Society Debate: Is Islam fair on women?

It protects them from the crazy world! Islam established rules that suit a woman and comfort her nature. It gives her full security and protects her against disgraceful circumstances and uncertain ways of life. For instance, the dress code of Muslim women protects them from sexual abusers such as rapists. At times it’s just the eyes and fingers that can be seen therefore a serial rapist will not have crazy ideas or fantasies for such a woman. This is so because he will not know what’s beneath the ‘Hidjab’. Some women are raped because they extremely expose the body parts which are at least supposed to be fully covered. Besides being protected from perverts, the Muslim women dress code commands respects and it is recommendable. According to Islam, women have similar obligations and responsibilities to reform and correct the society to the best of their ability as men. Islam acknowledges the fact there are clear observable biological and psychological differences between men and women. These differences are so evident that they cannot be denied. The other day Sheila, a friend, complained about Muslim women not being involved in most funeral rites since she didn’t know the Islam traits regarding emotions. Women are considered to be extremely emotional yet Islam considers that whatever happens is Allah‘s plan. If one dies it’s because Allah wanted to take them therefore people are supposed to be strong while bidding them farewell. But this is hard to be achieved with the wails from women thus they are forbidden from burial grounds. Islam is fair on women because it advocates for equal religious duties and rituals that are required from both women and men. For example, Prayer (Salah), Obligatory Charity (Zakah), Fasting (Saum), and Pilgrimage (Hajj) are equally required of both genders. Although in some cases the requirements are a bit easier on women to alleviate their special cases of hardship. For instance, in consideration of her health and physical condition, menstruating women or a woman in the state of postnatal bleeding and recuperation are absolved from the duty of prayers and fasting. She is required to make up the days of fasting missed due to menses and postnatal bleeding, but not her prayers, as that would be too burdensome. Both women and men have similar rewards for obedience and penalties for disobedience in the World as stated by Allah in the Qur’an. Islam also entitles women to the same rights as men in terms of education. Some women complain that Islam is not fair since Muslim men are allowed to marry more than one wife. But when I think of it, I conclude that Islam is realistic. What happens when the woman who is married to two men is pregnant, who could be the rightful father of the child? This could have created numerous and never ending scandals in society! Dorau20@yahoo.co.uk