Muslims claim that Islam had given some rights to women that no other religion did. Islam improved the status of women in Arabia.
Islamist claims:
Men and women are equal
‘Islamic law [Shari’ah] – that Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) sent down to His Messenger Muhammad – came to announce that women (exactly like men) are full human beings. Women (like men) are therefore required to follow the way appointed by Allah.
A woman (like a man) is therefore obligated with all three degrees of this religion: Islam(outward submission to Allah), Iman (inward faith in Allah), and Ihsan (perfection of worship of Allah).’
Women are allowed to inherit their father’s property.
Islam women got that right 1500 years back where as Hindus, hardly 70 years.
Mahr
Mahr is a package of assets (cash and/or other forms of financial or physical assets) that is given by the husband to the wife as a valuable consideration for the contract of Nikaah. It is a Fardh without which Nikaah is not valid. Thus Islam ensures that the future of the bride is secured.
Why Muslim men are allowed to have four wives?
Muslims say that polygamy is allowed in other religions also. Qur’an permits only a restricted and limited form of that practice.
Women in Islam: A rationalist view point
All institutional religion oppresses women. But Islam is more dangerous than all as Islam is also a system of laws and government. Devout Muslims consider the practice of their religion to include more than praying. They must also follow the law of Allah. The Islamic sharia law.
Women’s lack of freedom and outright abuse is a fundamental feature of Sharia, which is the system of law used by many Islamic governments. Shaykh Ghawhi, a well-known and well-respected (in Islamic universities and throughout the Islamic world) teacher of Islamic studies and Islamic law, says according to Sharia:
- A woman must only leave her house if she has a real need to do so.
- Her husband or guardian must authorize her leaving the house.
- When she is out, she must be completely covered, including her face.
- When she is out, she must not look left or right but keep her head bowed down as she walks.
- She must not wear perfume in public.
- She must never shake a man’s hand.
But in Islam there are more dangerous things than these.
Qur’an ambiguously claims to bestow similar rights for both men and women. This verse never mentions what those rights are; neither do we find the clarification on this matter in the entire Qur’an. It could be true that Muhammad really wanted to see some improvement of status of women in Arabia during his time. However, he was reluctant to enforce a radical change for fear of a backlash from the male dominated Arab society. This verse may look a little benign for it does mention about certain rights of women although not being so specific.
Why men are considered superior? It is because of their physical strength, financial ability to pay dower and to spend on women. The Qur’an is very clear about the superiority of men over women. Let us review a few verses from Qur’an to demonstrate this fact.
Women are not equal but inferior to Men
Let us examine the following verse up close:
Men have a degree over women…2:228
Men are protectors and maintainers of women; women must be devoutly obedient, if not then beat them…4:34
God created mate for tranquil living and put love and mercy among sexes…30:21
Men are true to their covenant…33:23
Revelations are sent to men only…12:109
Only men are chosen by God to be His messengers…16:43
God chooses messengers from men and angels…22:75
There are many perfect men but there are no perfect women except Mary, Asiya (Pharaoh’s wife) and Aisha (Muhammad’s wife)… (Shahih Muslim 31.5966)
Book 031, Number 5966:
Abu Musa reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: There are many persons amongst men who are quite perfect but there are not perfect amongst women except Mary, daughter of ‘Imran, Asiya wife of Pharaoh, and the excellence of ‘A’isha as compared to women is that of Tharid over all other foods.
Having established the indisputable superiority of men, God now elevates a man to the position of a kind of smaller god in the eyes of women. Here is what Islam thinks a woman should do for a man.
A man is next to God for a woman
This concept of absolute superiority of men in Islam is very similar to the Hindu practice. In Hinduism, women are asked to worship their husbands as Devota (demi God). Islam is no different on this. A woman’s single purpose in life is to please her husband. Nothing is holier than this. In fact, if a woman were required to worship any one other than God it would be her husband. In hadith we read:
If a woman is to prostrate to another person (besides Allah) it will be her husband.
.(Sunaan Abu Dawud 11.2135)
Book 11, Number 2135:
Narrated Qays ibn Sa’d:
I went to al-Hirah and saw them (the people) prostrating themselves before a satrap of theirs, so I said: The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) has most right to have prostration made before him. When I came to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him), I said: I went to al-Hirah and saw them prostrating themselves before a satrap of theirs, but you have most right, Apostle of Allah, to have (people) prostrating themselves before you. He said: Tell me , if you were to pass my grave, would you prostrate yourself before it? I said: No. He then said: Do not do so. If I were to command anyone to make prostration before another I would command women to prostrate themselves before their husbands, because of the special right over them given to husbands by Allah.
Women’s witness:
Women witness is half of men…2:282
A woman’s evidence by herself is never acceptable in an Islamic court of law. It is because of her deficiency in intelligence and lack of memory. What a disgrace to women and their ability of judgment! What happens if a woman becomes a judge? I really do not know the answer.
Not only that a single woman’s evidence is unacceptable in an Islamic court, but the women witnesses are completely unacceptable inSharia where Hudud punishments are involved such as adultery, apostasy, theft…etc.
This means that if a woman is raped her evidence or the evidence of any other women (even though there were thousands of women who witnessed the very act with their own eyes) will not be accepted unless four adult Muslim men give evidence that they saw the actual act of fornication with their own eyes.
What a justice! I think even a Kangaroo court is better than this type of Islamic court. Now, let us hear from the Qur’an.
