Women in Islam
By
Dr. Mohsen El-Guindy

What prompted me to write on this subject is that I saw by accident a u tube talking about women in Islam. The two debaters were Robert Spencer and an Islamic scholar. The issue Robert Spencer raised was beating women in Islam. By raisng such issue Spencer’s intention of course was to show that Islam is a violent religion, and it urges Muslim men to violently beat their women. The Muslim scholar explained that beating a rebellious woman in order to reform her is similar to a tap on the wrist, but Spencer exclaimed that this act of beating in his view is barbarian! the verdict of Allah, the Creator, regarding reforming distorted women is barbarian!

As a man excellent in falsifying the truth, Robert Spencer concealed the fact that beating rebellious women lightly is nearly the last resort that is preceded by several other means of reformation.

The subject of women in Islam is vast and comprehensive, but out of a sense of obligation, I find myself prompted to explain the truth about women in Islam, a subject that was frequently falsified by Robert Spencer and the other gangs known by enmity to Islam. 

In those days before Islam, women were treated like slaves or property. Their personal consent concerning anything related to their well-being was considered unimportant, to such a degree that they were never even treated as a party to a marriage contract.

In addition, the birth of a daughter in a family was not an occasion for rejoicing, but was regarded with humiliation. The practice of killing female children was uncontrolled.

With the advent of Islam came the verse from the Quran condemning those who practiced female infanticide:

“And when the news of (the birth of) a female (child) is brought to any of them, his face becomes dark, and he is filled with inward grief! He hides himself from the people because of the evil of that whereof he has been informed. Shall he keep her with dishonor or bury her in the earth? Certainly, evil is their decision.” (An-Nahl 16:58-59).

And as part of a description of various events on the Day of Judgment, the Quran mentions:

“And when the female (infant) buried alive (as the pagan Arabs used to do) shall be questioned. For what sin she was killed? (At-Takwir 81:8-9).

Before Islam women in Arabia were used for one purpose, and then discarded. They had no independence, could own no property and were not allowed to inherit. In times of war, women were treated as part of the prize. Simply put, their condition was unspeakable. Islam came to give them their rights.

Allah says in the Quran:

“O You who believe! You are forbidden to inherit women against their will, and you should not treat them with harshness, that you may take away part of the Mahr (bridal-money given by the husband to his wife at time of marriage) you have given them, unless they commit open illegal sexual intercourse. And live with them honorably. If you dislike them, it may be that you dislike a thing and Allah brings through it a great deal of good.” (An-Nisa 4:19).

Outside Arabia conditions for women were no better. In India, Egypt, and all European countries in the Dark Ages, women were treated worse than slaves. They were not regarded as human beings but as sort of a sub-species between humans and animals.

The rights of Muslim women were given to them by Allah, the Most Wise. He, the Creator, alone knows what rights are best for women. The most basic right of a woman in Islam is the knowledge and recognition that she never has to ask or fight for her rights which are guaranteed to her by Allah Himself.

Islam considers a woman to be equal to man as a human being and as his partner in this life. Women have been created with a soul of the same nature as men.

Allah says in the Quran:

“O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife (Eve), and from them both He created many men and women and fear Allah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allah is Ever and All-Watcher over you.” (Al-Nisa 4:1)

And in the words of the Prophet Muhammad:

“Assuredly, women are the twin halves of men.” (Sahih reporteby Abu-Dawud.  

In Islamic law a woman is an independent, unique individual in her own right. She has the same responsibilities towards herself, towards Allah and towards other human beings as the male, and will be punished or rewarded in the Hereafter exactly as man.

A Muslim woman is not permitted to change her family name to her husband’s name upon marriage. She is always known by her father’s name, as a mark of her own identity. In choosing a marriage partner, her consent to accept or reject any prospective suitor for marriage must be respected. A Muslim woman has the right to seek divorce, if necessary within the laws of Islam.

