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		Women in Islam: An exegesis By Abul Kasem *Prologue:* After the Islamic revolution in Iran many people became interested in Islam, which was, hitherto, a very obscure religion usually associated with the Arabs, the poor, and the Blacks. Although I was a born Muslim and was indoctrinated in the faith in a very rigid manner in my childhood, I had very little idea about the ‘real Islam.’ Just like most Bangladeshis, I thought Islam to be peaceful, tolerant, and very positive towards women. After the Iranian revolution, I read a lot about Islam. The advent of Internet brought me the greatest opportunity to learn about Islam in a short period of time. I scanned innumerable essays in various Islamic web sites written by Islamic scholars mostly residing in the Western countries. Their essays on women gave an impression that Islam has many goodies for them. Like an ordinary gullible Muslim, I also believed in whatever they wrote. Then I found a great discrepancy in what these Islamic scholars (read Islamists) wrote and the unspeakable barbarity and gross unfairness perpetrated on the women in the Islamic paradises like, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and certain parts of Nigeria and Malaysia. If the present trend continues, then, soon Bangladesh would be in the list of Islamic paradises. I thought about my aging mother. I thought about my working sisters. I thought about my loving wife. I was greatly distressed when I thought of what could happen to these dearest relations of my life if Bangladesh goes Islamic and Allah’s laws (read Sharia) are enforced in Bangladesh. This forced me to dig deeper and deeper into Islam and especially the Sharia provision/s for women. I made a microscopic dissection of Islam from its very root. What I found was shocking. Sometimes, I just could not believe what I was reading. Thus, I completely discarded the explanations, apologies, and tafsirs from the erudite Islamic scholars and started to use my own brain, common sense, and judgment to find the truth. After I found the ‘real Islam’, I could not look straight into the eyes of my mother. I could not sit comfortably with my sisters. I could not be at ease with my wife. I was forced to pick up the pen (read keyboard) to tell all the mothers, sisters, and wives of Islamic faith what Sharia/Islam means for them. We must let our women folk know the truth about the treatment of Islamic women before many so called ‘moderate’ Muslim countries bring this Trojan Horse into their lives and become another Afghanistan, Iran, or the Northern parts of Nigeria and Malaysia. As I write, I heard the news that a Nigerian woman would be stoned to death after her newly born so called illegitimate daughter is weaned, probably after a period of two years. Please think of this barbarity. Please remember your mother, remember your sisters and your loving wife when you read this essay. Won’t you? This essay is quite lengthy. I apologize for writing such a prolix article, but I could not help it. No matter how much I tried, I could not shorten further. It had to be very lengthy, for there is so much to tell. For convenience, I have divided the essay in 7 (seven parts). To begin with, let us start with the unfairness of Allah towards women. Allah prefers men and you know it! The interdependency of men and women is recognized in Islam. This is because of the importance of women as a preserver of human species. However, a thorough examination of Qur’an, ahadith and the Islamic Sharia clearly demonstrates the heavy bias of Allah towards men. Why men are considered superior? It is because of their physical strength, financial ability to pay dower and to spend on women. The Qur’an is very clear about the superiority of men over women. Let us review a few verses from Qur’an to demonstrate this fact. Men have a degree over women...2:228 002.228 YUSUFALI: Divorced women shall wait concerning themselves for three monthly periods. Nor is it lawful for them to hide what Allah Hath created in their wombs, if they have faith in Allah and the Last Day. And their husbands have the better right to take them back in that period, if they wish for reconciliation. And women shall have rights similar to the rights against them, according to what is equitable; but men have a degree (of advantage) over them. And Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise. This verse establishes the supremacy of men over women, although Qur’an ambiguously claims to bestow similar rights for both men and women. This verse never mentions what those rights are; neither do we find the clarification on this matter in the entire Qur’an. Therefore, a variety of interpretation can be made out of this verse. This verse can really be used to justify anything that a man can find convenient to establish his superiority over women. Of course, the Islamic apologists take this opportunity to make Qur’an look very fair and non-discriminatory to women. It could be true that Muhammad really wanted to see some improvement of status of women in Arabia during his time. However, he was reluctant to enforce a radical change for fear of a backlash from the male dominated Arab society. This verse may look a little benign for it does mention about certain rights of women although not being so specific. To see the real Islamic treatment of women we need to look elsewhere. Let us examine the following verse up close: Men are protectors and maintainers of women; women must be devoutly obedient, if not then beat them...4:34 004.034 YUSUFALI: Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband's) absence what Allah would have them guard. As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, 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): For Allah is Most High, great (above you all). The above verse is quite clear about the superiority of men over women. The verse is lucid in telling the reason for the superiority of men. It is because of their physical strength and their ability to support women financially. Islamists often use this divine decree to justify the subjugation of women in Islam. But their logic falls flat if we recognize today’s reality that physical size and strength does not mean a thing. Many animals are much stronger physically than men. How about an elephant? An elephant is hugely stronger than a man is but that does not make it superior to a human. Similarly, a woman may be weaker in physical strength (with proper training a woman can be as strong as any man, if not more) but her physical weakness, in no way make her inferior to men. Financial dependence? This could be true for some ancient societies; but surely not true any more. We have many examples of single women leading a financially independent happy life. There are plenty of single mums (either widowed, divorced or unmarried) who steadfastly support her family without the help of any man. This verse also prescribes physical punishment for disobedient women. I shall write more on Islamic wife beating later. Why does God have to prescribe this torture on wives? Isn’t it because men make women dependent on them? Imagine what would happen to a man if he were completely dependent on a woman for his financial support? Will he dare to raise his hand against her? Please note the comment (lightly) inserted by the translator Yusuf Ali. He deliberately did this keeping in mind that beating is a gross indecency and a criminal offence in western societies. His purpose of translation of Qur’an was primarily aimed at the western people and the non-Muslims. That is why he softens Qur’an from its extremely harsh statements. The original Qur’an and the translation by other authors do not contain the comment (slightly) insert. Here is the translation of Pickthal and Shakir. While Pickthal translates to whip women, Shakir translates as plain beating without specifying the method. PICKTHAL: Men are in charge of women, because Allah hath made the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women). So good women are the obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah hath guarded. As for those from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Lo! Allah is ever High, Exalted, Great. SHAKIR: Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend out of their property; the good women are therefore obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded; and (as to) those on whose part you fear desertion, admonish them, and leave them alone in the