O ye who believe! When ye deal with each other, in transactions involving future obligations in a fixed period of time, reduce them to writing Let a scribe write down faithfully as between the parties: let not the scribe refuse to write: as Allah Has taught him, so let him write. Let him who incurs the liability dictate, but let him fear His Lord Allah, and not diminish aught of what he owes. If they party liable is mentally deficient, or weak, or unable Himself to dictate, Let his guardian dictate faithfully, and get two witnesses, out of your own men, and if there are not two men, then a man and two women, such as ye choose, for witnesses, so that if one of them errs, the other can remind her. (002.282)
Majority of women are in hell
All women are sinners and majority of women would go to hell.
Majority of women are in hell…( Shahih Bukhari 1.6.301)
Volume 1, Book 6, Number 301:
Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri:
Once Allah’s Apostle went out to the Musalla (to offer the prayer) o ‘Id-al-Adha or Al-Fitr prayer. Then he passed by the women and said, “O women! Give alms, as I have seen that the majority of the dwellers of Hell-fire were you (women).” They asked, “Why is it so, O Allah’s Apostle ?” He replied, “You curse frequently and are ungrateful to your husbands. I have not seen anyone more deficient in intelligence and religion than you. A cautious sensible man could be led astray by some of you.” The women asked, “O Allah’s Apostle! What is deficient in our intelligence and religion?” He said, “Is not the evidence of two women equal to the witness of one man?” They replied in the affirmative. He said, “This is the deficiency in her intelligence. Isn’t it true that a woman can neither pray nor fast during her menses?” The women replied in the affirmative. He said, “This is the deficiency in her religion.”
Women are same as animals and slaves
Women, slaves and camels are same; must seek Allah’s refuge from all these…(Sunaan Abu Dawud 11.2155)
Book 11, Number 2155:
Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-‘As:
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: If one of you marries a woman or buys a slave, he should say: “O Allah, I ask Thee for the good in her, and in the disposition Thou hast given her; I take refuge in Thee from the evil in her, and in the disposition Thou hast given her.” When he buys a camel, he should take hold of the top of its hump and say the same kind of thing.
In the following hadith a woman is as impure as a dog and a monkey. In fact, there is a very little difference between the treatment of a dog and a woman if we really go deeper to get the latent meaning of this pernicious hadith.
A prayer is annulled by a passing woman, dog and a monkey…( Shahih Bukhari 1.9.490)
Volume 1, Book 9, Number 490:
Narrated ‘Aisha:
The things which annul the prayers were mentioned before me. They said, “Prayer is annulled by a dog, a donkey and a woman (if they pass in front of the praying people).” I said, “You have made us (i.e. women) dogs. I saw the Prophet praying while I used to lie in my bed between him and the Qibla. Whenever I was in need of something, I would slip away. for I disliked to face him.”
Islam considers women as harmful/devilish/crooked and satanic
The holy scriptures of Islam is full of misogynistic contents. Islam considers women to be crooked, evil, devilish, damaging, Satanic, harmful, portents of bad luck, and what not. Let me list a few statements below from the principle sources of Islam.
A woman is like a rib—that is why she has the crookedness…(Shahih Bukhari 7.62.113) Volume 7, Book 62, Number 113:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah’s Apostle said, “The woman is like a rib; if you try to straighten her, she will break. So if you want to get benefit from her, do so while she still has some crookedness.”
Women were created crooked;. if you try to straighten her you will break her and breaking her is divorcing her. ( Shahih Muslim 8.3467)
Women, house and horses are evil omens..( Shahih Bukhari;7.62.30) Volume 7, Book 62, Number 30:
Narrated Abdullah bin ‘Umar:
Allah’s Apostle said, “Evil omen is in the women, the house and the horse.’
Portents of hour are drinking, sex , 50 women per men…(Shahih Bukhari 1.3. 81) Volume 1, Book 3, Number 81:
Narrated Anas:
I will narrate to you a Hadith and none other than I will tell you about after it. I heard Allah’s Apostle saying: From among the portents of the Hour are (the following):
- Religious knowledge will decrease (by the death of religious learned men).
- Religious ignorance will prevail.
- There will be prevalence of open illegal sexual intercourse.
- Women will increase in number and men will decrease in number so much so that fifty women will be looked after by one man.
Nothing is more harmful to men than women…(Shahih Bukhari 7.62.33 Volume 7, Book 62, Number 33:
Narrated Usama bin Zaid:
The Prophet said, “After me I have not left any affliction more harmful to men than women.”
A woman advances and retires in the shape of a devil; so when one of you sees a woman, he should come to his wife and have intercourse with her…(Shahih Muslim 8.3240) Book 008, Number 3240:
Jabir reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) saw a woman, and so he came to his wife, Zainab, as she was tanning a leather and had sexual intercourse with her. He then went to his Companions and told them: The woman advances and retires in the shape of a devil, so when one of you sees a woman, he should come to his wife, for that will repel what he feels in his heart.
Property Right and Freedom of women in Islam
Islamists claim that Muhammad gave women the right to inherit property. Didn’t women in Arabia have that right before? Khadija inherited the wealth of her two deceased husbands and continued their business hiring men to work for her. Muhammad reduced that inheritance and the power of women. Contrary to what Muslims claim, Islam did not improve the status of women in Arabia. It actually took everything they had and denigrated them to such an extent that some years after Muhammad’s death Aisha complained, “Do you make us (women) equal to dogs and donkeys?”
The following story, narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas reveals how Arab women lost their freedom, thanks to Islam.
