FEMINISM: PRO OR ANTI ISLAM?

PLEASE NOTE: This is the winning entry from the NAMLAS ESSAY COMPETITION 1.0 organized by NAMLAS, Unilorin Chapter. Therefore, the opinion expressed in this piece is that of the respected author. Thank you.

BY     D.R SARUMI.

ABSTRACT

The beauty of Islam is not only limited to its structures, pillars, and articles of faith. It also extends to it encompassing nature of all that has happened, all that’s happening and all that’ll happen in the future. This, also concerns Feminism, as a novel philosophical perception of some egoistic women, who have been agitating for an egalitarian society where there will be equality of genders and the sense of superiority that is perceived by men will be demolished. Therefore, this write up will concisely elucidate on Feminism, its ideas, principles, classifications and the Islamic view of it, whether it’s acceptable or not and the implication or effect of the philosophy in an Islamic parlance.

INTRODUCTION

It’s clear from the historical background of the world in general and Arabian Peninsula in particular, that women were subject of dishonor without being given any sense of regard or respect. They were termed as part of inheritable properties of their fathers and had no say in the socio-political and economic decisions of the society.

Instead, infanticide was their cup of tea as there were instances where whenever a female was given birth to, the father would run away and see it as a disgrace to his entire family. However, when Islam surfaced, all these barbarous acts were sanitized and deleted. Female children were then high-rated to the level of nobility and ensured that they partake in both socio-economic and political aspects of their community. Before, any other religion in the whole world, Islam is the first to provide that female children should have shares in the inheritance of their fathers. With all these beneficial impacts of Islam toward the high-rating of women in the world, that gave a sense of confidence to some feminists who termed Islam as a religion of feminism and Allah as a feminist.

DEFINITION OF FEMINISM AND ITS CLASSIFICATIONS

Before entering into the pool of discussion, it’s apposite that Feminism should be precisely analyzed because there’s no way we’ll be able to justify whether it’s pro or anti-Islam without knowing its contents and what it connotes. We cannot define what feminism is but only try to pick out common characteristics of all the different forms of feminism. Any attempt to provide a baseline definition of a common basis of all forms of feminism may start with the assertion that feminists concern themselves with women inferior position in society and with discrimination encountered by women because of their sex. Among the classifications of the feminism in the world, the following seems popular and well known; Liberal feminism, Marxist or Socialist feminism, radical feminism, dual-system feminism, black feminism, psychoanalytical feminism and Islamic feminism.

Liberal feminism includes all those who campaign for equal rights for women within the framework of the liberal state, arguing that the theoretical basis on which this state is built is sound but that the rights and privileges it confers must be extended to women to give them equal citizenship with men.

 Marxist and socialist feminists link gender inequality and women’s oppression to the capitalist system of production and the division of labour consistent with this system; and radical feminists see men’s domination of women as the result of the system of patriarchy which is independent of all other social structures that  it’s not a product of feminism.

Muslim feminists argue that the problems faced by women are generally the result of misguided male interpretations of the principles of Islam, as opposed to the actual religious edicts. Consequently, they believe that a woman-centered re-reading of Islam’s holy sources can become a powerful source of gender justice. They also operate the core belief that Islam is not inherently biased towards men and that patriarchy is the result of male-dominated interpretations of religion.

From the above, it can be deduced that the ideas of feminism in general, are not limited to agitation for Gender equality, elimination of women oppression, ensuring women’s effective participation in socio-political and economic activities of their society and their inclusiveness in the decision making both in a patriarchal society and the larger society. Therefore, it will be safe now, to elucidate on the Islamic perspective toward the ideas of feminism, whether or not it is an acceptable philosophy.

IMPACT OF ISLAM IN THE REHABILITATION OF WOMEN GLORY

Female children, ladies, women and whatever appellation we give, have been prestigiously recognized in Islam more than ever. There is a particular chapter in the Holy Qur’an named after women (Suratul Nisa’i) to show their significance in an Islamic community. Moreover, there are many verses in the Holy Qur’an wherein Allah (SWT) categorically mention women after mentioning men in order to showcase their relevance in the Islamic parlance.

To say more, there’s a Hadith of the Prophet (SAW) which was reported by Imaamul Bukhari thus “Your Paradise is beneath the feet of your mothers”. A stricto sensu look of this hadith should give a lucid notion that the importance of Women in the community of Allah is limitless because the pragmatics of it is that, as it is a must that doing good deeds can guarantee you paradise, so it is to do good to your mother. There’s another hadith of the prophet, where he said that when he was asked by a companion that who is in the best position he should do good to, the prophet replied: “your mother” in three times before mentioning “your father” in the fourth time.

However, is the idea of feminism in accordance with its ideas (gender equality in both socio-political and economic society) an acceptable agitation in Islam? The best answer to the above is NO. Without prejudice to the fact that Islam has been the only religion playing activism in ensuring that women are not being marginalized in their community, that does not posit that they are liberalized to agitate for equality with their opposite sex. Islam viewed women as objects that need to be taken care of, free of hustling and should be pleased and blessed with all wealth and resources. The prophet of Allah said, “whosever nurtures a female child from her childhood to adulthood shall be rewarded with paradise”.

FEMINISM; THE VIEW OF ISLAM

Since the activism of these feminists is basically to partake and participate actively in three aspects of their society i.e. Political aspects, Economic Aspects and Social Aspects of the society. We can then treat the unacceptability of the philosophy through those aspects.

v  Political Aspect

Islam frowns at the participation of Muslimat(s) in politics, and the psychological rationale behind this is their vulnerability to emotional unconsciousness. Islamically, The Prophet (SAW) said; “It will not be successful, a group being led by a woman”. Also, (Q27:44) provides about how Balqees (the later wife of Prophet Sulaiman) left her thrown and submit her political power to her husband thus;

“She said: My Lord! Surely I have been unjust to myself, and I submit with Sulaiman to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.”

v  Economic  Aspect

Feminists have also been agitating for an equal share of inheritance, which is totally frivolous in Islam. The rationale behind the provision of (Q4:11) that a female child should take half of a male child share, is not farfetched, because Islam considers Men as responsible for all the utilities and expenses in an Islamic home. Even, the wife is not allowed to be spending on the family unless when condition warrants such. Thus, a female child will inherit her father, even though, she’s not probably going to spend it on the family but the man has to do so compulsorily. In showcasing this, (Q4:34) says;

“Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them excel others and because they spend out of their property; the good women are therefore obedient …”

v  Social Aspect

Women are considered darlings to their men, they are meant to be treated with all sense of humility and must not be subject to torture, degrading treatment and even compulsory labor as provided by Section 34 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Therefore, it is apposite to say that, women in an Islamic parlance are like a fragile mirror which must be handled painstakingly and if not, it will be broken. It is on this basis that Islam wants them to live a tranquil life that will be full of serenity and peace. Allah says;

“O prophet! Say to your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers that they let down upon them their over-garments; this will be more proper, that they may be known, and thus they will not be given trouble; and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful”

Conclusion

It is submitted that feminism is anti-Islam and is nothing but like being ungrateful to the blessings of Allah to the community of women by taking them from their era of dishonor to that of grace and abundant honor. Allah is known to be perfect in doing things and nothing has he done without an accurate justification even though human being might be ignorant of it (Q2:33).