Islam does not blame Eve alone for the First Sin. The Quran makes it very clear that both Adam and Eve were tempted, that they both sinned and were both forgiven after their repentance. Allah (SWT) says in the Quran:

“Then Satan whispered suggestions to them both in order to uncover that which was hidden from them of their private parts (before); he said: “Your Lord did not forbid you this tree save you should become angels or become of the immortals.” And he (Satan) swore by Allah to them both (saying): “Verily, I am one of the sincere well-wishers for you both.” So he misleads them with deception. Then when they tasted of the tree, that which was hidden from them of their shame (private parts) became manifest to them and they began to stick together the leaves of Paradise over themselves (in order to cover their shame). And their Lord called out to them (saying): “Did I not forbid you that tree and tell you: Verily, Satan is an open enemy unto you?” They said: “Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You forgive us not, and bestow not upon us Your Mercy, we shall certainly be of the losers.” (Allah) said: “Get down, one of you an enemy to the other (i.e. Adam, Eve, and Satan, etc.). On earth will be a dwelling-place for you and an enjoyment, – for a time.” He said: “Therein you shall live, and therein you shall die, and from it you shall be brought out (i.e. resurrected).”(Al-A’raf 7:20-25).

Muslim women have the right to go outside of her home. A woman in Islam has the right to get an education.

In the words of the Prophet Muhammad:

“To seek knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim.”
(Declared Authentic By Shaikh Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen Al-Albaani).

In Islam there is no what the Christians claim “Original Sin”. Eve is not to blame for tempting Adam to eat from the forbidden tree, it was satan who tempted them both. The Koran states that Adam and Eve equally sinned and were both forgiven after their repentance.

Allah says in the Quran:

“Then Satan whispered suggestions to them both in order to uncover that which was hidden from them of their private parts (before); he said: “Your Lord did not forbid you this tree save you should become angels or become of the immortals.” And he (Satan) swore by Allah to them both (saying): “Verily, I am one of the sincere well-wishers for you both.” So he mislead them with deception. Then when they tasted of the tree, that which was hidden from them of their shame (private parts) became manifest to them and they began to stick together the leaves of Paradise over themselves (in order to cover their shame). And their Lord called out to them (saying): “Did I not forbid you that tree and tell you: Verily, Satan is an open enemy unto you?” They said: “Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You forgive us not, and bestow not upon us Your Mercy, we shall certainly be of the losers.” (Allah) said: “Get down, one of you an enemy to the other (i.e. Adam, Eve, and Satan, etc.). On earth will be a dwelling-place for you and an enjoyment, – for a time.” He said: “Therein you shall live, and therein you shall die, and from it you shall be brought out (i.e. resurrected).”(Al-A’raf 7:20-25).

Muslim women are not forbidden from going out in the community, working, or visiting relatives and female friends, if there is no objection from their guardian/husband and they are covered and behave and speak according to Islamic guidelines and, if necessary, escorted by their Mahram (a close male relative). However, a woman’s home should be the main base that she works from. Allah instructed the wife’s of the Prophet:

O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women. If you keep your duty )to Allah), then be not soft in speech, least he is whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy or evil desire for adultery, etc) should be moved with desire, but speak in an honorable manner. And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance, and offer prayers perfectly, and give Zakat (alms giving) and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah wishes only to remove Ar-Rigs (evil deeds and sins… etc) from you. O members of the family (of the Prophet), and to purify you with a thorough purification (Al-Ahzab 32, 33).

A woman in Islam has the right to get an education.

In the words of the Prophet Muhammad:

“To seek knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim.”
(Declared Authentic By Shaikh Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen Al-Albaani)

Muslim here means male and female Muslims, as women are the twin halves of men.

The Prophet said:

“Whoever follows a way to seek knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a way to paradise.” (Declared Authentic By Shaikh Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen Al-Albaani)

A woman in Islam has the right to knowledge and education. Allah encourages women to read and keep up the learning process. He also bestows His mercy upon all who seek knowledge, and gives them high status:

“Is one who is obedient to Allah, prostrating himself or standing (in prayer) during the hours of the night, fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the Mercy of his Lord (like one who disbelieves)? Say: “Are those who know equal to those who know not?” It is only men of understanding who will remember (Az-Zumar 39:9).

“O you who believe! When you are told to make room in the assemblies, (spread out and) make room. Allah will give you (ample) room (from His Mercy). And when you are told to rise up (for prayers, Jihad, or for any other good deed), rise up. Allah will exalt in degree those of you who believe, and those who have been granted knowledge. And Allah is Well-Acquainted with what you do. (Al-Mujadilah 58:11).

This is referring to religious knowledge, in the first place, and to any other kind of knowledge, in the second place, where one has the intention of benefiting herself, her family and the Islamic society. Additionally, a husband should not forbid his wife from going out of the house to seek basic religious knowledge, unless he is teaching her at home. The Quran advises mankind to pray:

“Then High above all be Allah, the True King. And be not in haste [O Muhammad  with the Quran before its revelation is completed to you, and say: My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.” (Ta-Ha 20:114)

The Messenger of Allah said:

“If someone’s wife asks his permission to go to the mosque, he should not deny it to her.”