“I asked Umar, “O Chief of the believers! Who were the two ladies from among the wives of the Prophet to whom Allah said: ‘If you two return in repentance (66.4)? He said, “I am astonished at your question, O Ibn ‘Abbas. They were Aisha and Hafsa. Then ‘Umar explained, “We, the people of Quraish, used to have authority over women, but when we came to live with the Ansar, we noticed that the Ansari women had the upper hand over their men, so our women started acquiring the habits of the Ansari women. Once I shouted at my wife and she paid me back in my coin and I disliked that she should answer me back. She said, ‘Why do you take it ill that I retort upon you? By Allah, the wives of the Prophet retort upon him, and some of them may not speak with him for the whole day till night.’ What she said scared me and I said to her, ‘Whoever amongst them does so, will be a great loser.’ (Bukhari, 3:43:648)
This is a long Hadith. Umar expressed his concern that the women of Medina were influencing the women of Quraish and teaching them to be more independent.
Mecca was a religious hub. In religious centers, people are often fanatic, and in patriarchal religions, women are discriminated. Mecca was no exception. It was natural that women in Mecca had a lower status than other Arab women. When these women migrated to Medina and saw the freedom that women enjoyed there, they wanted it too. This did not sit well with Umar and Muhammad, the two misogynist men of Mecca. The above conversation between these two central figures of Islam shows that they were not pleased to see their wives enjoying the taste of freedom.
Arabs were not used to writing their history. Very little is left of pre Islamic culture and way of life. Whatever was written, Muslims destroyed. What Muslim historians wrote of that time is all derogatory. Muhammad called anything pre-Islamic “jahiliya” (days of ignorance) and claimed that until he started his religion all Arabs (in fact all mankind) were ignorant. Muslims think Arabs buried their daughters alive and were constantly in war. They say that a woman prior to Islam was worth less than a camel and it was the Prophet who gave them the status of human being. The above hadith depicts a different story. We can see that Arab women had more rights prior to Islam.
Muhammad grew old, impotent and paranoid. He was strict with his wives, fearing the rivalry of young virile men. The verses that he revealed to frighten his wives lest they go astray became the norm for all women. Islam is a misogynistic religion because Muhammad was a misogynist.
Anytime that the Prophet needed to say the ultimate word and make others shut up, he would make his Allah reveal a verse. He was an old man, having a harem of a score of wives and concubines. His wives were young and beautiful. In his old age he became chieftain, and could afford to marry anyone. Some even came and offered themselves to him. He would choose only the young and the pretty. But political power is not a substitute to physical stamina. He was aware of the age gap between his young wives and himself. He was jealous and would warn his wives to not betray him.
O Consorts of the Prophet! If any of you were guilty of evident unseemly conduct, the Punishment would be doubled to her, and that is easy for Allah. 31. But any of you that is devout in the service of Allah and His Messenger, and works righteousness,- to her shall We grant her reward twice: and We have prepared for her a generous Sustenance. (Quran 33.30)
He would often remind his wives to behave in a way as not to attract the attention of other men and cover themselves so they don’t become desired by strangers.
O Consorts of the Prophet! Ye are not like any of the (other) women: if ye do fear (Allah), be not too complacent of speech, lest one in whose heart is a disease should be moved with desire: but speak ye a speech (that is) just. 33. And stay quietly in your houses, and make not a dazzling display, like that of the former Times of Ignorance; and establish regular Prayer, and give regular Charity; and obey Allah and His Messenger. And Allah only wishes to remove all abomination from you, ye members of the Family, and to make you pure and spotless. (Quran 33.32)
Are these verses from God or the concerns of an impotent aging man with a bevy of young and attractive wives? Muhammad needed to control his wives and that is the reason behind the Islamic veil. What was originally meant for his wives became part of the Sharia and is imposed in all Islamic countries on all Muslim women.
Muhammad repeatedly emphasized the importance of women to obey their husbands. Did this have something to do with the fact that most of his wives were teenagers that he needed to control? His wives were uppity, as all teenagers are. To frighten them into submission he made his own wishes expressed by his imaginary friend in the heavens. Any time he had some domestic problems, Allah would rush to the rescue and reveal a verse or two to help him out. The following was used to put his wives in their places.
“It may be if he divorced you (all) that his Lord will give him instead of you, wives better than you, Muslims (who submit to Allâh), believers, obedient to Allah, turning to Allâh in repentance, worshiping Allah sincerely, fasting or emigrants (for Allah’s sake), previously married and virgins.” (Quran. 66: 5)
Is the maker of the universe so petty as to be concerned about the domestic affairs of Muhammad and wives?
The truth that women in Arabia had more liberty and authority before Islam, rather than after it, can also be evinced from the fact that Khadijah had a business of her own and had men at her service. Muhammad was but one of her employees. Do we have any tale of women after Islam running their own business and hiring men to work for them?
Mahr: A payment to have sex
An Islamic marriage is not a legal marriage without mahr. What is mahr? Mahr is the dower a prospective groom pays to contract a woman for marriage. No Islamic marriage is valid without a mahr. If we condemn the dower demanded by grooms (in India and Bangladesh) to marry a woman, then we must also do the same for Islamic mahr. Why should a man pay a woman to get married to her?
The plain answer is that a man pays to his wife/s to have sexual intercourse with her. What? This is outrageous, you say. Here is the truth. As per Islam, the mahr is the price a man pays to use a woman’s private parts. Are you enraged and furious? Of course, you are. Now, before you call me an ‘Islam basher’ please read on.
Let us search the Qur’an first.
