The Status of Women in Islamic Culture
It often seems that in the western world everyone knows about certain religions-- namely Christianity and Judaism. However there are numerous other religions that we, as a society, know very little about even though they are very popular throughout the world. One fifth of the world population is composed of Islamic people yet in this part of the world we seem to know very little about this religion. Islam is fairly simple and extremely similar to those religions that we do know a lot about. Within this widespread culture that we know very little about there, is an extremely antifeminist infrastructure that is based on the status of the religion and not the religion itself. Allah, the most inclusive of the names of God, is the same God that is worshiped by Muslims, Christians, and Jews (Islam 101). The name Allah is an Arabic word meaning, "One who is adorned in worship, who creates all that exists, who has priority over all creation, one who is lofty and hidden, who confounds all human understanding" (Islam 101). Islam itself means, "Self-surrender to the will of God" (Islam 101). In order to understand Islamic culture you must first understand their beliefs and rituals. Muslims believe that th
Ahmed, Akbar S. Discovering Islam. New York: Routledge & Kegan Paul Inc., The Koran, like today's Bible, has several translations and interpretations. Upon returning to original texts, "On the issues of seclusion in the houses and veiling abroad...contains only some very general and vague guidelines which mainly serve to establish chastity and modest deportment of women in general." (Hussain 38). However the Koran does list some more specific guidelines for the prophet's wife (Hussain 38). If modern Islamic authorities choose to disregard secondary material and were to return to interpret the original texts they would very easily change the status of women. It would be easy for the authorities to reform the position of women within Islamic society. Doing so would help, "Build a juster order for future generations, within the venerable system of the religion itself." (Hussain 38). Within Islam, women play a role almost solely as a homemaker. Women are rarely allowed to leave the house. To contribute to the seclusion of women men will do just about anything in order to keep them from leaving the house including going to the market for them. The ideal Muslim woman is modest, pious, and cares greatly for her family (Ahmed 184). The status of women within Islamic society is almost a perfect mirror image of the seeming destiny of Islam at that point in time (Ahmed 184). In other words, when Islam is secure and confident of it's future the women of Islam are strong and confident (Ahmed 184). When Islam is threatened and under pressure the women are too threatened and secluded from society (Ahmed 184). From birth, women are forced to believe that they are unwanted, that they are an accident, and a poor substitute for a boy (Ahmed 186). Women are forced to hide behind burkhas, or shuttlecock veils, which cover their entire body and have a small screen in which they can see out of (Ahmed 186). "Seclusion and veiling, however, both presumably of Persian and possibly Byzantine origin - were legitimized by exegete who interpreted the vague and genera
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Approximate Word count = 1399
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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