Islam and the feminist movements

Year 1848 marked the inception of feminist movements as women gathered in New York to demand voting rights. Suffragists went on asking equal wages and an entire change of customary attitudes towards women in political, social and economic spheres. The movement gained support and has now spread globally — from developed to developing countries — achieving significance.

Divided into four waves, the movement kept coming with new postulates. In the first one, women called for voting rights, political representation and education; for gender equality and end to violence in the second one; legal reforms and progressiveness in the third; and end to discrimination in the fourth. It is to wonder why Islam is not accredited for pioneering these waves for it voiced for all the aforementioned demands centuries earlier.

Mary Wollstonecraft is celebrated as the founder of feminism as she, in 1792, advocated for women education and civil rights through her writings. But what seems bigotedly ignored in the pages of history is that some 1,200 years before Wollstonecraft rose her voice for the cause of women, a female child was even devoid of the right to live and was buried alive just minutes after birth. And the revered soul who fought and succeeded in its abolition goes unnoticed. In a society where female infanticide was rampant, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) prophesied heaven for the one raising daughters well and termed them God’s gift.

Islam is often labeled as anti-feminist while it goes ignored that its first believer and financier was Khadija and first martyr was Sumaiya. The first wave of feminism centred around demands for women’s role in legislation and leadership in the early 19^th century, but history fails to notice how Zainab binte Ali, a granddaughter of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), assumed the leadership role at Karbala centuries ago. Two amongst the few believers who took the pledge of allegiance at al-Aqabah were women, meaning they were part of the decision-making and pursuance. Women believers also accompanied men at wars, right in the battlefield and in assistance or planning.

A prophet is by birth a prophet, however it is at a certain stage that he announces prophethood. Therefore, all his life, he never goes astray; hence his entire life serves as a role model. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) worked for Khadija as a tradesman with impressive honesty. This indicates the Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) support for businesswomen and how one should deal with them in all fairness — the foremost demand raised in the second feminist wave.

Amongst the demands in the third wave was gender neutrality in speech and writings. Words like mankind was successfully substituted for humanity, chairman for chairperson, etc. Worthy to notice is that the Quran, revealed 1,400 years ago, is throughout gender-neutral. It generally addresses “Ya ayuhan naas” translating to “O humans” or at other places it specifies its address on the basis of ideology i.e. “O you who believe”, but never does it address as “O men”.

The Quran commenced with the word “read” and discussed paper and pen right after. It has necessitated the believers to learn and says, “Could those who don’t know be equal to those who know.” The Holy Prophet (PBUH) in a gender-neutral saying made it mandatory for every believer to obtain knowledge. He would set public meetings with believing women so he could teach them about the religion. He rewarded freedom to war captives after they spent some time teaching Muslim girls and boys and declared learning as virtue. The Prophet (PBUH) prepared his wives and other believing women to be his representatives in knowledge. He delegated the authority to convey on his behalf and declared teaching an exalted profession.

Islam holds women in high esteem. The Quran uses the word “wahi” for revelation and it doesn’t necessarily have to be a whole book. The Holy Book says the Almighty had sent revelations to the mother of Jesus and the mother of Moses. Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) progeny is traced by his daughter Fatima who is held in towering admiration. The Prophet (PBUH) would stand in her respect and admonished the believers to seek his happiness in the happiness of Fatima and vice versa.

For a mother, the Prophet (PBUH) said heaven lies beneath her feet. For a daughter, the Prophet (PBUH) promised heaven. For a wife, the Prophet (PBUH) said to men that the best amongst you are those who are best to their wife. For a sister, the Prophet (PBUH) commanded love and strictly ordered for her property rights to be taken due care. Islam is first amongst the world religions to grant property rights and heirship to women and safeguards it with all means possible.

The Prophet (PBUH) in his last address shunned all sorts of discrimination on the basis of class, creed and colour. This has been in the charter of demand of the black feminism.

One must look into the authentic sources for accurate learning. It could be that some cultural affiliations have hindered the viewing of the rightful picture. Therefore, there could be no denying that it was actually Islam that coined the feminist ideas. However, as any code of conduct has yays and nays, similarly, the Quran ordains the good and forbids the vices. Clauses of the fourth wave which speak on queer-meaning delinquent behaviour are totally in contradiction and therefore abandoned while the rest are but the voice of Islam.

It could be that some cultural affiliations have hindered the viewing of the rightful picture.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 4^th, 2023.

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