Why do some Muslims mistreat women in such harsh ways as they do?

Question

Certainly, no "God" would advocate such cruelty to women........Would it?

Folks, I know that men of other religions also mistreat women but the difference is that the religion of Islam, without a doubt advocates the oppression of women.Why?

Answer 1

Many teachings that "women are inferior to men" come from the Qur'an.

However the more offensive practices of female genital mutilation and honor killing of rape victims are cultural practices, not religious commands.

Answer 2

You are totally right! After all, they are not Muslim women who are filling up the Domestic Violence hotlines every day! How come when ONE Muslim woman is seen on TV with a bruise,

1.) It is presumed that she was beaten by some man

2.) It is presumed that she is "oppressed", and if a Muslim woman follows Islam correctly she should NEVER feel oppressed. If she does, then something is wrong, as there should be nothing to make her feel that way.

3.) It is presumed that they are uneducated, deaf blind and dumb.


The stereotypes go on and on. The bias media gives these impressions and gives room for people to come up with their own misconceptions and develop their own stereotype, most, if not all which are not true or deeply exaggerated and misleading at the least.

In the rare occasion a Muslim woman happens to be beaten, it will make headlines, and it will be assumed as though this happens all the time. More absurd stereotypes are formed and applied. But for the thousands of women (and men!) who are abused every day who are not Muslim, there wouldn't be enough time to report all of them! Not to mention they are not newsworthy. If someone sees something about a beaten Muslim woman, they will want to read it right away to see how much more hate of Islam they can extract from the article. But the truth is that if a Muslim wife is beaten to the extent that is forms bruises or cuts, then the husband is SINNING. Yes, you heard me, he is SINNING! The husband is only to tap his wife to remind her of her wrongdoing, and that is all, actually. If any Muslim man abuses his wife in such a way, he is very well on the path to hell. The prophet said that the best men are those who are best to their wives.

Lol, you're so right. People get excited when a Muslim man beats his wife. Because these are the only types of Domestic Abuse you will see in the news or in the newspaper. This is all people see when it comes to Islamic women, so it is all they will believe, making them blind and ignorant.

Muslim husbands are supposed to treat their wives with generosity, respect, love, care, and consideration. If he cannot do this, then he is not fit to be a husband! It's as simple as that. SO if ANY Muslim man goes so far as to his "hitting" being called abuse, then his actions were unislamic.

The ignorance, racism, and bias all come into play as well. People enjoy reading articles that undermine Islam because it will fortify their hate toward Islam, and many of these people LIKE hating Islam.

Answer 3

It largely depends upon denomination or sect. There have been many jewish and christian sects that have had similar treatments of women over the centuries.

In the West, the rights of women have been elevated where in some places they are ALMOST equal to men. You can look back a hundred years ago in the USA and women couldn't even vote.

In some groups, they see a corruptive influence in 'modernization'. Some think that my imbracing the PAST and emmulate the lifestyles of those that they find to be holy, that they themselves will be holy.

One has to keep in mind, that they aren't 'demeaning' women according to THEIR beliefs. They are just keeping women within the confines of their definitions of being a women. Though the definitions they are using are over 1300 or 2000yrs ago or more.

They are that way; cuz to them, their god says so -or- at least their INTERPETATION of what god is saying.

Answer 4

Oh really?!! Did you ever met a Muslim who beat her wife for fun because his religion advocates oppression to women?
Or you just posted this because of what you heard from the media?

My mother is treated with respect by my father, and my family. I value and respect women that I am so inspired by my Muslimah friend because of her personality. In Islam, women are treated equally to men. And Islam was the first belief to introduce equality towards women when in the past before Islam, women were treated as a devil, a sex object, a trade and exchangeble thing etc.

Where is the oppressing of women? Suggesting Muslim women wearing burqas?

What's your problem if Muslim women deny their beauty to you? What's your problem if they cover their body completely for fear of being a sex object? What's your problem if they don't want to show their face in public? Just because of men's sexual desire, you think women should not screen themselves? The screening of women in Islam not only protects the woman but ensure there is no adultery committed and a peaceful community is bulit. So it's up to Muslim women to decide who to reveal their faces, not the so-called modern countries.

Oh and one more thing, you realize now in European countries and the US that prostitution, pornography is legal? Imagine if your mother, wife or daughter was involved in pornography, you would protest and call this oppressong women, right? But when Islam calls women to screen themselves, the world thinks that Islam oppresses women.

If you think I am being rude, I am sorry to tell you that this is an offensive question to me. I have answered peacefully and politely too long that people take advantage of me. They don't learn, I am afraid. So, I am sorry to tell you I loss my anger here!

