Islamic Countries Marching Backwards.

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Islamic Countries Marching Backwards.

While the world is striving for and attaining gender equality, Islamic countries are marching backwards.

Recently the Malaysian’s religious leader has passed laws that make it easier for men to practice polygamy.

A women's group, Sister in Islam, argued that Muslims had the right to an opinion and to be engaged in Islamic discourse. And Women's Affairs Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, described the move as an insult to women.

However, the Mufti of Perlis, Datuk Mat Jahaya Husin, warned that groups, which were critical of the move on polygamy, would be in danger of committing a 'wrong' by denying its legality under Islamic law. 'Hence it is best to hold your tongue lest you deny the right to polygamy in Islam,' he was quoted as saying.

This is how Islam operates and how Islamists win every time. Many westerners question why the moderate Muslims are silent and why they allow the fundamentalists win. The answer is that the fundamentalists have the Shaira on their side.

In a futile attempt to stop the regression to Stone Age Malaysia’s women’s group program coordinator Ruzana Udin said that "Freedom of expression is enshrined in Islam." But that is of course not true. Muslims are allowed the freedom of expression only in matters not specified by the Sharia. The polygamy is sanctioned in the Quran and questioning it is tantamount to denying the authority of the Quran; a crime that should not be forgiven and the offender must die.

Ruzana Udin argued that "this did not mean changing the teachings of Islam but, rather, examining progressive applications of the teachings in current situations". But the truth is that opposing polygamy means opposing the Quran. What does “Examining progressive applications of the teachings in current situations” mean? Is she saying that those teachings are no more applicable because they are not progressive? Is she implying that the mandates of the Quran that are believed to be eternal teachings of God for mankind are outdated?

She said "it was when Islamic discourse was monopolized by just a few that the religion would become backward". But the fact is that those who monopolize the Islamic discourse have the Quran on their side. The law is very clear. There are no ifs or buts. You either accept the Quran or reject it. If you dare to reject the Quran, of course you are an apostate and death is your penalty. That leaves very little room for freedom of expression.

Another group, Women's Candidacy Initiative, said the cause of the present controversy was the fact that people were not involved in the debate on polygamy. But how they could be? Can people forbid what God has permitted? What is the purpose of such debate?

Zaitun Kasim, a spokesman of the group said, "Many Islamic scholars have refuted the right of men to practice polygamy, and yet for some reason most Malaysians don't know this."

Islamic scholars can say whatever they want, but no one can change the laws of the Quran. Polygamy, like wife beating, chopping the hands of the petty thief, flogging, stoning and denying the Human Rights of religious minorities are part of the Sharia. No matter how progressive Muslims want to be, they cannot change these laws. The moment the number of the Muslims in a country tilts towards majority, the process of Islamization and hence backwardness is set in motion. It really does not matter whether the majority of Muslims agree with the laws of Sharia or not. No one can openly oppose those laws. Islam does not allow compromises. You either agree with it or you are an enemy. The opponents of Islamic laws have little chance to counter the explicit mandates of the Quran.

The big challenge facing the Muslims is to realize that as long as they call themselves by this name and as long as they hold the Quran to be a book of revelations, the backward march of Islamic countries towards incivility will continue.