sleeping-places and beat them; then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them; surely Allah is High, Great. When Qur’an treats women in such a disgraceful manner, one may wonder why almighty Allah created women after all. Was it not better to have no woman at all? Actually, Qur’an does not really know the reason for creation of women because Qur’an is not really from God. Muhammad himself with the help of a few of his scribes wrote it. Therefore, in Qur’an we simply find the mention of what people believed in those days regarding the creation of human albeit in a new format. Here is the verse that tells the reason for the creation of women God created us from a single person and made mate of like nature; pregnancy is a light burden to women...7:189 007.189 YUSUFALI: It is He Who created you from a single person, and made his mate of like nature, in order that he might dwell with her (in love). When they are united, she bears a light burden and carries it about (unnoticed). When she grows heavy, they both pray to Allah their Lord, (saying): "If Thou givest us a goodly child, we vow we shall (ever) be grateful." The verse is rather very ambiguous. It says that God created a single person first. What was the sex of that single person? Islamists often use this verse to portray the sexual equality of Islam and how Islam differs from the Christianity and Judaism. In the Bible God says that He created Adam first then He created Eve from Adam’s rib. Do not be fooled by this simple-minded interpretation of the Islamists. The key word in this verse is ‘you’. Who is this ‘you’ that God seems to be talking to. Is it a man or a woman? Remember, whom did God reveal the Qur’an? It was not a woman but a man. Moreover, elsewhere in the Hadith we read that women were created from a rib that is why they are crooked (See Shahih Muslim 8.3467). Therefore, the meaning of this verse is no different from the verse in the Bible. In this verse, the Qur’an says that women were created to give companion and pleasure to men. Please take a moment to read and think about the meaning of this verse once again. We do not really need exegesis/mullahs/Islamists to tell us the “Real” Tafsir of this verse. Simple common sense tells us that God created women to give men companionship and pleasure and to bear children. God did not create women as his primary reason. One may conclude that God made women on second thought to alleviate the loneliness and the dullness for men. Women were merely created for men’s sensuous pleasure. Pure and simple. This is obvious from the following verse. God created mate for tranquil living and put love and mercy among sexes…30:21 030.021 YUSUFALI: And among His Signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that ye may dwell in tranquillity with them, and He has put love and mercy between your (hearts): verily in that are Signs for those who reflect. Does this verse seem to be contradicting the previous verse (7:189)? Of course, it does. This verse seems to suggest that God created women for men and vice versa. That is to say, God created two persons, and not one as was suggested in the previous (7:189) verse. Doesn’t it? Who was created first? Man or the woman? Surely, God did not create men to give pleasure and tranquillity to women. It was the woman who was created for men. Thus, from the very beginning of creation of human we see the unfairness of God. Not only that God created woman as a second thought but also he burdened her with the task of child bearing. One may legitimately ask, ‘Why? Why God has to put women in such a burdensome position?’ The answer, if we go by the Islamic rule, is a simple one. Only God knows the answer. And that’s all. But it is not that difficult to ponder on the real reason. All religious books are written by men (religionists say that they are the messages sent by God through His postman like Gabriel). It is, then a simple matter to realize that these prophets of God could never displease men by giving them a secondary position (like women) in the process of creation. Therefore, the women must accept without question the superiority of men. After all, pregnancy and giving birth are dirty/painful jobs that fit only slaves. Doesn’t it make sense to realize that when these ‘messengers of God’ wrote their holy scriptures they viewed women as nothing more than sexual pleasures and slaves to carry the burden of sex (pregnancy)? Read the ancient history of Arabia that will confirm of what I have written. Can you then guess what would have been the story of creation of Adam and Eve if God’s messengers were women? Another reason given by Qur’an as to why God prefers men is simply laughable. Have a look at the following verse. Men love to purify themselves…9:108 009.108 YUSUFALI: Never stand thou forth therein. There is a mosque whose foundation was laid from the first day on piety; it is more worthy of the standing forth (for prayer) therein. In it are men who love to be purified; and Allah loveth those who make themselves pure. In this verse, the Qur’an says that God prefers men because they (the men) love to purify themselves. Are we then to assume that the women does not know how to purify/cleanse themselves? In other words, are women unclean? Of course, the apologists will say that the meaning of purify means spiritual/mystical, sublime etc. Nowhere in the verse, it says what is the meaning of purification. It could be both spiritual as well as physical (meaning ablution before prayer). Let us take examples from the real world. Are there differences in cleanliness/purification between men and women? The answer is ‘No.’ Then, why should Qur’an use such inane argument to justify the divine superiority of men? Some may say that the verse did not say that the women do not know how to purify; it simply says that God loves those men who go to the mosque and purify themselves. This argument is simply not unacceptable. Are not women allowed in the mosque? If it is so, then the unfairness of God becomes more inexcusable. Why does God blatantly show his preference for men when both sexes are equally praying in the mosque? Isn’t it a kind of religious apartheid? This kind of Islamic bias for men is again demonstrated in the following verse. Men are true to their covenant…33:23 033.023 YUSUFALI: Among the Believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah: of them some have completed their vow (to the extreme), and some (still) wait: but they have never changed (their determination) in the least: How about the believing women? Are they not true to their faith and are they not ready to die for it? We shall, later in this article, see that women are equally commanded by God to go for Jihad and lay down their lives, if required. Why then God has a clear bias for men? Does not God trust women believers regarding their truthfulness and fealty in faith? Only men receive revelation from God The Qur’an and God are absolutely adamant that only men are capable of handling revelations from God. God always sends revelations to men. Thus, we have all the prophets to be men. God has never selected a woman as a prophet and in future also, he will not do so. Here are two verses that demonstrate amply this unreasonable desire of God. Have you ever wondered what would have God decided if women were financially strong in the Arabian Desert? What would have God chosen? Do you remember many extant tribal societies where the women ruled supreme? I wonder why God overlooked them. For more unfairness of God, look at the following verses. Revelations are sent to men only…12:109 012.109 YUSUFALI: Nor did We send before thee (as messengers) any but men, whom we did inspire,- (men) living in human habitations. Do they not travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those before them? But the home of the hereafter is best, for those who do right. Will ye not then understand? Only men are chosen by God to be His messengers…16:43 016.043 YUSUFALI: And before thee also the messengers We sent were but men, to whom We granted inspiration: if ye realise this not, ask of those who possess the Message. God chooses messengers from men and angels…22:75 022.075 YUSUFALI: Allah chooses messengers from angels and from men for Allah is He Who hears and sees (all things). Let us briefly review those three verses. In 12.109 God says that he had never sent any messenger before Muhammad who was not a man. Muslims believe that Muhammad is the last prophet and messenger from God. Therefore, the natural