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Friday 30 September 2011

Women in Islam: Liberated or Oppressed?

Myriam Francois Cerrah hit my radar early last year and every time I have heard this sister speak, she has made me smile.

Sisters, please take notes. This is what is means to be an active Muslimah. Speaking the truth with beautiful words, elegance and wisdom. Around here, we would describe her as being propa sick.



What she has highlighted here is what more of our women need to be openly talking about. As men we can address keys issues as such but Women and Islam is something women need to talk about. It holds more substance, it holds more value. An open dialogue of healthy discussion and debate. Not only has this sister handled herself in style on Question Time but she's here to make a statement. And a damned good one at that.

May Allah continue to equip this sister with the power and strength to continue her work.

P.S. Happy Jummah! 

7 comments:

  1. Happy Jummah!

    Thanks for sharing the video!

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  2. Brother SoulSeek! I stumbled upon your blog, i don't know how, and ended up reading most of the posts! I'm a desi muslimah from the US, and I absolutely loved reading the perspective of a brother (especially a single one who has been searching and all). You're writing is also great, Masha'Allah! I hope to hear more, and best of luck in all your quests!
    -T

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  3. Finally got around to watching this and being a bit controversial, I'm going to say that women are to blame for a lot of issues we have in our islamic society.

    Sorry I know some women will be really annoyed with this comment but, I'm not really a feminist as such and whilst I believe women and men are equal and women should take responsibility for addressing such issues, there are only a few who know how to do it right! This makes me laugh considering it's the mother who provides islamic education for her children as she spends the most time with them but yet so many girls and women know so little/demonstrate the core values of Islam. Islam is not a culture, it's a way of life and unfortunately muslim women have adopted their cultures and are happy with that on it's own. Not that i'm saying there's anything wrong with that. I mean each to their own but when it gets fed down to their children that's when things start to go wrong. And to be honest, it's what's wrong with society today. People don't follow Islam, REAL Islam. If women don't care for themselves, then why should men? Women oppress women.....Like I said, I'm controversial!!

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  4. lol SI. To a degree you are right, women can be their own enemies. However, I would say that in Muslim communities when men are culture-oriented over Islam then women would be too as it follows that men usually have more voice in society and how things are run. If the father who is the head of the house is lazy with regards to gaining knowledge we cant be surprised if his wife and children end up the same knowing he has responsibility over them ''shepard hadith''.

    When we all give importance to ilm, Akhlaq, Imaan basically Islam, we could change the way things are and the way people(men and women) approach learning.

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  5. Ahlam - agree completely. BUT men who are culturally orientated - who provided their islamic education? Mother? Same as 'what came first chicken or egg?'....

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  6. Thank you for sharing the video. Although I'm still watching the video, I really enjoyed what I've seen so far. Especially the different and more realistic aspect of the topic.

    SI - Although I agree with you to a certain degree, I mostly disagree. In Islam, fathers are equally responsible for raising their daughters. In fact, fathers were known to bury their daughters before the Quran was revealed which is why even hadith stress upon fathers to raise their daughters well. Women are responsible for their children but the men greatly influence how effective that is. They provide the means of educating their daughters. When women are married, it is the husbands who decide whether their wives will work or be active in the community or whether they will simply sit at home.

    I understand that the reason that Muslim women are not allowed to marry non-Muslim men is largely because women are more easily influenced by their husbands.

    Quoted from sunnipath, "women are somewhat weak and emotional by nature. Then the husband has been given a caretaking and controlling role over the wife."

    Men are generally more dominating (as they are classed as leaders of a household) and can be easily more intimidating and controlling.

    Islam gives women a lot of rights but I do feel that many men take away those rights because of what they believe is more acceptable. And that is why non-Muslims question Muslim women if they are allowed to work or not.

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