Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Big Victory for Muslim Women

A BIG VICTORY FOR WOMEN

File Phot0: First Female Judge in Qatar 

Not only Muslims but Hindus, Christians, Jews, Sikhs and all others talk about equality of women, but many don’t practice what they preach.   “What does she know” “Her place is home” and invariably her knowledge is discounted. Religions were not the culprits, it was the men who could not stand women being equal and have resorted to a whole lot of demeaning things to feel secure.  Until 1919 women were considered a property even here in the United States, we have come a long way and a whole lot more to go.  I have heard shameful comments like “A woman can preach in my church over my dead body.” Many conservative men and even women had a problem with Hillary Clinton being a woman president.

Prophet Muhammad released women from the bondage of men, when he declared that men and women will be treated equally by God. Her husband is not responsible for her deeds, she is, and she is free to own property, own business, marry and divorce out of her free will. It was revolutionary at that time and the world understood that 1300 years later. However, a few Muslim majority nations have gone against the very teachings of Islam. The invention of Sharia among Muslims really pushed back the egalitarianism of Islam, Sharia is bidda (invention) and we need to un-bidda it with common sense or God's laws of equality, justice, freedom and harmony.

Being an interfaith wedding officiant, I do a lot of research in matrimonial sites, women in general seem to seek approval of men, sort of pandering and usually playing the secondary role in the households.  This needs a change, women need to assert and need to safeguard their rights and not be dictated against their will for common good.

A majority of people in all groups believe and practice equality - that simply means respecting the other person, her opinions and her presence.

Here are 4 items of Good news at: http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2017/09/big-victory-for-muslim-women.html

 Saudi Arabia – women can drive now, and their clergy to eat crow


Saudi Arabia has finally taken the good step forward; they have announced that women are permitted to drive in their country.  First of all every man and woman have the same God-given rights to be accountable to their actions, Saudi did not give the right to women, but released back what was usurped from them in the first place.

Here is the information release today, Saudi Arabia lifts ban on women's driving : Saudi Arabia's King Salman on Tuesday issued a royal decree allowing women to drive, ending its status as the only country in the world to impose such a ban. The new rules will take effect starting June 2018. This comes after years of campaigns against the ban that was seen as a violation of women's rights.

To quote Reza Aslan used for another instance, it was a Saudi practice and had nothing to do with Islam. My friends at Fox had falsely projected it as an Islamic practice which I fought with Sean Hannity as not. 

The Saudi Muftis (those who issue fatwas) will fall flat on their faces; they have to eat what they spat.  They had issued funny opinions on many issue.  The other non-sense that needs to go is fatwas against Shias and other Muslims as no Muslim or less of a Muslim.  Allah does not care what you believe, how you worship, as long as you subscribe to the idea that there is one earth, one universe and there is one “whatever” we are accountable to and take care of fellow beings and create harmony in his creation – that is what Islam in a nutshell means.  

 

Indian Muslim Clergy fell flat on their faces

The men claiming to represent Islam in India also fell flat on their faces.  They were adamant that a man has the right to pronounce the word divorce three times in a row and that would end the marriage.  An evil practice that does not exist anywhere in the world, it is neither Islamic nor the Quran supports it.  The men hung on to it, despite innumerable articles, some of them are at www.ShariaLaws.com.

The supreme court of India listened to Muslim women and said that practice must go.  The same Ulema will fall on their face again if they do not abolish the evil practice of Halala and inheritance and child custody laws.


India’s Supreme Court wrecks the Triple Talaq traditionhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/indias-supreme-courts-wrecking-ball-wrecks-triple_us_599dac25e4b056057bddd005

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Female Genital 
Mutilation

The practice of FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) will come to a grinding halt, but it still continues in small groups.  Once again it is not an Islamic or Muslim practice as Ayan Hirsi Ali has propagated it to be.  It is practiced by one small sect within the Muslim community, but largely by communities who are Christian and native traditions in Africa.  FGM was legal in America until 1996.

The Doctor that was caught in Michigan in performing FGM is out on a bail of $43 Million.  There is an imam in Fairfax, VA, who believes FGM was allowed in Islam, of course he is barred from practicing now.  I say, the lady doctor who performed FGM and the Imam who said it is Islamic are innocent people – they problem is source of their knowledge – the secondary books in Islam which shamefully many a Muslims have elevated to the level of Quran.  The solution is to establish a commission to study these secondary books and label bad ideas in them and caution the reader about it. Quran is flawless and is a book of guidance to create cohesive societies where no human has to live in fear of the other. Freedoms to live and breathe are its goals.

Articles:
 http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2011/11/female-genital-mutilation-among-bohra.html

Setting the record straight - http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2012/04/mutilating-facts-setting-record.html

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Muslim Woman can Marry a Non-Muslim man -Morocco declares



The problem is same with all groups of people, they don't want their daughters to marry outside their faith or even tradition - but have no problem if their sons marry women of other faiths. United States and Canada are about the only countries where you marry whoever you feel compatible with, such is our freedom.  In India and other nations if you are a movie star or a rich man, no one will stop you but if you are an ordinary citizen, you will be invariably harassed and even killed.   I am sure it happens in other nations, thank God America is the land of the free. You live in the pursuit of your happiness.

