muslim women in the Middle East is highly valued and respected and Muslim girls strive hard to achieve and are encouraged to do so by their loved ones.

Having done some research recently for an OU course that has been set up to help women living in the UK get back to a career in Science or Technology, I realise that Muslim women fair much better in their careers in Muslim countries. They just don't face the prejudices that women in the West face. Upon education, Muslim women in Muslim nations have thriving careers, that is not hampered by them having had kids or having taken time out to look after kids. This in part is down to a lack of organisational constraints and lack of prejudice against women in these countries. This is in stark contrast to what is the case in the West where prejudice and organisational constraints are rife. Hence why I am struggling to get back to a career after taking time out for kids, even though I have a BSc with 1st Class Honours and MSc with Distinction.

Women are so undervalued here in the UK, and probably the West generally in that respect. Sexism is rife in the work place - laws or no laws. I have lived in the Middle East and I know for a fact that most Muslim women are able to have thriving careers and have children too. This is in stark contrast to the situation here where difficulties abound and several women feel they are facing battles and because of that many women lose out in either never really getting a career off the ground, so to speak, or not being able to get back to a career after a break.

Strong social networks is also fantastic in Muslim countries. Also, attitudes to women and their education and contribution to Science and Technology is highly valued, which is great and doesn't suprise me in the least when I know there are sayings (Hadiths) of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), in which he made it a duty for men and women alike to seek education.

Peace♥

Answer 7

i havent gone to college yet (i'm still in high school) but i will inshallah in 3 years. inshallah i will become a teacher in elementary education(kindergarten is what i really want). i live in the states.
i know many and i mean many women who Mashallah have degrees in all sorts of areas. i know pakistani women who are doctors etc... we women are NOT forbidden to an education in fact Allah encoruages us to pursue the highest education possible.

Answer 8

Islam encourages education to both men and women and people forbidding their daughters from being educated are not following islam but r disrespecting it. i did my my olevel, then got my graduate degree in science and started teaching, during tat i did another diplomma course in professional education and macromedia. now i have done MA in english literature and also am pursuing a masters degree in business education and INSHALLAH by the grace of ALLAH will soon enter another professional field

Answer 9

I'm a Muslim man, Lawyer and Master of Sharia Law. I insist that my wife complete her education to PHD to raise the Kids very well cultured and educated.

Answer 10

College Graduate

Major - Software Engineering

Currently working at a reputed Software Development company.

Pakistan.

And I love my religion, just the same.......