Give dower to women as a free gift…4:4
And give the women (on marriage) their dower as a free gift; but if they, of their own good pleasure, remit any part of it to you, Take it and enjoy it with right good cheer. ..(004.004)
To get the real reason for a mahr we need to look at hadith and Sharia. Read the following hadith from Shahih Bukhari.and Shahih Muslim
Marriage gives the man the right to enjoy a woman’s private parts…( Shahih Bukhari;7.62.81) Volume 7, Book 62, Number 81:
Narrated ‘Uqba:
The Prophet said: “The stipulations most entitled to be abided by are those with which you are given the right to enjoy the (women’s) private parts (i.e. the stipulations of the marriage contract).”
The most worthy condition that must be fulfilled in a marriage is that sexual intercourse becomes lawful…(Shahih Muslim 8.3302) Book 008, Number 3302:
‘Uqba b. Amir (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The most worthy condition which must be fulfilled is that which makes sexual intercourse lawful.
An Islamic scholar from Nigeria, Abdur Rahman I. Doi admits that the mahr is indeed a remuneration (Ref: 9, p 162).
Remuneration for what?
See how Muhammad prevented Ali from sleeping with Fatima until he (Ali) paid the mahr.
Ali could not have intercourse with Fatima (Muhammed’s daughter) until Ali paid her dowry (the coat of mail)…( Sunaan Abu Dawud 11.2121 ) Book 11, Number 2121:
Narrated A man from the Companion of the Prophet:
Muhammad ibn AbdurRahman ibn Thawban reported on the authority of a man from the Companions of the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him): When Ali married Fatimah, daughter of the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him), he intended to have intercourse with her. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) prohibited him to do so until he gave her something. Ali said: I have nothing with me, Apostle of Allah. The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: Give her your coat of mail. So he gave her his coat of mail, and then cohabited with her.
A more elaborate reason for mahr is given in the Dictionary of Islam.
Dower is the payment for usufruct of wife (Ref: 6, p91)
Dower is considered by some lawyers to be an effect of the marriage contract, imposed on the husband by the law as a mark of respect for the subject of the contract – the wife; while others consider wife, and its payment is necessary for the usufruct of the wife, and its payment is necessary, as upon the permanency of the matrimonial connection.
So, what price a man should pay a woman to have an Islamic marriage (read for sexual intercourse)? Surprisingly, it is not that expensive. There is a minimum mahr that can be as little as a pair of shoes (Ref: 9, p163). And there is no limit to the maximum. It is even possible to contract an Islamic marriage without paying any money or any object of pecuniary value. If a woman agrees then a man can marry in exchange for reciting a verse from the Quran (Ref: 9, pp163, 164). Sex from a woman could be as cheap as that.
Minimum dower is ten dirham (Ref: 6, pp 91, 314)
Dower need not invariably be in currency or even in metal; everything except carrion, blood, wine and hog. Also the bridegroom’s own labour, if he is a freeman, being held by the law to be a good dower.
When one pays dower for having sex with wives then that indicates that women’s sexual organs have some money value i.e. they are some sort of product or services for which payments are necessary to derive their benefits. This is exactly how it is mentioned in 4:24.
And all married women (are forbidden unto you) save those (captives) whom your right hands possess. It is a decree of Allah for you. Lawful unto you are all beyond those mentioned, so that ye seek them with your wealth in honest wedlock, not debauchery. And those of whom ye seek content (by marrying them), give unto them their portions as a duty. And there is no sin for you in what ye do by mutual agreement after the duty (hath been done). Lo! Allah is ever Knower, Wise.
This verse clearly states that mahr is a payment that gives the man the right of ownership of sex organs of a woman. We must accept the fact that the Islamic system of payment of mahr to a woman is nothing but a price that is put on her sexual and reproductive organs.
So, Islamic mahr represents nothing but the exploitation of women of the highest order. It is nothing but the ownership of the body of female slaves by a master. If a man pays a woman to have sexual intercourse with her, what do we call her?
Beat your wives and other women
According to the provision of Sha’ria on the rights of a man on his wife/s it is crystal clear that by paying mahr, a man secures the ownership of a woman’s body from top to bottom including her private parts (i.e., sexual and reproductive organs).
Ownership of a woman’s body to do as he likes including beating
m5.4 (Ref: 8, p526) husbands rights
A husband possesses full right to enjoy his wife’s person (A: from the top of her head to the bottoms of her feet, though anal intercourse (dis: p75.20) is absolutely unlawful)
This hadith gives the husband an absolute right to beat his wife/s whenever he
Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband’s] absence what Allah would have them guard. But those [wives] from whom you fear arrogance – [first] advise them; [then if they persist], forsake them in bed; and [finally], strike them. But if they obey you [once more], seek no means against them. Indeed, Allah is ever Exalted and Grand.… Quran 4:34
Interesting that he just has to fear nushooz (defined as disobedience), he is allowed to give up having sex with her, and can even hit her.
Islamic apologists exhort that Islamic wife beating is really no beating at all but simply a light touch with a tooth pick! They will even tell you that a man cannot do this ‘light touching’ without a valid reason. The truth is that a Muslim man can even beat his wife/s for no reason. Let us see what the hadith and Sha’ria say on beating wives in an Islamic fashion.
A man will not be asked as to why he beat his wife…( Sunaan Abu Dawud 11.2142 )
Book 11, Number 2142: Narrated Umar ibn al-Khattab:
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: A man will not be asked as to why he beat his wife.
The above hadith gives the husband an absolute right to beat his wife/s whenever he pleases. He can even beat her every day for any number of hours as long as the beating is not directed on her face and no bleeding takes place.