conclusion is that there will never ever be woman messenger from God. In verse 16:43, God confirms his commitment of selecting only men as his messenger before Muhammad was selected to be his Prophet and messenger. This is to say that God had never selected a woman in the past to be his messenger. In 22:75, God confuses us. This time he says that he sometimes chooses men and sometimes chooses angels as his messengers. We have heard the name of a few messengers of God including Muhammad. Who were the angels sent as messengers? Was it Gabriel, Michael, Azazil, Azrael, Malik, Harut or Marut? Or does God mean that men and angels are at the same level in the eyes of God as far as the reception of his messages are concerned? Why were women excluded from the list of angels? This, too, is answered in the following verse. Men are superior in the worshipping of God …24:37 024.037 YUSUFALI: By men whom neither traffic nor merchandise can divert from the Remembrance of Allah, nor from regular Prayer, nor from the practice of regular Charity: Their (only) fear is for the Day when hearts and eyes will be transformed (in a world wholly new),- Well, the above verse tells it all. Men are simply miles ahead in the worshipping of God than the women folks. Need no further explanation. Here is a hadith that tells us that there never were perfect women although there were many perfect men. Since God is the only authority who reserves the right to bestow perfection to whomever he pleases, we must, therefore, conclude that only men are given perfection and not women no matter how much they (the women) may try. Perfection by women is simply out of question. There are many perfect men but there are no perfect women except Mary, Asiya (Pharaoh’s wife) and Aisha (Muhammad’s wife)… (Shahih Muslim 31.5966) Book 031, Number 5966: Abu Musa reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: There are many persons amongst men who are quite perfect but there are not perfect amongst women except Mary, daughter of 'Imran, Asiya wife of Pharaoh, and the excellence of 'A'isha as compared to women is that of Tharid over all other foods. Having established the indisputable superiority of men, God now elevates a man to the position of a kind of smaller god in the eyes of women. Here is what Islam thinks a woman should do for a man. A man is next to God for a woman This concept of absolute superiority of men in Islam is very similar to the Hindu practice. In Hinduism, women are asked to worship their husbands as Devota (demi God). Islam is no different on this. A woman’s single purpose in life is to please her husband. Nothing is holier than this. In fact, if a woman were required to worship any one other than God it would be her husband. In hadith we read: If a woman is to prostrate to another person (besides Allah) it will be her husband. .(Sunaan Abu Dawud 11.2135) Book 11, Number 2135: Narrated Qays ibn Sa'd: I went to al-Hirah and saw them (the people) prostrating themselves before a satrap of theirs, so I said: The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) has most right to have prostration made before him. When I came to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him), I said: I went to al-Hirah and saw them prostrating themselves before a satrap of theirs, but you have most right, Apostle of Allah, to have (people) prostrating themselves before you. He said: Tell me , if you were to pass my grave, would you prostrate yourself before it? I said: No. He then said: Do not do so. If I were to command anyone to make prostration before another I would command women to prostrate themselves before their husbands, because of the special right over them given to husbands by Allah. Part 2 Women are downright inferior! Islamists often write prolix essays showing the merciful and glorious treatment of women under Islam. If you have read one of this extremely lengthy rhetoric with mind-boggling logic, you have read them all. Because they are all written in almost the same format, so much so that sometimes you may wonder whether all these essays are written by the same writer or not. Their pens are absolutely fluent in describing the half-truth and twisted, convoluted logics. However, they will never tell the true status of women in ‘real Islam.’ Here I am citing a few examples from the roots of Islam, that is, Qur’an and hadith. Women witness is half of men...2:282 This is a very well known fact in Islam. Even if a woman is the Prime Minister of an Islamic Paradise she is still inferior to the dumbest of men when it comes to legal matters. Her evidence by herself is never acceptable in an Islamic court of law. It is because of her deficiency in intelligence and lack of memory. What a disgrace to women and their ability of judgment! What happens if a woman becomes a judge? I really do not know the answer. Not only that a single woman’s evidence is unacceptable in an Islamic court, but also the women witnesses are completely unacceptable in Sharia where Hudud punishments are involved such as adultery, apostasy, theft…etc. This means that if a woman is raped her evidence or the evidence of any other women (even though there were thousands of women who witnessed the very act with their own eyes) will not be accepted unless four adult Muslim men give evidence that they saw the actual act of fornication with their own eyes. What a justice! I think even a Kangaroo court is better than this type of Islamic court. Now, let us hear from the Qur’an. This verse is very lengthy, in fact, the longest verse in the Qur’an. Therefore, I shall quote only the relevant part. 002.282 YUSUFALI: O ye who believe! When ye deal with each other, in transactions involving future obligations in a fixed period of time, reduce them to writing Let a scribe write down faithfully as between the parties: let not the scribe refuse to write: as Allah Has taught him, so let him write. Let him who incurs the liability dictate, but let him fear His Lord Allah, and not diminish aught of what he owes. If they party liable is mentally deficient, or weak, or unable Himself to dictate, Let his guardian dictate faithfully, and get two witnesses, out of your own men, and if there are not two men, then a man and two women, such as ye choose, for witnesses, so that if one of them errs, the other can remind her. This verse is nothing but a slap on the face literally to every woman in this world. In today’s world, we have women in almost every profession, even in the tough professions like Law, Medicine, Engineering, Education, Professor, even Astronaut. If we go by ‘real Islam,’ then all those professional ladies who are not only highly qualified, but also superbly capable of managing the affairs of a company or even a nation are simply lacking in intelligence (read stupid). It’s a small wonder that we see the most of the wretched women in Islamic paradises. Could it be that I probably made some mistake in commenting on verse 2:282? Could it be that there may be some divine/secret reason for sending down verse 2:282 that only God knows? May be, God really did not mean to insult the women. May be our interpretation is all wrong. If you are thinking in this fashion, then perish that thought. See Shahih Bukhari confirms women’s lack of intelligence in the very words of Muhammad. Majority of women are in hell...( Shahih Bukhari 1.6.301) Volume 1, Book 6, Number 301: Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri: Once Allah's Apostle went out to the Musalla (to offer the prayer) o 'Id-al-Adha or Al-Fitr prayer. Then he passed by the women and said, "O women! Give alms, as I have seen that the majority of the dwellers of Hell-fire were you (women)." They asked, "Why is it so, O Allah's Apostle ?" He replied, "You curse frequently and are ungrateful to your husbands. I have not seen anyone more deficient in intelligence and religion than you. A cautious sensible man could be led astray by some of you." The women asked, "O Allah's Apostle! What is deficient in our intelligence and religion?" He said, "Is not the evidence of two women equal to the witness of one man?" They replied in the affirmative. He said, "This is the deficiency in her intelligence. Isn't it true that a woman can neither pray nor fast during her menses?" The women replied in the affirmative. He said, "This is the deficiency in her religion." This hadith not only confirms what I wrote previously, but also goes one-step further in saying that hell is the abode for most of the women in hereafter. Why should it be so? The reason is also explained in this hadith. Are you still appalled? No, not yet? Look at this hadith. Women are like animals and slaves. Women, slaves and camels are same; must seek Allah's refuge from all these...