Women should be covered, according to the Muslim woman’s dress requirements.

At the same time, a woman’s prayer in her home is better, from the standpoint of her household duties and duties as a mother. Also it is better in the sense that it prevents unnecessary mixing with men.

The Prophet stated on another occasion:

“But their homes are better for them.” (Reported by Abu Dawud and Ahmed) .

In Islam, the rights and responsibilities of a woman are equal to those of man, but they are not necessarily identical. Equality and sameness are two very different things. This is because women and men are physically very different from one another, although they are equal to each other in other important ways.

If we take a look at many societies today, a woman is only valued and considered important if she performs the functions of a man, while at the same time displaying her feminine attractions to the public. The result is the present-day confusion concerning sex role differentiation, resulting in very large numbers of divorces and emotionally distraught children.

In Islam, however, the value and importance of women in society and the true measure of their success as human beings, is measured with completely different criteria: their fear of Allah and obedience to Him, and fulfillment of the duties He has entrusted them with, particularly that of bearing, rearing and teaching children.

Nevertheless, Islam is a practical religion, and responds to human needs and life situations. Many women need, or wish, to work for various reasons. For example, they may possess a needed skill, such as a teacher or a doctor.

While Islam does not prohibit women working outside the home, it does stipulate that the following restrictions be followed to safeguard the dignity and honor of women and the purity and stability of the Islamic society, the conduct of women, after all, is the “backbone” of any society:

1. Outside employment should not come before, or seriously interfere with her responsibilities as wife and mother.

2. Her work should not be a source of friction within the family and the husband’s consent is required in order to eliminate later disagreements. If she is not married, she must have her guardian’s consent.

3. Her appearance, manner and tone of speech and overall behavior should follow Islamic guidelines. These include: restraining her glances in relation to any men near the work place, wearing correct Islamic dress, avoiding men, not walking in a provocative manner, and not using make-up or perfume in public.

4. Her job should not be one which causes moral corruption in society, or involve any prohibited trade or activity, affect her own religion, morals, dignity and good behavior, or expose her to temptations.

5. Her job should not be one which is mixing and associating with men.

6. A woman should try to seek employment in positions which require a woman’s special skills, or which relate to the needs of women and children, such as teaching, nursing other women, midwifery, medicine with specialization’s like pediatric or obstetrics-gynecology.

A Muslim woman is required to dress a certain way when she goes out in public.

For a Muslim woman, her modest dress is an expression of a universal sisterhood. An Islamic dress also liberates the Muslim woman, and she is then automatically respected for her mind instead of her body. Simply put, she retains her dignity! It is like saying: I am a respectful woman. I am not for every man to look at, touch, or speak to. I am protected, exactly like a precious white pearl which, if touched by everyone, will become black and dirty.
A woman’s modest dress protects society from adultery and other forms of illegal sexual relations that lead to the break up of families and corruption of society.

In short, the right of a Muslim woman is to be respected for her and for being her own person (women’s rights in Islam. http://realislam.com/muslim_women.htm). 

Marriage in Islam is not a temporary union and is meant for the entire span of life. Dissolution of marriage is however, permitted if it fails to serve its objectives and has irretrievably broken down. Family arbitration is resorted to before final dissolution. There are three forms of dissolution: divorce by the husband, separation sought by the wife, and dissolution of the marriage by a court of an arbiter. Detailed laws and by-laws have been laid down by the Koran and the Sunnah in respect of these and have been codified in the Fiqh (jurisprudence) literature to regulate different aspects of marriage and family life.

According to the teachings of the Koran, in the internal organization of the family, a man is in the position of the head and the over-all supervisor. A man’s major responsibilities lie outside the family. He has to support the family economically and materially. He has to look after the relations of the family with the rest of the society, and he has to take care of the demands of internal discipline within the family.

A woman’s major responsibilities lie within the family. A spectrum of mutual rights and responsibilities has been evolved that balanced relationships are developed between all. There is equality in rights, there is demarcation in responsibilities.

In Islam wives are to submit to their husbands and show them respect as long as their marital duties and rights are respected from their husbands. Obedience and submission to the husband in Islam is the natural order of things and not the opposite.