Note that a woman does not have to disobey her husband to be beaten. She may not have to even think of it. The mere fact that he fears that she is thinking of disobeying him licenses him to beat out of her. Will he be answered for beating her? No! Umar narrated, “The Prophet said, ‘A man will not be asked as to why he beat his wife.’” (( Sunaan Abu Dawud 11.2142 )
Several hadiths report that Muhammad and his close companions beat their wives.
Aisha narrated, “He (Muhammad) struck me on the chest which caused me pain.”(Sahih Muslim 4: 2127)
Umar found the Prophet sitting sad and silent with his wives around him. … (He) decided to say something which would make the Prophet laugh, so he said, “Messenger of God, I wish you had seen (the treatment I meted out to) the daughter of Kharija when she asked me for extra money and I got up and slapped her on the neck.” God’s messenger laughed and said, “They are around me as you see asking for extra money.” Abu Bakr then got up, went to Aisha and slapped her on the neck, and Umar did the same to Hafsa. (Mishkat Al-Masabih: vol. 2, p. 690; Muslim: 9: 3506)
Narrated Aisha:
A necklace of mine was lost at Al-Baida’ and we were on our way to Medina. Abu Bakr came to me and hit me violently on the chest and said, “You have detained the people because of a necklace.” (Bukhari, 6: 60: 132)
Iyas ibn Abdullah reported God’s messenger as saying, “Do not beat God’s handmaidens;” but when `Umar came to God’s messenger and said, “The women have become emboldened towards their husbands,” he gave license to beat them. Then many women went round God’s messenger’s family complaining of their husbands, and he said, “Many women have gone around complaining of their husbands. Those are not the best among you” (Mishkat Al-Masabih: vol. 2, p. 692)
When a woman who was beaten severely by her husband went to Muhammad to complain he ignored her request.
Aisha said, “I have not seen any woman suffering as much as the believing women. Look! Her skin is greener than her clothes!” When ‘AbdurRahman heard that his wife had gone to the Prophet, he came with his two sons from another wife. She said, “By Allah! I have done no wrong to him but he is impotent and is as useless to me as this,” holding and showing the fringe of her garment, ‘Abdur-Rahman said, “By Allah, O Allah’s Apostle! She has told a lie! I am very strong and can satisfy her but she is disobedient and wants to go back to Rifa’a.” Allah’s Apostle said, to her, “If that is your intention, then know that it is unlawful for you to remarry Rifa’a unless Abdur-Rahman has had sexual intercourse with you.” Then the Prophet saw two boys with ‘Abdur-Rahman and asked (him), “Are these your sons?” On that ‘AbdurRahman said, “Yes.” The Prophet said, “You claim what you claim (i.e.. that he is impotent)? But by Allah, these boys resemble him as a crow resembles a crow,” (Bukhari, 7: 72: 715)
So the fact that this woman was beaten to such an extent that her body had turned green was not enough excuse for her to ask for divorce. The only time a woman is entitled to ask for a divorce is when her husband is impotent. The good news is however, that a woman has the right not to be hit in the face.
Hakim ibn Muawiya al-Qushairi quoted his father as telling that he asked, “Messenger of God, what right can any wife demand of her husband?” He replied,
“That you should give her food to eat, clothe her when you clothe yourself, not strike her on the face, and do not revile her or separate from her except in the house.” (Mishkat Al-Masabih: vol. 2, p. 691)
Important Duty of Muslim women
The most important duty of an Islamic wife is to satisfy the sexual desire/s of her husband. This may seem unbelievable at first, but wait! Isn’t the purpose of paying the mahr to a woman is to obtain the right to use her sexual organs for carnal gratification? An Islamic woman should never say ‘no’ to her husband’s demand for sex unless she has a natural reason like having her period or sickness. Even this natural menstruation cycle is considered a disease (Qur’an 2:222).
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 3272 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah
When Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) was asked which woman was best he replied, “The one who pleases (her husband) when he looks at her, obeys him when he gives a command, and does not go against his wishes regarding her person or property by doing anything of which he disapproves.”
A wife should never refuse sex to her husband, else Angels will curse her.
(Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.460 Narrated by Abu Huraira)
Allah’s Messenger (saws) said, “If a husband calls his wife to his bed (i.e. to have sexual relation) and she refuses and causes him to sleep in anger, the Angels will curse her till morning.”
(Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 3257 Narrated by Talq ibn Ali)
Allah’s Messenger (saws) said, “When a man calls his wife to satisfy his desire she must go to him even if she is occupied at the oven.”
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 286 Narrated by Umm Salamah
The Prophet (saws) said: If a woman dies while her husband was pleased with her, she will enter Paradise.
Here are some merciful Sha’ria laws for women. Please note that if a woman has received her mahr or agreed to its deferment to a future date, which is a normal custom in the present day, then submitting her sexual organs for husband’s use/desire is rather obligatory. If she refuses to this type of sexual slavery, then she will not be entitled to her daily maintenance allowance (see section on maintenance) and husband has the right to rape her.
Please refer Duties of a wife m5.1 Ref: Reliance of the Traveller (Revised edition), 1999 by Ahmad ibn Naqib al Misri; Edited by Nuh Ha Mim Keller; Published by Amana Publicatios, Belltsville, Maryland U.S.A., p525)
It is obligatory for a woman to let her husband have sex with her immediately when
(a) he asks her;
(b) at home (O: home meaning the place in which he is currently staying, even if being lent to him or rented);
(c) and she can physically endure it.
(d) (O: Another condition that should be added is that her marriage payment (mahr, def: m8) has been received or deferred to a term not yet expired.
As for when sex with her is not possible, such that having it would entail manifest harm to her, then she is not obliged to comply.)
