The western media has portrayed islam as an old barbaric religion which has emerged in the middle of a desert.
But is islam truly a barbaric and inequal religion for women ?
First let me address the problem ?
Why does the western media portray islam as barbaric ?
Traditionally the western world also had some prohibitions or expectations of how a woman should dress and also for men
But after the women empowerment movement started, those expectations were removed, they think they have become more modern and look at islam and say old.
I’m not saying that women empowerment was a total evil
No! Most of it was good, it led to women being treated as humans, it led to women going to schools and stuff.
It changed from being a good movement to a movement which degrades women.
Let’s adress the ‘ HIJAB ‘ issue
How ?
No ! You can wear whatever you want, you can cover up or not it’s your choice, it’s between you and your God.
But, muslim woman can’t wear hijab in a so called secular country. If you wear it you will be called names.
Tell me which system gives more freedom to women regarding their dress choices.
Let me tell you one thing.
Western media and even muslim women themselves have this misconception that they are wearing hijab to protect themselves from the gaze of men
Sorry to say this but, that’s not true,You are wearing it because it’s a commandment from your God.
An-Nur 24:30
[ Prophet ],
And tell believing women that they should lower their glances, guard their private parts, and not display their charms beyond what [it is acceptable] to reveal; they should let their headscarves fall to cover their necklines and not reveal their charms except to their husband
Surah Nur – 31
Allah ﷻ ordered men to lower their gaze before ordering the women to cover themselves.
So, they are not covering themselves to protect themselves from the men,
And there is a beautiful explanation from scholars regarding, why women wear the hijab with an analogy.
When Adam was alone in the paradise he felt lonely and felt that something is missing,
Tomake him feel better and to complete his joy, God gifted Adam with Eve.
For Adam even paradise was not a paradise without eve.
Women to symbolise their value they wear the hijab. They say women coverup because they are a gift, for gifts are covered.
Next financial rights
First let’s talk about inheritance
This may seem injustice at the first glance but, let me get to the details
In islam a woman should be taken care of by her closest relative i.e. her father, husband, brother.
They should and must and ought to provide every neccessary things for her.
So, the inheritance she got is only for her she isn’t obliged to spend it on anyone not even to her husband, the husband has no right over her inheritance.
But the brother is obliged to spend his inheritance with his mother, his wife and his children.
And another financial advantage for women is Mahr.
It’s basically a gift which the husband gives the wife before the marriage contract takes place, whatever the wife asks him of.
Now judge, who has more monetary or financial benefit.
Males or females in Islam ?
Muslims aren’t perfect but, islam is perfect.
There is a verse, which anti Islamists use to attack islam.
An-Nisa’ 4:34
Men are guardian over women
Generally it would seem like Allah ﷻ is saying, men are somewhat above women.
But, let’s look at the explanation of a scholar regarding this verse
Tell me, Which item will be guarded ?Something with high value or something with no value ? Everybody knows that something of high value will be guarded.
That’s the same with Qur’anAllah ﷻ considers women high of value he said men to guard them.
Hope you understand I want to mention a beautiful Hadith
But, a man can speak in a twisted form to make reconciliation or to make his wife happy.
Reference
Imam Ahmad (26731) narrated that Umm Kalthoom bint ‘Uqbah said: I never heard the Messenger of Allah grant a concession allowing any kind of lying except in three cases: a man who says something intending thereby to bring about reconciliation; a man who says something at the time of war; and a man talking to his wife or a woman talking to her husband. (in a twisted form in order to bring reconciliation between them).Sahih Muslim 32:6303(Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in as-Saheehah, 545)
Abdul Subahan 