(Sunaan Abu Dawud 11.2155) Book 11, Number 2155: Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As: The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: If one of you marries a woman or buys a slave, he should say: "O Allah, I ask Thee for the good in her, and in the disposition Thou hast given her; I take refuge in Thee from the evil in her, and in the disposition Thou hast given her." When he buys a camel, he should take hold of the top of its hump and say the same kind of thing. Here is another insult to women. In the following hadith a woman is as impure as a dog and a monkey. In fact, there is a very little difference between the treatment of a dog and a woman if we really go deeper to get the latent meaning of this pernicious hadith. What words do we have to use to express our disgust? What would be the feeling of a modern, educated, working, respectable lady reading this authentic hadith? A prayer is annulled by a passing woman, dog and a monkey...( Shahih Bukhari 1.9.490) Volume 1, Book 9, Number 490: Narrated 'Aisha: The things which annul the prayers were mentioned before me. They said, "Prayer is annulled by a dog, a donkey and a woman (if they pass in front of the praying people)." I said, "You have made us (i.e. women) dogs. I saw the Prophet praying while I used to lie in my bed between him and the Qibla. Whenever I was in need of something, I would slip away. for I disliked to face him." All women have natural menstruation cycle. This is completely normal and almost 100% women are fully at ease with this natural phenomenon. It is not something for which a woman has to see a doctor every time she has her period unless there are complications. However, Islam is different. What the world thinks as simple and natural phenomenon, Islam thinks otherwise. It considers menstruation as a pestilence. Here is yet another the verse from the Qur’an. Menstruation is a disease...2:222 002.222 PICKTHAL: They question thee (O Muhammad) concerning menstruation. Say: It is an illness, so let women alone at such times and go not in unto them till they are cleansed. And when they have purified themselves, then go in unto them as Allah hath enjoined upon you. Truly Allah loveth those who turn unto Him, and loveth those who have a care for cleanness. Whenever this verse is cited as anti-feminine and derogatory to women, our Islamic brothers get very defensive. They would twist and turn, and beat around the bush by saying that this verse is really meant to protect women during her period by warning people that it is a difficult time for women. How merciful! See how great Islam is! No science could discover that menstruation is a disease, but look at Islam. It is truly great. It can discover which no science or medicine could find! Let me ask our Islamic brothers a simple question. If menstruation is a disease, then why do we not ask the women to see a doctor? Why should the women be ostracised during her period? Sex during period is not advisable, although medical evidence shows that it is ok. This simple fact does not need any intervention from the almighty God through His mighty Qur’an. Even the primitive people had the knowledge of this natural periodic cycle of women and knew how to tackle it without insulting and ostracising women. Why did Muhammad do that? It was all based on the old Jewish/Zoroastrian practice of segregating women to a secluded place during her period. Muhammad did not have the guts to completely reform this discriminatory treatment of women but maintained that age-old tradition. Here is a hadith that further confirms the gross insult (and gross miscarriage of justice too!) to women due to her physical makeup and biology. Please note that this hadith restricts a woman from doing her religious obligations because of her natural biological phenomenon. If we go by this hadith, then I wonder how would a workingwoman manage to go to work during her period. Menstruation is a defect in women for they cannot fast and pray during their periods... (Shahih Bukhari 3.31.172) Volume 3, Book 31, Number 172: Narrated Abu Said: The Prophet said, "Isn't it true that a woman does not pray and does not fast on menstruating? And that is the defect (a loss) in her religion." In today’s world, there are a few countries ruled by women including Bangladesh. This is what Islam has to say about a nation being ruled by women. People ruled by a woman will never be successful...(Shahih Bukhari 5.59.709) Volume 5, Book 59, Number 709: Narrated Abu Bakra: During the days (of the battle) of Al-Jamal, Allah benefited me with a word I had heard from Allah's Apostle after I had been about to join the Companions of Al-Jamal (i.e. the camel) and fight along with them. When Allah's Apostle was informed that the Persians had crowned the daughter of Khosrau as their ruler, he said, "Such people as ruled by a lady will never be successful." Imam Ghazali is one of the greatest Islamic scholars of all times. Some Muslims would even say that his position is next to Muhammad. This ‘great’ Islamist was one the most anti-woman scholar I had ever read. Here are a few ‘gems’ from this greatest of all Islamists. I wonder how is it possible for a woman to be more pious than a man is when both Qur’an and ahadith find so many faults in her and relegate her position in society to that of a slave and an animal. To make sure that a woman is inferior to a man and she is always below him Imam Ghazali categorically advises Muslims not to marry rich women forgetting the fact the founder of Islam (Muhammad) himself married one of the richest lady in Arabia (Khadija) and without her immense wealth Muhammad could never have been what he dreamed of. Talk about double standard in Islam! Why does Imam Ghazali have to prescribe such a marital prescription? A prescription for disaster, may I add? He knew the power of money and wealth. He knew that a rich lady would never accept the degrading treatment of hers in the hands of her husband; she will simply desert her man if ever any man dares to dehumanise her. Nevertheless, the gross sexism of Islam must prevail. Therefore, he had no choice but to recommend marrying poor women, for, their financial dependence on men will ensure their inferiority and servitude. Here are the quotes from Ghazali’ famous book. Women should be beneath men on four things (Ref: 7.Vol II p373) And someone else remarked: “ A wife should be beneath her husband in four things or else she will despise him: age, height, wealth and lineage. She should be better than him in four others: beauty, manners, character and scrupulousness in matters of religion.” Do not marry a rich woman, marry a poor woman (Ibid, p373) Someone once said: “The man who marries a rich woman will find five things in her, an expensive dowry, a delayed wedding, a lack of service, constant expense and an inability to divorce her should he wish to do so, because of his fear of losing her money. The case of poor woman, however, is quite the opposite.” The matter of inheritance in Islam is quite a lengthy issue and it is downright contentious too!. It is not an appropriate matter to be discussed in this essay, which is solely devoted to women related issues. However, let us not forget the unfairness of Islam towards women on this matter. Women get only half that men get. Many Islamists justify this rule by saying that a woman does not contribute anything to the creation of a family wealth. All the money she gets is for hers to keep. They also contend that other religions gave no rights of inheritance to women. Islam was/is the only religion that gave women some rights of inheritance. The first argument can be countered by the reasoning that the man who inherits something from his relatives also did not put an effort to the creation of wealth of the relative concerned. So, a man or a woman inheritor is in the same footing. So, why shouldn’t they have equal share in inheritance? The second argument is simply not relevant in today’s world. No other religion follows their age-old/antiquated inheritance rules any more. Most of them follow the secular rules. It is only the Islam that still persists on keeping this gross unfair inheritance rules. Rules on inheritance women get half of men: (Note as per Shah Waliullah these verses abrogate 2:180)...4:11-12 