Excuse of no sex due to period
e13.5 (Ibid, p94) If a woman claims to be having her period but her husband does not believe her, it is lawful for him to have sexual intercourse with her.
Who do you think knows best the working of private parts of a woman? Yeah, it is her husband, of course. You’ve guessed it right, didn’t you? A woman is not even to be trusted regarding the statement about her own body function! How insulting! It seems as if that every Muslim husband must examine the private sex organ of his wife/s if he has some doubt about her period. He must do this to comply with Islamic Sha’ria.
Hijab
Why do Islamists need to veil (hijab) a Muslim woman? If you go to Islamic websites or read many of the literature written by the Islamists, you will be amazed by silly logic they put forward in support of Islamic veil for women. Their logic runs the whole gamut ranging from protection of women from rape/prying eyes, a woman’s beauty is skin deep, how secured a woman feels, how beautiful a woman looks in hijab to divine sanction and so on. Many Muslims even believe that since the instruction of veiling had emanated from Allah so there must be some scientific reasons and give convoluted logic about the psychological make up of women and why they need to be put under Islamic cover (hijab). All these reasons are utterly hilarious.
Why did All Mighty Allah failed to create a world where women are safe?
So, what is the real reason for Islamic veil? To know the truth, we need to go back 1500 years backward and look at the sanitary/toilet facilities of the poor Arabs during Muhammad’s time.
After the death of Khadijah, Muhammad spent most of the wealth left by Khadijah. He became so poor that he had very little money to support himself. When he migrated to Medina, he and his followers were destitute. Under this dire poverty, Muhammad had to house his wives in places with very primitive or non-existent toilet/sanitary facilities. He had no choice but to ask his wives to go to an open field nearby and answer the call of nature. It is most likely that he himself did ease in this manner on many occasions. Here is what Sahih Bukhari says:
Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 4, Number 149:
Narrated ‘Aisha:
The Prophet said to his wives, “You are allowed to go out to answer the call of nature.”
The new converts of Islam were so haplessly poor that they even had no shelter and privacy to engage in sexual intercourse. The only place where they could satisfy this biological need was in the open sky. Thus, having sexual intercourse in open field was also common.
Sahih Bukhari Volume 6, Book 60, Number 203:
Narrated Muhammad bin ‘Abbas bin Ja’far:
That he heard Ibn ‘Abbas reciting: “No doubt! They fold up their breasts.” (11.5) and asked him about its explanation. He said, “Some people used to hide themselves while answering the call of nature in an open space lest they be exposed to the sky, and also when they had sexual relation with their wives in an open space lest they be exposed to the sky, so the above revelation was sent down regarding them.”
So Muhammad’s wives started to go to an open field only at night to answer the call of nature without any veil or proper attire. Hazrat Umor used to watch these ladies and was very uncomfortable and distressful to see them answering the call of nature in the open sky without much protection to their privacy. He requested Muhammad to cover his wives with veils whenever they went out to do their business in the open field at night.
At first, Muhammad ignored Umar’s plea. But when Umor kept on pestering him on this issue, he turned to Allah for His suggestion (since he did not have the pecuniary means to solve this toilet problem). Allah promptly sent down the verse on veil (33:59)
Muhammad’s wives, daughters, and believing women are to wear outer garments.
O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Here are some ahadith that confirm those pathetic toilet facilities for Muhammad’s wives and Umor’s plea to veil them.
Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 4, Number 148:
Narrated ‘Aisha:
The wives of the Prophet used to go to Al-Manasi, a vast open place (near Baqia at Medina) to answer the call of nature at night. ‘Umar used to say to the Prophet “Let your wives be veiled,” but Allah’s Apostle did not do so. One night Sauda bint Zam’a the wife of the Prophet went out at ‘Isha’ time and she was a tall lady. ‘Umar addressed her and said, “I have recognized you, O Sauda.” He said so, as he desired eagerly that the verses of Al-Hijab (the observing of veils by the Muslim women) may be revealed. So Allah revealed the verses of “Al-Hijab” (A complete body cover excluding the eyes).
Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 8, Number 395:
Narrated ‘Umar (bin Al-Khattab):
And as regards the (verse of) the veiling of the women, I said, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! I wish you ordered your wives to cover themselves from the men because good and bad ones talk to them.’ So the verse of the veiling of the women was revealed.
Sahih Muslim Book 026, Number 5397:
‘A’isha reported that the wives of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) used to go out in the cover of night when they went to open fields (in the outskirts of Medina) for easing themselves. ‘Umar b Khattab used to say: Allah’s Messenger, ask your ladies to observe veil, but Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) did not do that. So there went out Sauda, daughter of Zama, the wife of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him), during one of the nights when it was dark. She was a tall statured lady. ‘Umar called her saying: Sauda, we recognise you. (He did this with the hope that the verses pertaining to veil would be revealed.) ‘A’isha said: Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, then revealed the verses pertaining to veil
Sahih Bukhari Volume 6, Book 60, Number 318:
Narrated Aisha:
Sauda (the wife of the Prophet) went out to answer the call of nature after it was made obligatory (for all the Muslims ladies) to observe the veil. She was a fat huge lady, and everybody who knew her before could recognize her. So ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab saw her and said, “O Sauda! By Allah, you cannot hide yourself from us, so think of a way by which you should not be recognized on going out. Sauda returned while Allah’s Apostle was in my house taking his supper and a bone covered with meat was in his hand. She entered and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! I went out to answer the call of nature and ‘Umar said to me so-and-so.” Then Allah inspired him (the Prophet) and when the state of inspiration was over and the bone was still in his hand as he had not put in down, he said (to Sauda), “You (women) have been allowed to go out for your needs.”