Learn, then judge. Think, then act. Learn, then believe.

May Allah S.W.T guide us all.

Answer 5

in the beginning muslims women were actually treated very well, they were considered very valuable, but over the years ignorance tooks its place. And not all muslims treat women cruely just the ignorant idiots that think that making women inferior to men is the right thing to do.
In islam men and women are created to be EQUAL but i guess some people dont see that... its a shame

Answer 6

You are mistaken. There are several instances in the Bible where men have been cruel to women. For instance, the penalty for a woman's sins is usually death. A man gets off with a little less. The Bible also says women must submit in the same way as the Quran. In fact, the Bible and the Quran are similar in many ways- you should try reading it. Additionally, the prophet Muhammed taught kindess and fairness to women. However, like all religions in some way- man perverts the words of his so called "God."
You will also find such treatment is cultural at times, rather than religious. Many Christian men beat their wives as well, and you would be a blind fool to deny this. Before you bash Islam, maybe you should learn about Islam first. At least then you wouldn't come off sounding like an idiot.

Answer 7

Women are diamonds in Islam. The Qur'an teaches men to treat their women with respect and honor their mothers. The women are referred to as diamonds and gold in Islam. A man is instructed to talk to his wife if she is disobedient, then refuse to share his bed with her and have sex, then tap her lightly on her feet or any part of her body that is covered. He isn't supposed to leave bruises on her body. Women had rights over 1400 years ago before the West gave women rights. Women in the USA didn't get rights until the 1920s. Women have right to choose their own marriage partner, right to divorce, right to work, right to an education, right to keep their money that they earn, don't need to fast or pray when they are on their period, have the right to sexual satisfaction, don't have to contribute to the household income, have the right to ask for protection from a man on the street, have the right to own property, have the right to own a business providing it doesn't bring them into contact with non mahram men, have the right to inheritance, have the right to equal pay and equal deeds same as a man.

Answer 8

Muslims who mistreat women are mistreating them because of their cultures not Islam, Islam uplifted the status of women and gave them true equality

The following examples from history amply illustrate the fact that the status of women in earlier civilizations was very low to the extent that they were denied basic human dignity:
1. Babylonian Civilization:
The women were degraded and were denied all rights under the Babylonian law. If a man murdered a woman, instead of him being punished, his wife was put to death.
2. Greek Civilization:
Greek Civilization is considered the most glorious of all ancient civilizations. Under this very ‘glorious’ system, women were deprived of all rights and were looked down upon. In Greek mythology, an ‘imaginary woman’ called ‘Pandora’ is the root cause of misfortune of human beings. The Greeks considered women to be subhuman and inferior to men. Though chastity of women was precious, and women were held in high esteem, the Greeks were later overwhelmed by ego and sexual perversions. Prostitution became a regular practice amongst all classes of Greek society.
3. Roman Civilization:
When Roman Civilization was at the zenith of its ‘glory’, a man even had the right to take the life of his wife. Prostitution and nudity were common amongst the Romans.
4. Egyptian Civilization:
The Egyptian considered women evil and as a sign of a devil.
5. Pre-Islamic Arabia:
Before Islam spread in Arabia, the Arabs looked down upon women and very often when a female child was born, she was buried alive.

Islam uplifted women and gave them equality and expects them to maintain their status.

In a truely Islamic society women have the following rights in Islam:
1. The right and duty to obtain education.

2. The right to have their own independent property.

3. The right to work to earn money if they need it or want it.

4. Equality of reward for equal deeds.

5. The right to express their opinion and be heard.

6. The right to provisions from the husband for all her needs and more.

7. The right to negotiate marriage terms of her choice.

8. The right to obtain divorce from her husband, even on the grounds that she simply can't stand him. (pls note that God deeply frowns upon divorce as a solution unless there is hardly any other alternative but it does not mean that men have more right to divorce their wives than women do.)

9. The right to keep all her own money (she is not responsible to maintain any relations).

10. The right to get sexual satisfaction from her husband.

11. custody of their children after divorce.

12. to refuse any marriage that does not please them

and more...

Answer 9

Why does ANY man, of ANY belief system mistreat women? My husband and I are Muslim and I am never treated harshly or in a cruel manner.

Answer 10

I'M A MUSLIM WOMAN ..........if u r trying to defend me in anyway,well thank u....but I'm quiet happy the way i am ..just like u r happy the way u r.............i truly believe in my religion and don't see ANY type of CRUELTY IN IT........
my mom , my grand mom and all the women in my family are ALL treated with respect and dignity.....respected for their Modesty and Chasity.........
if other women pref are to go out almost naked ..well that's the choice they made and we are free to make a choice of our own