The husband’s obligations are:

(1) Maintenance

The husband is responsible for the wife’s maintenance. This right is established by authority of the Quran and Sunnah. A component of his role is to bear the financial responsibility of the family in a generous way so that his wife may be assured security. The Koran gives the man the right of guardianship over the family structure in order to prevent dissension and friction between the spouses. The equity of this system lies within the fact that Allah favored the man with the necessary qualities and skills for the guardianship and also charged him with the duty to provide foe the structure’s upkeep.

The wife’s maintenance entails her right to lodging, clothing, food and general care, like medication, hospital bills etc. He must provide for her a decent home according to his means. The wife’s lodging must be adequate so as to ensure her privacy, comfort and independence.

If a wife has been used to a maid or is unable to attend to her household duties, it is the husband duty to provide her with a maid if he can afford to do so. The Prophet is reported to have said: “The best Muslim is one who is the best husband.”

(2) “Mahr”

The wife is entitled to a marriage gift that is her own. This may be prompt or deferred depending on the agreement between the parties. A marriage is not valid without Mahr. It does not have to be money or gold. It can be non-material like teaching her to read the Quran. ” Mahr” is a gift from the groom to the bride. This is the Islamic law, unlike some cultures whereby the bride’s parents pay the future husband to marry the daughter. This practice degrades women and is contrary to the spirit of Islam. There is no specification in the Qur’an as to what or how much the Mahr has to be. It depends on the parties involved.

(3) Non-material rights.

A husband is commanded by the law of God to treat his wife with equity, respect her feelings and show kindness and consideration.

The Prophet said:

“The most perfect believer in faith is one who is the best of them in good conduct. The best of you is one who treats best with his wife among you.” (Al-Bukhari).

The Prophet’s Last Sermon stresses kindness to women.

The husband’s rights are:

One of the main duties of the wife is to contribute to the success and happiness of the marriage. She should be attentive to the comfort and wellbeing of her husband and vice-versa.

The Koranic verse which illustrates this point is:

“Our Lord, grant us wives and offspring who will be the coolness of our eyes and guide us to be models for the righteous.”

The wife should be trustworthy and honest. She cannot deceive her husband by deliberately avoiding conceiving. She should not have any sexual intimacy with anyone other than her husband. She should not receive or entertain strange males in the house without his knowledge and consent. She should not accept gifts from other men without his approval. This is meant to avoid jealousy, suspicion and gossip. She shouldn’t dispose of his belongings without his permission.

A wife should make herself attractive to her husband and be responsive to his advances. The wife should not refuse her husband without reason as this may lead to marital problems and worse still – tempt the man to adultery. The husband, of course, should take into account the wife’s health and consideration of circumstances.

In general, Muslim wife must be obedient to her husband because Allah has protected her by giving her a marital shelter under the protection of a loving husband. She must therefore, do everything to justify that position by guarding her own virtue and her husband’ reputation and property.

The purpose of obedience in a relationship is to keep the family unit running as smoothly as possible. Obedience does not mean blind obedience. It is subject to conditions:

(a) It is required only if what is asked from the wife is within the permissible categories of action.

(b) It must be maintained only with regard to matters that fall under the husband’s rights.

To sum up woman’s duty towards her husband: she must be obedient to her husband and shows him respect; she treats his mother and family with kindness and respect; she endears herself to her husband and is keen to please him; she does not disclose his secrets; she stands by him and offers her advice ; she encourages her husband to spend for the sake of Allah;  she helps him to obey Allah;  she fills his heart with joy; she makes herself beautiful for him; she is cheerful and grateful when she meets him ;she shares his joys and sorrows; she does not look at other men; she does not describe other women to him; she tries to create an atmosphere of peace and tranquility for him; She is tolerant and forgiving; She is strong in character and wise.

Sullen malice; grudge and hatred between husband and wife are not allowed in Islam. Temper, nagging, sarcasm, speaking at each other in other people’s presence, reverting to past faults which should be forgotten and forgiven – all this is forbidden. We must live our lives as in the presence of Allah, who is above us, but who watches over us. How petty and contemptible will our little squabbles appear in his presence?

This is why the Muslim good wife deserves to be the greatest blessing that Allah may bestow upon a man, and an incomparable source of joy in his life. The Prophet indeed spoke the truth when he said:

“This world is nothing but temporary conveniences, and the greatest joy in this world is a righteous woman.”