004.011 YUSUFALI: Allah (thus) directs you as regards your Children's (Inheritance): to the male, a portion equal to that of two females: if only daughters, two or more, their share is two-thirds of the inheritance; if only one, her share is a half. For parents, a sixth share of the inheritance to each, if the deceased left children; if no children, and the parents are the (only) heirs, the mother has a third; if the deceased Left brothers (or sisters) the mother has a sixth. (The distribution in all cases ('s) after the payment of legacies and debts. Ye know not whether your parents or your children are nearest to you in benefit. These are settled portions ordained by Allah; and Allah is All-knowing, Al-wise. Part 3 Women are harmful/devilish/crooked and damaging The holy scriptures of Islam is full of mindless, unbelievably misogynic contents. Islam considers women to be crooked, evil, devilish, damaging, Satanic, harmful, portents of bad luck, and what not. One may be greatly surprised at what I just mentioned. I am listing a few statements below from the principle sources of Islam. After reading these citations, it is difficult not to be disturbed. We may wonder¾why is Islam so misogynic? I sometimes wonder what wrong the women have done to be treated in such a harsh, derogatory and in dehumanized manner. It seems as if Islam is out to prove that women are/were created to be bad and they are devilish inherently. It is not in their upbringing, education, family background…. etc. that are responsible for their badness, dummy! Therefore, there is no way of improving their status, no matter how much a woman wishes or tries. It is her fate and destiny as determined by God. Allah/Islam has relegated her to permanent servitude. It is a great tragedy to be born as a woman especially in an Islamic paradise. The only path for a Muslim woman is accepting the sexual slavery or death. Islamic apologists often take pride by saying that Islam improved the lot of women from those prevalent in the ‘dark days’ of Arabia, such as abolishing the live burial of girl infants. What a great achievement! After you peruse the following demeaning provisions of Islam for women, you may wonder whether it is worth living as a woman (in an Islamic paradise under Sharia) or not. It is true that Muhammad did make some improvement to the status of women in Arabia, such as the right of inheritance, abolition of burial of girl babies, etc. However, he did not go further, for he did not want to upset the men of Arabia through a radical change in the then existing status of women. Furthermore, we cannot compare those reforms of women with the time before Islam. We are no longer living in those so-called ‘dark’ days of Ayame-Jahliat, are we? The world is moving forward and all the secularist countries guarantee the rights of women. It is only the Islamic countries that want to live in their ‘golden period’ of the past and still subscribe to their ‘Gender Apartheid’ policy. I would like to ask anyone reading the following ‘holy’ citations to bring in statements from any secular law more misogynic than what is quoted down below. A woman is like a rib---that is why she has the crookedness...(Shahih Bukhari 7.62.113) Volume 7, Book 62, Number 113: Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "The woman is like a rib; if you try to straighten her, she will break. So if you want to get benefit from her, do so while she still has some crookedness." Women were created crooked;. if you try to straighten her you will break her and breaking her is divorcing her…( Shahih Muslim 8.3467) Book 008, Number 3467: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported: Woman has been created from a rib and will in no way be straightened for you; so if you wish to benefit by her, benefit by her while crookedness remains in her. And if you attempt to straighten her, you will break her, and breaking her is divorcing her. Women, house and horses are evil omens..( Shahih Bukhari;7.62.30) Volume 7, Book 62, Number 30: Narrated Abdullah bin 'Umar: Allah's Apostle said, "Evil omen is in the women, the house and the horse.' Portents of hour are drinking, sex , 50 women per men...(Shahih Bukhari 1.3. 81) Volume 1, Book 3, Number 81: Narrated Anas: I will narrate to you a Hadith and none other than I will tell you about after it. I heard Allah's Apostle saying: From among the portents of the Hour are (the following): 1. Religious knowledge will decrease (by the death of religious learned men). 2. Religious ignorance will prevail. 3. There will be prevalence of open illegal sexual intercourse. 4. Women will increase in number and men will decrease in number so much so that fifty women will be looked after by one man. Nothing is more harmful to men than women...(Shahih Bukhari 7.62.33) Volume 7, Book 62, Number 33: Narrated Usama bin Zaid: The Prophet said, "After me I have not left any affliction more harmful to men than women." Please read the following hadith if you still thought that Islam has a lot of kind words reserved for women and is very merciful to them. In this hadith, Muhammad clearly declares that a woman is actually a devil in the guise of a human (albeit a female) being. There is no confusion on this matter. Is there any contextual issue for this hadith? I would really like to hear from the Islamic apologists who are always looking for contexts as to what they have to say on this hadith. Is the provision of this hadith applicable today or not? Shall we not consider a woman as an extension of the devil? What punishment Allah has reserved for the devil? Does not this hadith say that our mothers, wives, sisters, and daughter are actually devils? Could any one show me any secularist provision more misogynic than the content of this hadith? A woman advances and retires in the shape of a devil; so when one of you sees a woman, he should come to his wife and have intercourse with her…(Shahih Muslim 8.3240) Book 008, Number 3240: Jabir reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) saw a woman, and so he came to his wife, Zainab, as she was tanning a leather and had sexual intercourse with her. He then went to his Companions and told them: The woman advances and retires in the shape of a devil, so when one of you sees a woman, he should come to his wife, for that will repel what he feels in his heart. Here is another gem from Imam Ghazali. Women are half devils (Ref: 7.vol. II, p367) Someone once said: “The devil says to women: ‘You are half my army! You are my arrow with which I do not miss! You are my confidante! You are my messenger with whom I achieve my wants!’ Thus half of his army is desire, the other half being anger.” The house, the wife and the horse are bad luck…(Shahih Muslim 26.5523) Book 026, Number 5523: 'Abdullah b. 'Umar reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: If there be bad luck, it is in the house, and the wife, and the horse. Women are more harmful to men than anything else…(Shahih Muslim 36.6603) Book 036, Number 6603: Usama b. Zaid reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: I have not left after me any (chance) of turmoil more injurious to men than the harm done to the men because of women. Avoid the allurement of women…(Shahih Muslim 36.6606) Book 036, Number 6606: Abu Sa'id Khudri reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: The world is sweet and green (alluring) and verily Allah is going to install you as vicegerent in it in order to see how you act. So avoid the allurement of women: verily, the first trial for the people of Isri'll was caused by women. And in the hadith transmitted on the authority of Ibn Bashshar the words are:" So that He should see how you act." Never walk behind a woman (Ref: 7vol. II, p370) Said ibn Jubayr said: “Temptation came to David (peace be upon him) merely through a glance. Therefore. He told his son (Solomon) (peace be upon him): “O my son! Walk behind a lion or a black cobra, but never walk behind a woman.” Women are damaging (Ibid, p371) And the Messenger of God (peace and prayer be upon him) said: “A gaze is a poisoned arrow from Satan. Whoever abstains from it in fear of God shall receive from Him increase in faith, the sweetness of which he will feel in his heart.” He (peace and prayers be upon him) also said: “I leave behind me no temptation damaging to men than that of women.” Women are to be feared most (Ibid, p375) And ibn Al Musayyid said at the age of eighty four when he had lost the use of one eyes, and was almost blind in the