CAIRO — Moving
around the world like any other women and practicing hobbies while
observing the pillars of Islam, Muslim women are challenging Western
perceptions that Muslim women are second-class citizens, trapped in
their homes and hidden behind the veil.
"Women are allowed to drive, vote, attend co-educational universities and hold paying jobs," Pakistani Amina Jamal told The Star on Saturday, April 26.
"I like reading books on contemporary religion, Islam, philosophy, history, biographies, comics and poetry."
Jamal, 36, is working as a sales manager in Lahore and is leading a 14-member team, including several males.
"Half the time we are arguing about one thing or another, but it’s normally all in good spirit," she said.
"I
enter the workplace on my own terms and I am grateful to Allah and my
family for it. If it wasn’t for my mother’s support, I would not have
been able to work nights or at odd hours."
For Nour Farouq Lambaz, Jordanian, Islam grants women equal rights with men.
"When Muslim women are oppressed, it is by their men who are not very good Muslims. So it’s not Islam," said Lambaz, archivist.
"Islam is a very fair and beautiful religion.
"It is the reason pagan Arabs became scholars at one point. It is the reason girls stopped being buried alive."
In pre-Islam ages, pagan Arabs used to kill girls as they believed they were a burden and a source of poverty and shame.
Sara
Takieddin, musician, always thought that wearing hijab would restrict
her freedom. But she changed views when she donned the Islamic
headscarf.
"When I totally grasped the wisdom behind Islam’s command of wearing the hijab, I knew I couldn’t bear myself not wearing it."
Takieddin dismissed perceptions that women are treated as second-class citizens under Islam.
"In Islam, women enjoy certain privileges which men are deprived of," she said.
"The man is responsible for the complete maintenance of his wife and family. All financial burdens are borne by him alone.
"In
contrast, women have no financial responsibilities whatsoever, except
for her personal expenses – for instance, should she wish to own
luxurious things. She is also free to retain whatever she possesses
before marriage."
Tajieddin's love life also mirrors her faith in Islam.
"I
wouldn’t get involved in a relationship where I’m uncertain marriage is
the aim. I’d rather have my family enquire about the man to determine
whether he is a good person."
Muslim women blamed culture and social traditions, not Islam, for some oppressive practices against women.
"Not
everything Muslims do is based on religious principles. In its original
state, Islam gave women privileges and didn’t impose double standards
upon them, said Elham Gholami, Iranian.
Gholami,
who is working as a customer service executive, said Muslim women are
entitled to inheritance and allowed to choose or refuse prospective
husbands.
"But in some Muslim countries, their rights have been taken away," she said.
"Pakistani
women have political rights but are often exploited by men. Saudi women
have no public role, yet they are extremely protected by their families
and government and are offered dowries, often very high ones, and are
entitled to keep their own wealth."
Jamal, the Pakistani, agrees, citing the dowries Pakistan brides have to pay to their husbands.
"In Islam, the man is supposed to be the provider of his family. Women are not obliged to go out and earn.
"Women
are also employed in the armed forces, are members of National and
Provincial assemblies and are made ministers. In very traditional areas
though, women are dominated by men because of ignorance and illiteracy."