Similarly, it is attributed to the prophet that he said:

  • Fear Allah in respect of women.
  • The best of you are they who behave best to their wives.
  • A Muslim must not hate his wife, and if he be displeased with one bad quality in her, let him be pleased with one that is good.
  • The more civil and kind a Muslim is to his wife, the more perfect in faith he is.
  • Treat women with kindness, for woman was created from a rib, and the most curved portion of the rib is its upper portion. So if you try to straighten it, it will break, but if you have it as it is, it will remain curved. So treat women with kindness.
  • A man asked the Prophet, “Whom should I honor most?” The Prophet replied: “Your mother.” ”And who comes next?” asked the man. The Prophet replied, “Your mother.” “And who comes next?” asked the man. The Prophet replied, “Your mother.” “And who comes next?” asked the man. The Prophet replied, “Your father.”

In Islam , the primary role played by women is to be mothers, and mothers are considered the most important part of the family. A well known saying of the Prophet states: “I asked the Prophet who has the greatest right over a man and he said, “His mother.” While the woman is considered the most important member of the family, she is not the head of the family. Importance of women in the family has no relevance with being the head of the family.

In Islam woman is different from man, for she complements him and he her. The Qur’an emphasizes that difference: ” And the male is not like the female”. [Surah 3:36] They are as unlike as positive and negative. Yet the difference does not mean that they are adversaries in any sense. They arise from each other and are for each other: “you are from one another” [Surah 4:25] , and “And Allah has given you wives of your own kind”. [Surah 4:25]

Allah’s wisdom has also ordained that the physical and psychological construction of the woman should carry elements that enable her to attract and be attracted by the man. Fundamental to this purpose was Allah’s equipment of the female with an instinctive desire and a strong natural passion that leads to their mutual attraction and communion so that life would continue and generations would spring forth.

Therefore, Islam disapproves of systems that clash with this instinctive nature or render it ineffective, such as the system of monasticism. By no means, however, does this reflect acceptance of the channeling of this energy in the wrong direction, that is, outside divinely-sanctioned marriage which forms the basis of the family. Thus Islam, as do all other revealed religions, prohibits adultery as well as all forms of licentiousness whether they are visible or invisible. Islam has filled in all the gaps that could lead to these acts, thus providing protection for men and women from all factors of seduction and lust.

On the basis of the instinctive nature of the woman and the need for a healthy and proper atmosphere for her relationship with the man, Islam has set its codes for the woman as well as all the other relevant codes, instructions and rules. To guard her femininity and acknowledge its needs so as not to repress it, is what Islam is after. It tries to create a barrier between the woman and degradation, to protect her from the human wolves and predators that chase her into their lairs, devour her and discard the despoiled remains.

We can give a rough summation of Islam’s attitude to femininity as follows:

1- Islam protects femininity to keep the stream of tenderness and beauty running. For this reason some of the things that men are forbidden to do are permissible for women. So the woman can wear gold and pure silk; hence the Hadith, “These two (substances) are prohibited for the men of my nation and allowed for its women”. [Transmitted by Ibn Majah on the authority of Ali (3595), Hadith Sahih.] The permission to use things that suit women is supported by forbidding them from handling things that go against their femininity, such as men’s wear, movement and behavior in general. A woman is not to wear a man’s garment; a man is not to wear a woman’s garment. The Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) says: “Allah condemns the man who dresses like a woman and the woman who dresses like a man”. [ Transmitted by Abu Huraira, Abu Dawud (4098); and Ahmad 2/325; and Ibn Hibban (1904); and others.] For men to behave like women and women to behave like men is equally condemned by Alkib. Again the Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) says, “Three kinds of people do not enter Paradise and do not enjoy Allah’s gaze upon them on Judgment Day: a son who is disobedient to his parents, a mannish woman and an adulterer. [ Transmitted by Ahmad lbn Umar and approved by Sheikh Shaker as Sahih (1680); and Al-Nisa’i 5/80; and Al-Hakim 1/72 and others.]

2- Islam supports femininity in view of its relative weakness, placing it in the hands of a supporting man, securing the costs of living and the provision for her needs. Whether under the guardian care of her father, her husband, her son or her brother, she will be provided for by them as an obligation under the sharia. No basic need should compel her then to wade in the unexplored stretches of life with its conflicts, within the hustle of competitive men to win her bread-something that has befallen the Western woman under severe necessity in which neither father, brother, son or uncle look after her. The result is that she has to accept any kind of work for whatever payment in order to survive.

3- Allah’s Religion protects her morals and decency, guards her reputation and dignity, and defends her chastity against evil thoughts and tongues, and tries to foil tempting hands that seek to harm her. In order to achieve these noble objectives, Islam makes it incumbent on the woman to lower the eyes and preserve chastity and purity.

