Thursday, April 14, 2016

STOP controlling Pakistani women!!

I honestly wonder how many Hollywood and pornographic films certain Muslims watch. Because they don't seem to trust their own daughters, sisters, mothers, nieces, or female cousins to be independent, out of the fear they might become the actresses in Hollywood or pornographic films ("whores of the west" (they're words)).

We NEED to see women as equal, we CANNOT put any restrictions on them. Pakistani women should be allowed to make their OWN decisions, and live their OWN lives according to their wishes. More importantly, we CANNOT see them as being weak in their deen. We CANNOT make them feel as if they're being criminals in the eyes of Allah. Several patriarchal muslim countries have the view women will become prostitutes, sluts, or have boyfriends if they aren't burka covered housewives, or if they don't have close male relatives with them when they go out. Because like I have said many times (in the "my muslim thoughts" blog), culture influences peoples views on Islam. So contradicting culture or the ulema from that culture does NOT MEAN they're misguided.

We need to stop judging, stop being suspicious, and stop being paranoid of Pakistani women if we see them with a man who isn't related to her (or maybe he is). We also cannot spy on them to see if they do things that confirm our suspicions or paranoia. Many men and women have co-workers, colleagues, teachers/professors, patients, and doctors whom are of the opposite sex. It only becomes haraam when dating, flirting, or engaging in fornication arises.

I should add, flirting means engaging in types of talk that will lead to dating or fornication. Just because a laugh is shared, or acts of kindness, that doesn't count as flirting. I say this because Pakistani communities are engaging in massive paranoia about what flirting actually is.

We need to STOP targeting Pakistani women. Pakistani communities should STOP seeing women as baby making machines who should be hidden from public. Pakistani communities should STOP expecting that from women. Most Pakistani women don't cover their hair. Which unfortunately makes them prone to abuse and attacks.

"I think she has boyfriends", "I don't think she does her namaaz (prayers)", "I don't think she fasts during Ramadan", "She's trying so hard to be westernized". These rumors start spreading like wild fire in Pakistani communities.

How come we don't see Hindus, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, or atheists target and harass women like how many Pakistani Muslims do???? How come females from other religions are getting bullied like how many Pakistani women have to go through??? How come men from Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, and Atheism aren't going after their women like rabid dogs, which is so prevalent in Pakistani communities??

AND even if Pakistani women are engaging in haraam activities, like fornication (I mean if they openly say it, or you actually witnessed it (seeing the penis in the vagina- I have to be specific because like I said before, anything is fornication/adultery nowadays)), drinking alcohol, having boyfriends (I mean actually dating, and NOT what I mentioned in the third paragraph), and wearing revealing clothes (I don't mean showing her hair, I mean actually revealing and tight clothing that will get her kicked out of school), then it is between her and ALLAH, not between her and the vulgar language you are about the spew. By the way, all that activity is FAR MORE COMMON among Pakistani males, but NO ONE is going to target them!

Correcting Pakistanis about Islam

1) It is haraam for women to be with non-mahrams or to be seen by them.

No, it isn't. Allah didn't create women as sex objects, nor did he create men as sexual monsters. By the way, see here for that analogy of women being compared to diamonds or pearls: http://mymuslimthoughts.blogspot.ca/2015/05/please-stop-comparing-muslim-women-to.html

Also, see here for the clothing of women in Islam: http://mymuslimthoughts.blogspot.ca/2015/05/trying-to-understand-womans-dress-in.html

And see here how culture views people's perceptions of Islam: http://mymuslimthoughts.blogspot.ca/2015/04/does-culture-influence-our-views-on.html

And see here for what lowering the gaze actually means: http://mymuslimthoughts.blogspot.ca/2015/02/what-does-it-mean-when-quran-says-to.html

 Many salafis use the verse 33:53 to segregate women, to make sure they are hidden from men:

"O you who have believed, do not enter the houses of the Prophet except when you are permitted for a meal, without awaiting its readiness. But when you are invited, then enter; and when you have eaten, disperse without seeking to remain for conversation. Indeed, that [behavior] was troubling the Prophet, and he is shy of [dismissing] you. But Allah is not shy of the truth. And when you ask [his wives] for something, ask them from behind a partition. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts. And it is not [conceivable or lawful] for you to harm the Messenger of Allah or to marry his wives after him, ever. Indeed, that would be in the sight of Allah an enormity."