other: “In my opinion, women are to be feared more than anything else.” A few traditions on Muhmmad about women (Ref. 6, pp678-679) “I have left no calamity more detrimental to mankind than women.” “Look to your actions and abstain from the world and from women, for verily the first sin which the children of Israel committed was on account of women.” Finally here is a warning for men. If your boss is a woman then think of changing your job. p28.1 (1) (Ref. 8, p672) The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, (1) “Men are already destroyed when they obey women.” Women are ungrateful; therefore, can’t trust them. The foundation of a family is the mutual trust among the family members especially between the husband and wife. Lack of trust will make it almost impossible to have a congenial environment to raise a family. So, how much trust a Muslim husband should put on his wife/s? The Islamic apologists no doubt will tell us that Islam puts the highest priority on family. So, this question is rather a stupid one. Well, let us see what the ‘real Islam’ has to say on trusting a woman. Women should give charity and forgiveness because the majority of women will be in hell. The reasons are 1. women curse too much 2. they are ungrateful to their husbands 3.they are lacking in common sense 4. they are failing in religion 5. they rob the wisdom of the wise…(Shahih Muslim 1.0142) Book 001, Number 0142: It is narrated on the authority of 'Abdullah b. Umar that the Messenger of Allah observed: O womenfolk, you should give charity and ask much forgiveness for I saw you in bulk amongst the dwellers of Hell. A wise lady among them said: Why is it, Messenger of Allah, that our folk is in bulk in Hell? Upon this the Holy Prophet observed: You curse too much and are ungrateful to your spouses. I have seen none lacking in common sense and failing in religion but (at the same time) robbing the wisdom of the wise, besides you. Upon this the woman remarked: What is wrong with our common sense and with religion? He (the Holy Prophet) observed: Your lack of common sense (can be well judged from the fact) that the evidence of two women is equal to one man, that is a proof of the lack of common sense, and you spend some nights (and days) in which you do not offer prayer and in the month of Ramadan (during the days) you do not observe fast, that is a failing in religion. This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Abu Tahir with this chain of transmitters. Because of Eve women are unfaithful towards their husbands…(Shahih Muslim 8.3471) Book 008, Number 3471: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Had it not been for Eve, woman would have never acted unfaithfully towards her husband. The above two hadiths have sealed the fate of a Muslim woman for good. Firstly, the hadith says that women are ungrateful to their husband, and they cannot observe fully the religious rituals (like fasting) because the way Allah has created them. It is not the fault of a woman to have menstruation period. Why should then she be blamed for not fasting during her period? Who imposed this ban? Why was this prohibition obligatory, after all? What would a modern workingwoman think when she learns that Allah penalises her for the attribute that He himself gave her. Why is this devilish and whimsical Allah so cruel and unjust to her? Can some erudite pedagogue come forward and explain to us all? All those are the questions that any sensible human being will ponder upon. Is it fair to relegate women to hell for the crime that they did not commit in the first place? How insulting is it when a wife hears that she is unfaithful to her husband just because Muhammad had said so? It is absolutely a gross injustice to women to label them as a bunch of ungrateful sinners who are at the mercy of their supposedly godly husbands. There is nothing a woman could do in her power to purge this derogatory treatment of her. It is because Allah has created her to be ungrateful. What a blunder Allah did at the time of Genesis? How absurd! How insulting! How about the fidelity of men to their wives? Surprisingly, both Qur’an and ahadith are completely reticent about this. Does this silence imply that men are always faithful to their wives? Shall we assume that men are created sinless and Allah imbued the women with all the sins? [One Bangladeshi professor who is now in Canada had retorted the other day in NFB that he is now a believer because Allah made opposite things such as day-night, hot-cold, man-woman, etc. I guess in the same vein, Allah made man sinless and to counter balance that He made women with all the sins!] Can we trust our wives in matters of wealth and property? These are silly questions, one would say. However, Islam is not silly with women. This is what the Dictionary of Islam cites about putting trust on your dear wife/s on matters of wealth and property. Can’t tell a wife secrets, amount of property…etc. no musical instruments for her (Ref: 6 p675) As to the three things to be avoided in husband towards his wife:- Excess of affection, for this gives her the predominance and leads to a state of perversion. When the power is overpowered and the commander commanded, all regularity must infallibly be destroyed. If troubled with redundance of affection let him at least conceal it from her. Let him not consult her on matters of paramount importance; let him not make her acquainted with his secrets, nor let her know the amount of his property, or the stores he possesses, beyond those in present consumption, or her weakness of judgment will infallibly set things wrong. Let him allow her no musical instruments, no visiting out of doors, no listening to men’s stories, nor intercourse with women noted for such practices; especially where any previous suspicion has been raised What do all the women of the world feel when they read those three provisions of Islam? Women are not worth to be loved in excess, they are unintelligent to manage the affairs of property, wealth and business, no learning of musical instrument for them, they are not even be allowed outside home. I would just like to know the reactions from Megawati Sukarno Putri, the President of Indonesia, Begum Khaleda Zia, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Mrs. Helen Clark, the Prime Minister of New Zealand if they ever read this ‘golden’ treatment of women in Islam. If a woman cannot be trusted with the basic family matters, how can the world trust these women leaders to lead their nations- if we really go by Islamic way? Part 4 Sharia is on men’s side and make no mistake about it! Islam has shocked the world with the its best kept secret, that is, Sharia laws, especially its provision on matters of sex, marriage, gender rights, polygamy…etc. Islamists are dying to enact these barbaric laws wherever they see their potential of success. A few of the once secular countries (such as Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sudan, and certain parts of Malaysia and Nigeria) have come under these medieval, uncivilized, barbaric rules of Islamic Sharia. Words fail to describe the inhumane, tormenting, and mind boggling cruelty and despicable provisions contained in the Sharia laws. More importantly, this Sharia has totally robbed the Muslim women of whatever little rights they could exercise during the ‘decadent’ secular rules. The worst and the largest victim of Sharia had been the women, unquestionably. Quite often, we find a woman is to be stoned to death for being raped by criminals. A victim is to be executed for the crime committed by the culprits!! This is what is ‘true’ Islamic justice. Why is it so? Isn’t Islamic justice the perfect justice system on earth? After all, the Sharia is Allah’s laws. Allah could never do such abominable injustice to women. What a load of rubbish! Sharia is designed to protect men all the way. Through and through. It is simply because tyrannical men who call themselves prophets of God wrote those laws. Didn’t they? That is precisely why Sharia is always and will always remain on men’s side when it comes to sex, family, matrimonial—any matter where both sexes are involved. In making Sharia, these prophets never consulted women. Imagine what would be the provisions of Sharia if the prophets were women and not men. Here I am citing a few examples of the bias of Sharia for men. Men can punish rebellious wives by beating them. However, a woman cannot punish a rebellious husband in a similar manner. If the man is cruel then the