In Islam, a husband can correct his wife if she were dishonest, irresponsible, spoiled, a nuisance, pervasively behaving etc…

Allah has given this right to men because men support their women from their means.

In case of family jars, five steps are mentioned, to be taken in that order: (1) perhaps verbal advice or admonition may be sufficient; (2) if not, sex relations may be suspended; (3) if this is not sufficient, some slight physical correction maybe administered by beating them lightly. Imam Al-Shafei considers this inadvisable, though permissible and all Islamic jurisprudents are unanimous in deprecating any sort of cruelty, even of the nagging kind; (4) If all this fails, a family counsel is recommended.(5) If this also fails, divorce could be sought as a last resort.

Allah says in the Koran:

Men are the managers of the affairs of women for that Allah has preferred in bounty one of them over another, and because they support them from their means. Righteous women are therefore obedient to (Allah and to their husbands), and guard in the husband’s absence what Allah ordered them to guard (their chastity and their husband’s property). And those you fear may be rebellious admonish them (first), next refuse to share their beds, (and last) beat them (lightly); but if they return to obedience, seek not against them means (of annoyance); Allah is All-High, All-Great.
And if you fear a breach between the two, bring forth an arbiter from his people and from her people; if they desire to set things right; Allah will compose their differences; surely Allah is All-knowing, All-Aware (Al-Nisa’ 34, 35).

Allah knows best about his creation. He knows best how women are corrected, so He descended upon His Prophet the best means of correction that would satisfactorily amend and correct rebellious women.

Muslim scholars emphasize that beating must not be harsh, but rather light. Muslim men are never to hit their spouse’s face, nor hit them in such a way as would have leave marks on their body. Scholars suggest that the response administered should be in proportion to the fault committed. Traditionally the idea of beating was with a toothbrush or with a folded handkerchief. Many jurists interpret the word ‘beating’ as more or less symbolic.

Even when hitting is acceptable under the Koran, it is still discountenanced. Furthermore, the Koran commands husbands to be kind to their wives (4:19).

The Koran states:

And they (women) have rights similar to those (of men) over them, and men are a degree above them (2:228).

Such a degree is what we call in Arabic ‘Quiwama’ (maintenance and protection). This refers to that natural difference between the sexes which entitles the weaker sex to protection. It implies no superiority or advantage before the Law. Yet man’s role of leadership in relation to his family does not mean the husband’s dictatorship over his wife. Islam emphasizes the importance of taking counsel and mutual agreement in family decisions.

The Koran states:

…If they (husband and wife) desire to wean the child by mutual consent and (after) consultation, there is no blame on them… (2:233).

The Prophet said:

“The best of you is the best to his family and I am the best among you to my family.”

Muslim women are the best wives to their husbands because they know perfectly well their status towards men in marriage, as well as their duties and rights. They don’t cross the bounds in order not to displease their lord, and of course their husbands. Allah knows best the nature of His creation. He knows best that women’s happiness is to live in the shade of a strong loving man, loving her and protecting her from the iniquities of life, and when necessary, correct her when she deviates from the right path.

It is apparent that the behavior of women in America and in the West in general during the past 35 years is proof that they do need to be carefully monitored. They voluntarily engage in sex with multiple partners, acquire diseases that result often in infertility or worse, regard abortion as an inherent right AND as an everyday event of no consequence, have babies out of wedlock, bring unfair lawsuits against men, shove their way into the workplace often without proper qualifications, dump their kids at day-care, accept without question the teaching of multi-culturalism in the schools, join left-leaning groups, vote for socialistic legislation, mock men, treat men like objects and propel the sex industry in ways that men alone could never do. These and other untenable actions cause them to lose the love and respect of men, and invalidate the fine accomplishments of women through the ages. In short, by using freedom as a license, they have become more enslaved than they ever were before. Women, having once been the moral backbone of society, have become insignificant, and worthless.

This is why Muslim men correct their women through divine means, and believing Muslim women do not complain, they are rather happy to abide by the teachings of the Koran and the Sunnah of their beloved Prophet. Muslim women never cross the bounds; they never reach the stage of being beaten. Although it is allowed, Muslim husbands do not use beating to correct their wives. Muslim women being obedient to their husbands, live in harmony under the protection of their husbands. In that sense, obedient Muslim wife is free and liberal, in that only sense, she becomes the queen in man’s kingdom.

