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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). Proficient in: Culture
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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 the great prophets such as Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad present the guidance of Allah to them. Muhammad is Allahs servant and prophet; he is the most respected and greatest of all prophets.
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The core of Islamic teachings is the belief that all people should live in peace and harmony with others regardless of race, gender, or religion (Islam 101). All Islamic rituals are centered on the Five Pillars, which consist of Iman, Salah, Zakah, Sawm, and Hajj. Muslims are obligated to live by the five pillars if financially and medically able. Iman is their faith, Muslims are required to believe in the singularity of God and the finality of his messenger, Muhammad (Islam 101), Salah is prayer, which Muslims are obligated to partake in five times daily (Islam 101). Salah is a Muslims strongest connection to Allah.
Within a mosque there is no hierarchy of authority and prayer is usually lead by a person selected by the congregation who is well learned in the Quran, the Islamic equivalent to a bible (Islam 101). Although it is preferable to worship within a Mosque, it is appropriate to stop anywhere and worship him. Zakah is a Muslims financial obligation or the giving of alms (Islam 101). It is an Islamic belief that all possessions are cleansed and purified by giving a portion of them back for the needy and society in general (Islam 101). Sawm consists of abstaining from food, beverage, and sexual intercourse from dusk to dawn (Islam 101). The purpose of Sawm is purify yourself and to teach you self-restrain so that you are able to focus on your purpose in life and on Gods constant presence in the world (Islam 101). Hajj, the final of the five pillars is a pilgrimage to the holly land or Mecca. All Muslims who are financially and medically able are obligated to make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime (Islam 101).
Women within Islam have not always had their current social status. In early Islamic history it is believed that women were philosophers, artists, and lead great armies (Ahmed 185). Women were respected to the point that cities were named after them and they were considered equal or even greater then men (Ahmed 185). According to the Koran, One may even argue that womens essential equality with man is more complete in Islam that it is in Judaism and Christianity (Hussaine 22). The sudden decline of the status of women in Islamic society resulted from excessive colonization. As Islamic areas became more populated the men retreated to rigid customs and sterile rituals in order to find some form of security (Hussain 75). With this women were formed into an inferior class (Ahmed 186).
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 its 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 general Koranic provisions to sanction them (Hussain 25). The chastity and seclusion of women are rigidly observed, and an extreme penalty is strongly enforced for those who are defiant (Ahmed 187). This is because they are seen to be child bearers while men are breadwinners (Hussain 46).
Women are believed to lack reason and are emotional, They should not be given the right to divorce because its great impediment is womens special mentality which like spring weather and infantile temperament is in a state on constant fluxion. (Hussain 46). While women are believed to be able to fall in love at the slightest sign of affection, women are also able to start a feud at the slightest sign of temper. In Islam this is the reason why men believe women should have no power. Women are seen as week and emotional. Due to the fact that they do see women as emotional roller coasters that would make decisions based on impulse and emotion rather than through deliberation and instinct, women are not to hold power or to be able to make any decisions.
The Koran, like todays Bible, has several translations and interpretations. Upon returning to original texts, On the issues of seclusion in the houses and veiling abroadcontains 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 prophets 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).
Simple strict interpretations of the Koran along with changes made to it over time have caused the status of women within Islamic society to become inferior to men. The laws of United States of America are written in the same vague fashion that the Koran is, everyone has their own interpretation of our laws. Some people view a strict interpretation while others have a more lenient interpretation. Similarly Islamic authorities and the rest of the world are the same way about the Koran. The male dominant authorities within Islam have made a harsher interpretation towards the status of women and the way that women are to be treated. These injustices inflicted upon the women of Islam have been noticed from within Islam just as well as it has from the outside world. With simple changes in the interpretation of the Koran by Islamic authorities and the integration of these new interpretations over a generation or two the status of women within Islamic society should improve to the original status of women being mans equal instead of being the inferior sex.
An Analysis of the Topic of Women and Islamic Culture. (2023, Mar 13). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/an-analysis-of-the-topic-of-women-and-islamic-culture-essay
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