The role of women in Islam
Published:Thursday | June 4, 2015 | 11:30 AMKeisha Hill
HE ROLE of Muslim women in the Islamic world is one that is prone to much discussion and assumptions. In most cases, the discussion is more often than not a negative one. The most common perceptions are of women living under the oppressive dictatorships of their husbands and fathers, forced into marriage, and, of course, suffocated under the veil.
In terms of her contribution and role in society, the caricature is one of the woman restricted to five metres away from the kitchen sink. However, some Muslim women in Jamaica are refuting these claims, citing that the role of the Muslim woman is clearly defined and outlined in Islam.
In short, a Muslim woman's primary role is the upbringing of her children and being a dutiful wife. She is encouraged to carry out all her duties with devotion and enthusiasm.
According to Rachael Farida Medley, in Islam, men are the protectors of women and are considered the head of the household. This stance, she said, does not mean the woman is subordinate to her husband, but has a certain level of commitment to her husband and her family.
"Her role is to maintain her dignity and that of her husband as well. She can, within her power, ensure that she does all she can to make her family better so that she can produce righteous children who will be used in the service of Allah and in the service of the community. That is the foundation for us," Medley told a Gleaner Editors' Forum on Wednesday.
It is the general consensus among Muslims that a Muslim woman is required to cover her head, leaving only her face showing as part of an overall dress code and behaviour which Islam prescribes.
"It is mentioned in the Qu'ran that we are supposed to draw our veils over our bosoms. We are to cover that which we must cover, and show what must ordinarily be shown when we go into the public," Medley added.
"That, again, comes right back to our Creator. Allah created the man and the woman. He knows best what it is that man is capable of doing. He knows best why we have to cover in a particular way so we do not draw unnecessary attention to ourselves and bring harm on ourselves," she added.
Muslims believe that the principal reason for the hijab is modesty, which is not wishing to receive unnecessary attention from people such as admiration and flattery, envy, or most important, sexual attraction from those other than her husband. Great care is taken to keep sexual thoughts, feelings, and interactions within the boundaries of the marital relationship.
These types of attention, they contend, may boost the 'ego' for the short term, but all have the potential to lead to disastrous consequences in the long term, for example, leading to confused feelings, competition, suspicions, affairs, break-up of marriages and other relationships, disturbed children, and, ultimately, a community where people are insecure, unhappy, and divided among themselves.
"Practical example: a woman can walk out in her short skirt and tube top here in Jamaica. It doesn't take much for a man to call to her, sometimes degrading her as opposed to being pleasant. When we go out in public, it reflects our own dignity as well as the dignity of our husbands and our family. We have to set an example and a good one for our children to follow," Medley said.
Medley became a Muslim at age 13, however, she became a practising Muslim in her early 20s and recounts her experience with the non-Islamic world. "I feel more comfortable now covering as a Muslim woman than I ever did before. I felt very exposed. I know that side and I know the potential of men in relation to that. I was in a state of ignorance as it were then. I didn't know much about Islam and I was still learning," she said.
However, the woman's role of being a mother and a wife are not her only duties. Islam permits women to perform pilgrimages, to vote, engage in politics, to take up employment, and even run her own business. According to Rashidah Khan-Haqq, Allah sees men and women as equal in his sight. He mentions that the only difference is that of piety, of gaining reward and of obeying him.
"Certain commands in Islam are general and are applied to all Muslims irrespective of being male or female. Certain duties fall specifically on men while others only apply to women," she said.
The activities they can engage in, she said, are varied and, in some cases, duties upon her, which she must not compromise. "The notion that Muslim women cannot be educated or work is incorrect as the basic understanding of the life of Muhammad and knowledge of the wives of the Prophet show examples of women excelling in their fields of knowledge," Khan-Haqq said.