It should be understood that Muslims will never be apologetic about the teachings of their religion. And no Muslim would ever dare make compromises or try to tamper with the verses of the Koran or the sayings of the Prophet in order to please the westerners who already live a loose life. Muslims are known to submit and surrender to the verdicts of Allah, and not to dispute with opposing arguments. They stick to the rules of Allah seeking His pleasure and the utmost reward in the Hereafter – Paradise.

 But do men in the west and in America in particular have control over their women? Do they have the means to correct their women? As we see, if a man disputes with his family trying to correct a rebellious wife or kids, his wife or kids may call the police and the husband finds himself thrown in jail under the serious charge of woman or child abuse!

Due to man-made laws, man in the west is deprived of his authority as the man of the house. If he divorce his wife, she takes most of his salary and property, so why marrying in the first place? In his society sex outside marriage is allowed, so to hell with marriage that brings financial ruin, and unbearable shackles.  This parental dissolution due to the diminishing of the father’s authority has led to the deterioration of marital life and consequently, the dissolution of the western society.

Considering a divine law as barbarian as Robert Spencer claimed in the video I watched, this might presumably indicate that Spencer is enjoying living in an environment that cherish women and protect them from being beaten, whereas Muslims are monsters savagely beating their women!

If Robert Spencer wants to prove that islam is a violent religion by deliberately introducing verses taken out of their context, I would like to draw his attention that I have before me now 321 verses from the Bible indicating severe violence!

Considering the narrow space here, I will simply mention only one verse that will prove my point, because in this one verse, no less than three thousand people were killed by the sword at the command of Biblical Moses. We read:

   Exodus 32:27-29

Then he (Moses) said to them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.’ “The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died. Then Moses said, “You have been set apart to the LORD today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day.”(NIV).

It is a well known fact that the total number of deaths that took place in all wars fought during the time of Prophet Muhammad was 1018. The Biblical quotation given above shows clearly that in only one incidence 3000 people were killed.

Muslims were told in the Koran that the Old Testament and the New Testament were corrupted. Christian scholars themselves admit that the Gospels now existing contain only 25% of Jesus words, while the rest is that of the authors (Peter, John, Luke, Paul etc…). However, if the violent verses that now do exist in the Old and New Testaments were correct, Robert Spencer must obey and submit and not to dispute with opposing arguments. If he disputes and opposes, he will be rejecting what Allah had decreed to Moses and the other Prophets of the Children of Israel, thus blaspheming against Allah.

But Robert Spencer doesn’t mind rejecting the verses of the Koran because his ignorance took him to believe that the Koran is not a divine Book – a matter that will take him by the nose to Hell Fire.

By claiming that the Koranic verse about women beating is barbarian, Robert Spencer wants to say that women in the United States are not beaten because they are free and equal to men. But are women in the West really free and not abused by men? Are women not beaten and abused by men in America?

Based on adequate statistics, 95% of the domestic violence in America is women. Every 9 seconds a woman is assaulted and beaten. 4,000,000 women a year are assaulted by their partners. In the United States, a woman is more likely to be assaulted, injured, raped, or killed by a male partner than by any other type of assailant. Every day, 4 women are killed by boyfriends or husbands. 93% of women who killed their mates had been battered by them. 67% killed them to protect themselves and their children at the moment of murder. 25% of all crime is wife assault. 60% of all battered women are beaten while they are pregnant. Up to 37% of all women experience battering in Minnesota alone. Battering often occurs during pregnancy. Every 2 minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted. There is an average of 207,754 victims (age 12 or older) of sexual assault each year. Somewhere in America a woman is battered, usually by her intimate partner, every 16 seconds (UN Study on the Status of women, year 2000). A study reported in the New York Times suggests that one in five adolescent girls become the victims of physical or sexual violence, or both, in a dating relationship (New York Times, 8/01/01).

After all this, Robert Spencer accuses Muslims that they undermine women! Islam is much far from his accusations. Abortion cases, lesbianism, homosexuality, alcoholism, gambling, open debauchery, money laundry, fornication and sex outside marriage, women abuse, and the other barbaric activities the West also practice that I have not mentioned is just sickening.

In fact, women in the United States have never been more miserable. Single women are grieving from a man shortage. They are hysteric, depressed and confused.

High-powered career women are stricken with unprecedented outbreaks of stress-induced disorders, hair loss, bad nerves, alcoholism and heart attacks. How can American women be in so much trouble at the same time that they are supposed to be so liberal, free and independent? If the status of women has never been higher, why is their emotional state so low? If women got their freedom and equality with men, what could possibly be the matter now? Is it equality that is causing all that pain? Women seem to be enslaved by their own liberation!