woman must seek to please him and compromise with him as per verse 4:128 Men are greedy; if women fear cruelty from men then they can make an amicable settlement...4:128 004.128 YUSUFALI: If a wife fears cruelty or desertion on her husband's part, there is no blame on them if they arrange an amicable settlement between themselves; and such settlement is best; even though men's souls are swayed by greed. But if ye do good and practise self-restraint, Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do. Women should beg a man not to divorce her (Shahih Bukhari 7.62.134) Volume 7, Book 62, Number 134: Narrated Aisha: regarding the Verse: 'If a wife fears cruelty or desertion on her husband's part ...') (4.128) It concerns the woman whose husband does not want to keep her with him any longer, but wants to divorce her and marry some other lady, so she says to him: 'Keep me and do not divorce me, and then marry another woman, and you may neither spend on me, nor sleep with me.' This is indicated by the Statement of Allah: 'There is no blame on them if they arrange an amicable settlement between them both, and (such) settlement is better." (4.128) Polygamy by men is divine. Don’t we know this already? Many Islamic writers take great pride to announce to the world that Islam was the only religion that put a limit on the number of wives that a man can have at any given time. They always cite very ancient, biblical customs when many men used to have unlimited wives. They even go one step further in saying that ‘actually Islam promotes monogamy since Qur’an says that it is impossible to be fair with all the wives—and that is a requirement by Allah to have multiple wives, therefore, it is not possible to have more than one wife at any time’. What a convoluted logic! Even a primary school kid will laugh when this type of inane argument is presented. Another issue they always try to avoid is that they never talk about the modern secular matrimonial laws. They are always living in the past --very distant past indeed, at least a few thousand years behind. A further tactic used by these “erudite” Islamic scholars is that they will exhort hundreds of virtues of polygamy when asked why they do not compare their rules with secular ones. What a bizarre situation. Think of it. At one point, they are adamant that monogamy is the way to go—and Islam is actually for monogamous marriage. At the same time, just like a chameleon they quickly change color to eulogize polygamy for infinite reasons. They will even tell you that the best cure for today’s promiscuous society is actually the practice of polygamy by men. According to them, polygamy is a divine provision for men. It is because men, by nature, desire to have multiple sex partners. So, instead of turning to the prostitutes for this excess libido, they should marry more women. How about multiple husbands at any time by a woman? Does not women also desire to have sex with many men? Nope. No way. Allah is absolutely against this. Why? Have any Islamist ever asked any woman on this matter? If they have not, then let me say that the desire to have sex with multiple partners is equally strong in women as it is with men if not more. Have a look at nature. You will see plenty of examples. In fact, prehistoric societies were matriarchal where a woman was the center of everything. She used to have many sex partners without any problem just as Islamic men have multiple wives today. Can we not, therefore, conclude that Islamic polygamy is just a sexist phenomenon, unfair and an utterly illogical provision on the pretext of enforcing divine sanction? Let us look at some of the provisions of Islamic polygamy in the Holy Scriptures. Four free women wives (some say nine) at a time and any number of slave girls are permitted...4:3 004.003 YUSUFALI: If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, Marry women of your choice, Two or three or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or (a captive) that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice. People with very little knowledge of Islam often think that the provision of four wives at any time is all that Islam allows for having multiple sex partners. Perish this thought. The reality is that a Muslim man can have sex with as many women as his heart desires at any time whether through marriage or not. In fact, the holy man of Islam, Imam Hasan had up to 300 wives, believe it or not (more on this will be found in a subsequent section). Besides four legal wives at any one time, Islam permits a man to have unlimited number of concubines as long as they are slave women or captive women. More on sex with captive women will be found in a later part of this essay. So, Muslim men, rejoice! You do not need to carry the burden of four wives. When Islam takes over the world, slavery will be re-introduced. Slave markets will be re-established in all the important parts of the world. If you are tired with your old wives, then just go to the nearest slave market and buy a slave-girl/s. Have sex with her for as long or as much as you like, then when you are tired of her, you can sell her off to recover your principal. All you need to do is to feed and cloth the sex-slave for the duration of your desire. See, how beautiful the Islamic rule is! A free unlimited sex is also possible with captive women. Where can you get captive women in today’s world? If you think that this is impossible, then you have not understood Islam. Remember, when the Jihadis conquer the Western countries, all non-Muslim women there become their captives, at least in theory. The Jihadis then can distribute them to all the Muslim residents and among themselves. Then they can enjoy these petite infidel women to their hearts content. This is the provision of Allah. In Iran and the Taliban controlled Afghanistan, the Mullahs did just that. Whenever, an atheist, secular, socialist, communist woman was captured for waging war against God, she was given to a prison guard to use her as he pleased. The guard made sure that he had sexually enjoyed her before she is executed. Unbelievable, huh? See (http://www.homa.org/wings/irisituation.html ) Here is Holy Scripture on sex with slaves and captives. Sex with captive women and slave women is permitted…23:1-6 023.001 YUSUFALI: The believers must (eventually) win through,- 023.002 YUSUFALI: Those who humble themselves in their prayers; 023.003 YUSUFALI: Who avoid vain talk; 023.004 YUSUFALI: Who are active in deeds of charity; 023.005 YUSUFALI: Who abstain from sex, 023.006 YUSUFALI: Except with those joined to them in the marriage bond, or (the captives) whom their right hands possess,- for (in their case) they are free from blame, As I wrote before, that many Islamists are adamant that Islam does not encourage polygamy although there is no harm if someone wants to resort to it. These Islamists are simply hiding the truth. The fact of the matter is that the Muslims are openly encouraged to have multiple wives. This is evident from the following hadith. The best Muslims had the largest number of wives...( Shahih Bukhari 7.62.7) Volume 7, Book 62, Number 7: Narrated Said bin Jubair: Ibn 'Abbas asked me, "Are you married?" I replied, "No." He said, "Marry, for the best person of this (Muslim) nation (i.e., Muhammad) of all other Muslims, had the largest number of wives." It is not only that the best Muslims had the largest number of wives but they also had incredible sex drive. Imagine having sex with all the wives in one’s harem in a single night and that also when you are past fifty! Well, you may say this is almost an impossible task. Then you are not a good Muslim. See the founder of Islam did just that. Allah’s Qudrat, no doubt. The best Muslim men should have incredible sex power (Shahih Bukhari 7.62.142) Volume 7, Book 62, Number 142: Narrated Anas bin Malik: The Prophet used to pass by (have sexual relation with) all his wives in one night, and at that time he had nine wives. The best women to marry as per Islam Have you noticed that most of the Islamic Paradises (like, Pakistan, Nigeria Bangladesh, Sudan…etc) are incredibly poor and unbelievably over populated? Why is it so? Does Islam have anything to do with this poverty and overcrowding? It is true that in the past, the government of those Islamic Paradises used to emphasize a lot on birth and population control. The exploding birth rate in these countries is a time bomb ticking away. It is one of the root causes of the backwardness, poverty, and unhygienic/unhealthy living conditions of these teeming millions. When the Islamists took over the control of these nations, population control was no longer a top priority. Why? The reason is that the Islamists have a secret agenda. The agenda is that they want to Islamize the whole world by exploding the population bomb albeit through Islamic population. They are pursuing this issue quite adroitly. Their method of subjugating the world through a terrible Islamic population bomb negates all the attempts by various national and international agencies to improve the living conditions of these ‘Islamic Proletariat’. On this matter, they are quite close to the communistic ideology. The Islamists want to replace the communist idea of ‘dictatorship of the Proletariat’ with the ‘dictatorship of the Islamic Proletariat’. Where did the Islamists get this idea from? Did they borrow from Karl Marx’s ‘Manifesto of the Communist Party’ or his classic work ‘Das Kapital’? Nope. The Islamists found this strategy in the very words of Muhammad himself. Here is the advice by Muhammad on how to select a woman carefully to be used as a baby-making factory. Muhammed advised not to marry barren women, but to marry only those women who can give birth to plenty of children...