Sahih Muslim Book 026, Number 5395:
A’isha reported that Sauda (Allah he pleased with her) went out (in the fields) in order to answer the call of nature even after the time when veil had been prescribed for women. She had been a bulky lady, significant in height amongst the women, and she could not conceal herself from him who had known her. ‘Umar b. Khattab saw her and said: Sauda, by Allah, you cannot conceal from us. Therefore, be careful when you go out. She (‘A’isha) said: She turned back. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) was at that time in my house having his evening meal and there was a bone in his hand. She (Sauda) came and said: Allah’s Messenger. I went out and ‘Umar said to me so and so. She (‘A’isha) reported: There came the revelation to him and then it was over; the bone was then in his hand and he had not thrown it and he said:” Permission has been granted to you that you may go out for your needs.”
After Allah took care of veiling Muhammad’s wife, Muhammad was relaxed. He did nothing to improve physically the toilet/sanitary facilities for them. In fact, he even developed the specifications of how to cleanse oneself with stones after defecating. His wives still continued to relieve themselves in the open field albeit with the hijab. Umar continued to monitor.
Some interesting point comes into mind, though.
How come Hazrat Umar was such a busybody to watch Muhammad’s wives easing themselves?
Another interesting point is this: where did the male Muslims during prophet’s time used to go to defecate? I am sure that they did not have sanitary lavatory in their homes. Most likely, they also used to go in the open land to ease themselves (as well as for sexual intercourse, as we saw earlier).
Why was prophet so discriminatory? Why did Allah have to veil women only? Why did He not ask for the veiling of men? Why did not prophet ask his male colleagues to taste how it is like wearing hijab or going inside a mobile prison (Burqa)?
Is this the fairness of Islam? Is this gender equality?
The message is very clear, folks. All the inane arguments that the Islamists give in support of veiling of women are completely hollow and illogical. Now that we know the real reason for veiling, let women assert their right to chose the attire that befits them. Why should they be imprisoned in ugly hijab and the unconscionable Burqa?
Polygamy in Islam: Weird logic
Islamists claim that there are some situations in which polygamy is advantageous to society, to have men marry multiple wives, and for this reason polygyny is practiced by many religions and cultures. Qur’an permits only a restricted and limited form of that practice, that is four.
Qur’an permits but does not command a man to have four wives. Furthermore, the Qur’an stipulates that a man is responsible for the maintenance of his wife or wives. If a man has more than one wife, he has to provide separate living accommodation for each of his wives. Multiple marriages are a heavy responsibility on the male. A man must divide his time equally among his wives. He may, for example, spend one night with each wife on a rotating schedule. If a man cannot maintain justice in the treatment of his wives, the Qur’an stipulates that he is to have no more than one wife.
Polygyny provides a solution to some of life’s problems. When there is a shortage of men, for example after a devastating war, many women will be unable to find husbands. Most women in that situation, given the option, would rather be a co-wife than no wife. If one maintains a strict monogamy in such a situation, moral depravity is bound to result.
John Esposito explains that in a society which allowed men an unlimited number of wives, Islam limited the number of wives to four. Then he continued to say:
The Qur’an permits a man to marry up to four wives, provided he can support and treat them all equally. Muslims regard this Qur’anic command as strengthening the status of women and the family for it sought to ensure the welfare of single women and widows in a society whose male population was diminished by warfare, and to curb unrestricted polygamy (John Esposito: Islam the Straight Path, p.97).
Karen Armstrong explains much the same in her book entitled Muhammad: A Western Attempt to Understand Islam. She says:
We have to see the ruling about polygamy in context. In seventh-century Arabia, when a man could have as many wives as he chose, to prescribe only four was a limitation, not a license to new oppression (Karen Armstrong, Muhammad: A Western Attempt to Understand Islam, Victor Gollancz Ltd., 1991, p.191).
At that time in Arabia, rich and powerful men used to hoard hundreds of women in their harem. So a poor-common man had scarcity of women to marry. Islam restricted that number to only four. Also Islam allows men to divorce (talaq) their wives, and these divorced wives can get married to other men.
Islamists claim that this was a progressive move for the society.
But is that really so? It only solves the problem for the men to have enough women to marry. It does not elevates the position of women but makes them sex-toys and property of men, just like a land for farming.
Umar was once talking when his wife interjected, so he said to her: ‘You are a toy, if you are needed we will call you.’” (Al-Musanaf by Abu Bakr Ahmad Ibn ‘Abd Allah Ibn Mousa Al-Kanadi who lived 557H., Vol. 1 Part 2, p. 263. See also Ihy’a ‘Uloum ed-Din by Ghazali, Dar al-Kotob al-‘Elmeyah, Beirut, Vol II, Kitab Adab al-Nikah, p. 52.)
And ‘Amru Bin al-’Aas, also a Khalif, said: “Women are toys, so choose.”(Kanz-el-‘Ummal, Vol. 21, Hadith No. 919)
Islamists’ say that Qur’an is not forcing the believer to marry four wives”.
No one ever alleged that Qur’an FORCES the believer to marry four wives?
It is easy to refute an allegation if the allegation is a made up one! If god is perfect then why not grant that freedom of choice to women as well?. Can perfect god be sexist?
Slave girls in Islam
“It is not lawful for you (to marry other) women after this, nor to change them for other wives even though their beauty attracts you, except those (captives or slaves) whom your right hand possesses. And Allah is Ever a Watcher over all things.” Surah 33:52
(Tafsir of this ayat take from Mawdudi’s The Meaning of the Qur’an: Book 10, page 137, footnote no. 94)
“This verse explains why one is permitted to have conjugal relations with one’s slave-girls besides the wedded wives, and there is no restriction on their number.