Women in America have grabbed at the gold ring of independence, only to miss the one ring that really matters. They have gained control of their fertility, only to destroy it. They have pursued their own professional dreams, and lost out the great female adventure. The women’s movement has proved women’s own worst enemy.

Women liberation has effectively robbed them of one thing upon which the happiness of women rests – men. Women pay for their liberty with an empty bed, a barren womb.

Women’s distress was an unfortunate consequence of feminism, because it created a myth among women that the apex of self-realization could be achieved only through autonomy, independence and career.

If American women are so equal, why they represent two-thirds of all poor adults? Why are they far more likely than men to live in poor housing, and receive no health insurance, and twice as likely to draw no pension? Why do American women face on the worst gender-based pay bag in the developed world?

If women have “made it,” then why are nearly 80% of working women still stuck in traditional “female” jobs-as secretaries, administrative “support” workers and salesclerks? (The Undeclared War against American Women. By: Susan Faludi).

Robert Spencer, do you think you can win a conversation with a Muslim? Of course you can’t, you know why, because Muslims have a perfect and complete religion. They have one unified Book that will never be changed or corrupted, a Book that stood the test of time, a Book guarded by Allah until the end of time. A Book that brought glad tidings to the believers and warning to people like you – the unbelievers.

Listen to the words of your lord:

Today I have perfected your religion for you, and I have completed My blessing upon you, and I have approved Islam for your religion (Al-Maidah, 3).

And We have brought to them a Book that We have well distinguished, resting on knowledge, a guidance and a mercy unto a people that believe (Al-A’raf, 52).

This Koran could not have been forged apart from Allah; but it is a confirmation of what is before it (Scrolls of Abraham, Psalms of David, Torah of Moses, and Gospel of Jesus), and a distinguishing of the Book, wherein is no doubt, from the Lord of all Being (Yunus, 37).

It is Allah Who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth, that He may make it prevail over all the other religions. And Allah suffices as witness to the fact that Muhammad has been sent with Islam, the only religion that Allah will accept on the Day of Resurrection, the religion of pure monotheism, the religion of Muhammad and all Prophets before him including Abraham, Moses and Jesus. Allah suffices as witness to the fact that that there is no deity but Him and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Allah says in the Koran:

It is He who has sent His Messenger with the guidance and the religion of truth, that He may uplift it above all religion. Allah suffices as a witness (Al-Fath, 28).

Let it be known to you Robert Spencer that if you disbelieve, and show ingratitude, and willful rejection and rebellion, you cannot detract of Allah’s kingdom one single atom.

You reject faith, invent lies, and go after false ideas. You slander the Prophet, belie the Koran, and attack Allah your Creator. It seems that you do not understand the grievous penalty awaiting those who oppose Allah and molest the Messenger.

Do they not know that whosoever opposes Allah and His Messenger – for him awaits the Fire of Hell, therein to dwell forever? That is the mighty degradation (Al-Tawbah, 63).

Those who invent a lie against Allah will never be successful. A brief enjoyment in the worldly life and then unto Allah will be their return, then Allah shall make them taste the severest torment because they disbelieved in Allah, belie His Messenger, and deny and challenge His signs and verses.

Say: “Those who forge against Allah falsehood shall not prosper.” Some enjoyment in this world; then unto Us they shall return; then We shall let them taste the terrible chastisement, for that they were unbelievers (Yunus 69, 70).

Your penalty will be worse than that of other people. Allah will chastise you with a chastisement wherewith he chastises no other being. Allah is terrible in retribution. Allah shall take just vengeance of you; Allah is Omnipotent; He justly avenges His right.

Lastly, I end my words with the following Koranic verse:

Those who cry lies to Our signs and wax pride against them – the gates of heaven shall not be opened to them, nor shall they enter Paradise until the camel passes through the eye of the needle (example of impossibility). Even so We recompense the sinners. Hell shall be their cradle, above them coverings (of fire). Even so We recompense the evildoers ( Al-A’raf 40, 41).

Now I leave you in your insolence wandering blindly. Now, enemy of Allah, I leave you to plunge in vain talk and play about until you encounter that day of yours which you are promised, the day you shall come forth from the tomb hastily with your eyes lowered in fear and humility, ignominy covering you all over. That is the day you were promised.