abu_rashid wrote on Nov 10
th, 2010 at 8:48pm:
jame-e,
Quote:Are men and women equal in your interpretation of the Koran? Within your personal belief/faith.
In the general sense, yes men and women are equal. In specific issues, they are not equal, each has different rights and responsibilities. Islam firmly believes in the concept of the man being in authority over the house, yet at the same time it gives more rights to the woman over the day to day running of the family. A child for instance has more responsibility to obey their mother than their father, from the famous hadith when a man asked who has more right to his obedience after God, to which Muhammad (pbuh) answered "your mother", the man then asked "and then who?" to which he again replied "your mother" until he'd said it 3 times, then he finally said "your father".
Personally I think the lack of a strong family structure like this is what is leading to the breakdown of Western societies. All the emphasis on equality is just ruining society as we've always known it. Does that mean anyone should be oppressed? downtrodden? ignored? excluded from decision making? No. Only people who go to extremes would make such accusations. Those who believe it's either men and woman are exactly the same in all things, or someone must be oppressed.
Quote: But i am sure that you are aware of the majority western view and belief about equality of the sexes.
Of course I am aware, since I did spend the vast majority of my life so far as a non-Muslim Westerner.
I totally and
devoutly agree with you on you’re beliefs about equality. The essence of that belief in you and the Islamic faith is very positive. Women and men are not equal when compared with any mutual scale, and nor should they be. Except under the law, secular law of course.
The specifics of you’re beliefs being derivative of the Koran i do find concerning. Coupled with that concern are the conditions that exist in some nations governed using various forms of Islamic law. As you have spent the majority of you’re life as a non-Muslim westerner, and have participated in this thread, you must have an idea of the concerns i am referring to.
What do you feel are the biggest misunderstanders the non-Muslim criticisers have of Koranic law?
Do you wish to live under a form of Koranic Law? How does your version compare to the other active examples?
Lastly, are you progressive in some way? Do you wish to see an end to some aspects of Islamic law that are currently in practice? Do you try/want to separate you’re self from any common ideas/beliefs in Islam?
A lot of questions, please try you’re best.