The same thing has also been stated in Surah An-Nisa:3; Al-Mu’minun:6; and Al-Ma’arij:30.
In all these verses the slave-girls have been mentioned as a separate class from the wedded wives, and conjugal relations with them have been permitted. Moreover, verse 3 of Surah An-Nisa lays down the number of the wives as four, but neither has Allah fixed the number of the slave-girls in that verse nor made any allusion to their number in the other relevant verses. Here, of course, the Holy Prophet is being addressed and told: ‘It is no more lawful for you to take other women in marriage, slave-girls, however, are lawful.’ This shows no restriction has been imposed in respect of slave-girls.
“Also (forbidden are) women already married, except those (captives and slaves) whom your hands possess. Thus has Allah ordained for you…..” Surah 4:24
Tafsir of Mawdudi, Book2, page 112, footnote 44:
“That is, ‘Those women, who became prisoners of war, while their husbands are left behind in the War Zone, are not unlawful because their marriage ties have been broken by the fact that they have come into the Islamic Zone. It is lawful to marry such women and make them wives, and it is also lawful for those, in whose possession they are, to have sexual relations with them.
There was, however, a difference of opinion as to whether such a woman is lawful if her husband has also been captured along with her. Imam Abu Hanifah and those of his way of thinking are of the opinion that the marriage tie of such a pair should remain intact but Imam Malik and Shafi’ee are of the opinion that it should be broken.’
As there exist many misunderstandings in the minds of people concerning the slave-girls taken as prisoners of war, the following should be carefully studied:
(1) It is not lawful for a soldier to have conjugal relations with a prisoner of war as soon as she falls into his hands. The Islamic Law requires that all such women should be handed over to the government, which has the right to set them free or to exchange them with the Muslim prisoners in the hands of the enemy or distribute them among the soldiers. It is lawful for a soldier to cohabit only with that woman who has been formally given to him by the Islamic government.
(2) Even then, he shall have to wait for one monthly course before he can cohabit with her in order to ensure whether she is pregnant or not; otherwise it shall be unlawful to cohabit with her before delivery.
(3) It does not matter whether the female prisoner of war belongs to the People of the Book or not. Whatever her religion, she becomes lawful for the man to whom she has been given.
(4) None but the one whom the slave-girl is given has the right to “touch her”. The offspring of such a woman from his seed shall be his lawful children and shall have the same legal rights as are given by the Divine Law to children from one’s loins. After the birth of a child she cannot be sold as a slave-girl and shall automatically become free after her master’s death.
(5) If the master marries his slave-girl with another man, he forfeits his conjugal rights over her, but retains other rights such as service from her.
(6) The maximum limit of four has not been prescribed for slave-girls as in the case of wives for the simple reason that the number of female prisoners of war is unpredictable. The lack of limit does by no means provide a license for the well-to-do people to buy any number of slave-girls for licentious purposes.
(7) The proprietary rights over a slave male or female as given to a person by the government are transferable like all other legal proprietary rights.
(8) The handing over of the proprietary rights over a slave-girl to a man formally by the government makes her as much lawful for him as the giving of a hand of a free woman to a man by her parents or guardian by means of nikah (marriage ceremony). Therefore there is no reason why a man who does not hold marriage in detestation should hold sexual intercourse with a slave-girl in detestation.
(9) When once the government hands over the female prisoner of war to someone, it has no right whatever to take her back from him, just as the parent or guardian has no right after the woman is handed over to a man through nikah.
(10) It should also be noted well that if a military commander temporarily distributes female prisoners of war among the soldiers for sexual purposes, or permits them to have sexual relations for the time being, such an act shall be unlawful.
References
1. The Holy Quran; Translation by A. Yusufali
2. Shahih Bukhari; Translation by Dr. Muhammad Mohisn Khan
3. Shahih Muslim; Translation by Abdur Rahman Siddiqui
4. Sunaan Abu Dawud; Translation by Prof. Ahmad Hasan
5. Malik’s Muwatta Translators A’sha Abdurrahman at-Tarjumana andYa’qub Johnson
6. A Dictionary of Islam, 1994 by T.P Hughes; Publisher Kazi Publications, Inc. 3023-27 West Belmont Avenue, Chicago, IL 60618.
7. Al-Ghazali’s Ihya’ Ulum al-Din (abridged by Abd el Salam Haroun), 1997; Revised and Translatd by Dr. Ahmad A. Zidan; Published and Distributed by: Islamic Inc. P.O. Box 1636, Cairo, Egypt.
8. Reliance of the Traveller (Revised edition), 1999 by Ahmad ibn Naqib al Misri; Edited by Nuh Ha Mim Keller; Published by Amana Publicatios, Belltsville, Maryland U.S.A.
9. Karen Armstrong, Muhammad: A Western Attempt to Understand Islam, Victor Gollancz Ltd., 1991.
10. John Esposito: Islam the Straight Path.
11. Mishkat Al-Masabih vol 2
12. Kanz-el-‘Ummal, Vol. 21
13. Al-Musanaf by Abu Bakr Ahmad Ibn ‘Abd Allah Ibn Mousa Al-Kanadi Vol. 1
14. Ihy’a ‘Uloum ed-Din by Ghazali, Dar al-Kotob al-‘Elmeyah, Beirut, Vol 2,
15. The Meaning of the Qur’an: Book 10 by Mawdudi
RATIONALIST DEBASHIS 