Now, the Kingdom of Morocco just declared that their women (Muslim) can marry a non- Muslim. This is a big official announcement in the history of Islam, even though the practice has been around.  Muslims in general are resistant to the change without looking at the reasons why such ruling was “added” in the first place as Quran does not expressly prohibit a Muslim woman from marrying a non-Muslim. nearly 40% of American Muslims and Hindus marry outside their faith, and of course Christians and Jews are about 50%. A day will come, when what you believe, eat, drink or wear does not matter, what would matter is can you be happy with the individual.



 Check this out:
 It is a big article - 6000 words - Can a Muslim woman marry a non-Muslim man?  http://centerforpluralism.com/can-a-muslim-woman-marry-a-non-muslim-man/

And this: http://interfaithmarriages.blogspot.com/2017/09/bill-gates-daughter-is-dating-muslim-guy.html

Mike Ghouse
Center for Pluralism

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quraan burning

Planned Muslim Response to Qur'an Burning by Pastor Jones on September 11 in Mulberry, Florida

PRESS RELEASE
August 19, 2013| Dallas, Texas

Mike Ghouse
Text/Talk: (214) 325-1916
MikeGhouse@aol.com

Mirza A Beg
(205) 454-8797
mirza.a.beg@gmail.com

www.WorldMuslimCongress.com


PLANNED MUSLIMS RESPONSE TO QUR'AN BURNING BY PASTOR JONES ON 9/11/13 IN MULBERRY, FLORIDA

We as Muslims plan to respond to pastor Terry Jones' planned burning of 3000 copies of Quran on September 11, 2013 in positive terms.

Our response - we will reclaim the standard of behavior practiced by the Prophet concerning “scurrilous and hostile criticism of the Qur’an” (Muhammad Asad Translation Note 31, verse 41:34). It was "To overcome evil with good is good, and to resist evil by evil is evil." It is also strongly enjoined in the Qur’an in the same verse 41:34, “Good and evil deeds are not equal. Repel evil with what is better; then you will see that one who was once your enemy has become your dearest friend.”

God willing Muslims will follow the divine guidance and pray for the restoration of Goodwill, and on that day many Muslim organizations will go on a “blood drive” to save lives and serve humanity with kindness.

We invite fellow Americans of all faiths, races, and ethnicities to join us to rededicate the pledge, “One nation under God”, and to build a cohesive America where no American has to live in apprehension, discomfort or fear of fellow Americans. This event is a substitute for our 10th Annual Unity Day Celebration (www.UnitydayUSA.com) held in Dallas, but now it will be at Mulberry, Florida.

Unwittingly Pastor Jones has done us a favor by invigorating us by his decision to burn nearly 3000 copies Quran on September 11, 2013. Obviously he is not satisfied by the notoriety he garnered by burning one Qur'an last year.

As Muslims and citizens we honor the free speech guaranteed in our constitution. We have no intentions to criticize, condemn or oppose Pastor Terry Jones' freedom of expression. Instead, we will be donating blood and praying for goodness to permeate in our society.

We plan to follow Jesus Christ (pbuh), a revered prophet in Islam as well as Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) – that of mitigating the conflicts and nurturing good will for the common good of the society.

We hope, this event and the message will remind Muslims elsewhere in the world as well, that violence is not the way. Muslims, who react violently to senseless provocation, should realize that, violence causes more violence, and besmirches the name of the religion that we hold so dear. We believe that Prophet Muhammad was a mercy to the mankind, and we ought to practice what we believe and preach. We must not insult Islam by the negative reactions of a few.

We can only hope it will bring about a change in the attitude of the followers of Pastor Jones, and in the behavior of those Muslims who reacted violently the last time Pastor sought notoriety – We hope this small step towards a bridge to peaceful coexistence would propel us towards building a cohesive society.

Like most Americans a majority of Muslims quietly go about their own business, but it is time to speak up and take positive action instead of negative reaction. May this message of peace and goodwill reverberate and reach many shores.

Lastly, we appreciate the Citizens of Mulberry, Florida, Honorable Mayor George Hatch, City Commissioners, police and Fire Chiefs for handing this situation very well. This will add a ‘feather of peace’ in the City’s reputation. We hope Mulberry will be a catalyst in showing the way in handling conflict with dignity and peace.

We thank the Media for giving value to the work towards peace rather than conflict.






URL- http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/08/planned-muslim-response-to-quran_18.html



Thank you.

CIVIL DIALOGUE

The people in Dallas are making an effort to understand and clean their own hearts first, when we are free from bias, it would be easy to share that with others. Islam teaches us in so many ways to "respect the otherness of others" and it is time we find simple practical ways of doing it.