However people fail to realize that this verse is directed to the Prophet's wives. It speaks DIRECTLY TO AND ABOUT THEM. As we are about to see, the Quran has guidelines for the Prophet's wives ONLY.

2) Women should be at home

The verse used to say this is verse 33:33

"And abide in your houses and do not display yourselves as [was] the display of the former times of ignorance. And establish prayer and give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah intends only to remove from you the impurity [of sin], O people of the [Prophet's] household, and to purify you with [extensive] purification."

But lets go back one verse to 33:32

"O wives of the Prophet, you are not like anyone among women. If you fear Allah , then do not be soft in speech [to men], lest he in whose heart is disease should covet, but speak with appropriate speech."

Once again, God in the Quran speaks to the WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 33:32 even says the wives of the Prophet Muhammed pbuh are not like other women. Other women here refers to regular Muslim women.

Some people say, even though it refers to the Prophet's wives, this verse refers to all women since the mothers of the believers are examples for all women. But then go back to verse 33:53. It forbids the Prophet's wives to re-marry. Now, according to the logic of those people, can muslim women even marry? Clearly muslim women of today are not married to the Prophet Muhammed pbuh! So that logic fails. And note that this logic is one of picking and choosing of what to follow in Islam, which is obviously haraam. 

Keep in mind many salafi websites have that logic of women needing to be at home. They're clearly screwed up and misguided.

3) Democracy is shirk, biddah, and haraam

A salafi claim. Islam mentions no formal ways of governing. Which is why throughout Islamic history we have had different types of government.

4) Democratic laws are man made and against Allah's laws

No. The Quran and Sunnah mention have only a FEW LEGAL PARTS, while the rest is related to spirituality and stories. 90% of the laws made and passed in western countries are not against Islamic law. 

One of the problems Muslim countries have is that they try to politicize everything that is in the Quran. They go beyond the legal aspects, and try to politicize family affairs, relations with non-muslims, relations with women, and so on. What is spiritual is meant to stay spiritual, what is contextual (meant for specific times and places (i.e. slavery)) is meant to remain in that time period.

5) Sex segregation is fardh (mandatory) in Islam

See point 1.

Here are some fatwas on how separating the genders is not a requirement in Islam:
http://eng.dar-alifta.org/foreign/ViewFatwa.aspx?ID=9388&LangID=2
http://eng.dar-alifta.org/foreign/ViewFatwa.aspx?ID=4844&text=segregation
http://en.islamtoday.net/node/1239
http://askthescholar.com/question-details.aspx?qstID=9356

Some videos by Dr Shabir Ally:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxvp48KJEg0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPBE9uhRCDU

6) Women get half the inheritance

Firstly, I have written about how muslim women today are independent. See here: http://mymuslimthoughts.blogspot.ca/2015/02/what-does-it-mean-when-quran-says-men.html
http://mymuslimthoughts.blogspot.ca/2015/02/what-does-it-mean-when-quran-says-men_10.html

Muslim women today are just as much important breadwinners as men. It is not the duty of women to stay at home, and cook and clean.

See this link that says women can get equal inheritance: http://www.mwlusa.org/topics/rights/inheritance.html

7) Women cannot travel alone

See this:
http://eng.dar-alifta.org/foreign/ViewFatwa.aspx?ID=6826&text=women
http://eng.dar-alifta.org/foreign/ViewFatwa.aspx?ID=3019&text=women
http://eng.dar-alifta.org/foreign/ViewFatwa.aspx?ID=6128&text=women
http://askthescholar.com/question-details.aspx?qstID=28463

8) Wives are to obey their husbands

Comes from verse 4:34. It however refers to obedience to Allah. See the following: 
http://www.irfi.org/articles/articles_251_300/does_the_quran_allow_beating_of.htm
http://mymuslimthoughts.blogspot.ca/2015/02/what-does-allah-mean-by-rebellious.html

9) Muslim men are allowed to marry more than one wife

See here: http://mymuslimthoughts.blogspot.ca/2015/02/why-are-people-so-misguided-on-polygamy.html