( Sunaan Abu Dawud 11.2045) Book 11, Number 2045: Narrated Ma'qil ibn Yasar: A man came to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) and said: I have found a woman of rank and beauty, but she does not give birth to children. Should I marry her? He said: No. He came again to him, but he prohibited him. He came to him third time, and he (the Prophet) said: Marry women who are loving and very prolific, for I shall outnumber the peoples by you. The above hadith clearly explains the agenda of the Islamists. Doesn’t this hadith make a woman as some kind of a child-making factory? You see, in an Islamic marriage, mutual love, understanding, companionship is not so important. The most important reason for marriage is procreation (the production of unlimited number of children) without any regard for the health or the welfare of the women (mothers in this case). It is not only that a woman is quite similar to a baby-making factory; she is also a machine for enjoyment. Read this disgusting hadith to see for yourself how merciful and sympathetic Islam is towards women! If you marry a pregnant woman, then her vagina is lawful if you pay the dowry, after she gives birth, flog her; the child becomes your slave...( Sunaan Abu Dawud 11.2126) Book 11, Number 2126: Narrated Basrah: A man from the Ansar called Basrah said: I married a virgin woman in her veil. When I entered upon her, I found her pregnant. (I mentioned this to the Prophet). The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: She will get the dower, for you made her vagina lawful for you. The child will be your slave. When she has begotten (a child), flog her (according to the version of al-Hasan). The version of Ibn AbusSari has: You people, flog her, or said: inflict hard punishment on him. How about the women who are secularists/freethinkers and feminists? These women can forget about getting married, as they are totally haram for any Muslim man. Can they marry non-Muslims? Don’t even think of that, for, that is haram too. If any woman violates this rule, then she and her husband faces possible stoning to death as this type of union will be regarded as adultery. If you are not a beautiful woman, your chances of marriage with a Muslim man are also very slim. These women are all condemned to remain spinster until they die, —if we go by the ‘real Islam’ here is what Imam Ghazali says. Women not legal for marriage. Already married, apostate, atheist, feminist, permissive, Zoroastrian, idol worshipper, a fifth wife, accused of adultery whether proved or not, and others prohibited due to kinship. (Ref: 7 vol. I, pp 226-228) She should be beautiful Ibid, p228) She should be beautiful, this is also desirable as with it you will preserve your chastity. As for her nature, she should not be ugly, as much as she should be beautiful so her nature should be beautiful, as the two should go hand in hand. The definition of the best woman (Ibid, p228) The prophet said, “The best of your women is the one who if her husband looks at her she pleases him, and if he orders her something she obeys, and if he is away she keeps him in herself and his wealth.” She should be beautiful and cheap (Ibid, p228) Her dowry should be reasonable. The Prophet said: “The best of the women are the beautiful in face and the least in dowry.” She should be fertile (Ibid, p228) She should be fertile, so if she was known to be barren, she should not be sought in marriage. The Prophet said: “Marry the fertile and amicable.” If she was not married and her condition was unknown, then watch her health and youth as if she is healthy and young and she will be fertile. She should be virgin if not previously married (Ibid, p229) She should be virgin. The Prophet said to Gaber when he married a deflowered woman: “It would have been better if you had married a virgin you would have enjoyed each other better.” Choose carefully for your sperm (Ibid, p229) The prophet said: “Stay away from the flower which grows in the sewerage.” So they said: “ And what is the flower which grows in the sewerage?” he said: “She is the beautiful woman of bad origin.” He also said: “Choose carefully for your sperm, because bad traits are inherited.” Asking men to look for beautiful women may be benign. How about ugly and unsightly men? While the beauty of a woman is a desirable feature for a Muslim man, there is gross injustice for a beautiful woman who ends up with an ugly man. If a woman marries an ugly man, then surprisingly the fault still lies with the woman and not with the ugly man!! Some justice, huh! As per Imam Ghazali, an ugly husband is a woman’s punishment. An ugly husband is a punishment for a beautiful woman (Ibid, p235) It was narrated that Al Asmo’ai said: “I entered a scrub land who had the ugliest face, so I asked her: “O you, how did you accept to marry some one like him?” she said: “Hold your tongue, you have uttered a wrong thing, he may be best in what is between himself and his creator, so He made me a reward for him, or it may be that I am the worst in what is between myself and my creator, so he made him my punishment.” Dower (Mahr) for women Marriage is an important institution in Islam. With marriage, a family unit, the basic building block of a society is founded. An Islamic marriage is not a legal marriage without mahr. And what is mahr? Mahr is the dower a prospective groom pays to contract a woman for marriage. No Islamic marriage is valid without a mahr. If we condemn the dower demanded by grooms (in India and Bangladesh) to marry a woman, then we must also do the same for Islamic mahr. Why should a man pay a woman to get married to her? The plain answer is that a man pays to his wife/s to have sexual intercourse with her. What? This is outrageous, you say. Here is the truth. As per Islam, the mahr is the price a man pays to use a woman’s private parts. Are you enraged and furious? Of course, you are. Now, before you call me an ‘Islam basher’ please read on. Let us search the Qur’an first. Give dower to women as a free gift...4:4 004.004 YUSUFALI: And give the women (on marriage) their dower as a free gift; but if they, of their own good pleasure, remit any part of it to you, Take it and enjoy it with right good cheer. This verse looks very innocent indeed until we dig deeper. After all, giving some present to some one is nothing so special. We all do that. Sons give present to their mothers. Mothers give presents to their children. Friends give present to friends and so on. Husbands give present or gift to wives and vice versa. This custom is very much a social etiquette. Now, what is so different in giving mahr to a woman for marriage? To get the real reason for a mahr we need to look at hadith and Sharia. Read the following hadith from Shahih Bukhari.and Shahih Muslim Marriage gives the man the right to enjoy a woman's private parts...( Shahih Bukhari;7.62.81) Volume 7, Book 62, Number 81: Narrated 'Uqba: The Prophet said: "The stipulations most entitled to be abided by are those with which you are given the right to enjoy the (women's) private parts (i.e. the stipulations of the marriage contract)." The most worthy condition that must be fulfilled in a marriage is that sexual intercourse becomes lawful…(Shahih Muslim 8.3302) Book 008, Number 3302: