what is the Meaning of "Jihed"?
Islflm prohibits compulsion in the acceptance of religion (e
2:256), and it prohibits aggression as well:
',And
cooperate in
righteousness and piety, but do not cooperfrte in sin and
aggression " (Q 5:2) However, Isldm allows fighting in self
defence, against occupation and oppression *J on behalf of
those who have been expelled forcibly from their homes:
"Fight in the wry of AIIdh those who
fight
you but do not
transgress. Indeed, Allah does not like trfrnsgressors-',(e
2:190) The often misunderstood and overused term jihai
literally means "struggle" and not "holy war." Jihad, Els an
IslEmic concept, may be on a personal level, an inner struggle
against evil within oneself; a struggle for decency zura goocness
on the social level; or a struggle on the bittlefield when
necessary.
The Status and Rights of Women
Perhaps one of the most misunderstood concepts about Islflm
today is that of the status and rore of women. Ivtany practices in
the Muslim world today are merely customs and have nothing
to do with Islam. The truth is that Isldm brought revolutionary
changes to women's rights. For the first time, the souls of
women were explicitly declared in a sacred book to be equal to
those of men (Q a:l). Rights and obligations are equally
bestowed upon them both (e 3:195).
IslEm gave women complete economic independence before
and after marriage. They are under no obligation to share in
family expenses; the husband bears the full responsibility
regardless of how wealthy his wife may be. The Muslim woman
has the right to a specified gift from her husband at marriage,
she may determine its value, and she can handle it as she
pleases.
Isldmic shari'ah gave women the right to choose their own
husbands and to initiate divorce. Muslim girls have the right to
be educated, and it is the duty of those raising them to provide
education.
In Islam, both men and women are entitled to a specified
share of the estate of their deceased parents or close relatives
(Q 4:7), whereas in some western countries until recent times
the whole estate of the deceased was passed on to the eldest
son. Both genders are entitled to specific rights before the law
and courts of law; justice is genderless (Q 5:38, 24:2,5:45).
Women also possess an independent legal entity in financial
and other maffers. (ln contrast, the right of independent
ownership was not given to women in Europe until the late lgtn
and the 20th centuries.)
The general rule in social and political life is the participation
and collaboration of males and females in public affairs (Q
9:71). There is historical evidence of participation by Muslim
wom€n in the choice of rulers (a right Western women only
recently obtained), public issues, lawmaking, administrative
positions, scholarship and teaching, and even in the battlefield.
In Isl6m, women even have the right to directly question their
head-of-state, as is evident in historv.
The west has in recent years become obsessed by the Muslim
woman's dress- The parameters of proper modesty for males
and females (dress and behaviour) are based on th*
eur'dn
(24:30-31, 33:59, 33:32) and sunnah with legitimate aims and
divine wisdom behind them. They are neither male-imposed nor
socially imposed restrictions, Muslim women wear the,,hijab"
(covering of the whole body except the face and hands) whin in
public out of devotion and obedience to the command of God.
It is a part of their religious practice, neither a symbol nor a
political statement. [n dressing modestly, a woman also forces
others to judge
her by her intellect, integrity and personality, in
other words, herself, and is no longer valued only for her looks.
Men are also required to dress modestly, althbugh the extent
of covering is less. western culture teaches that foithings to be
fair befween the two sexes, they must be identical. Although
men and women are equal in the sight of Go4 Islam
acknowledges that they are physicalry,
biologicalry and
emotionally different, and therefore some urprit, of life,
including dress, are different for each.
For 1400 years Islam has given woman rights of which she
was deprived in other religions, and which *om*n in the west
only recently started to obtain after a long struggle.
Islflm prohibits compulsion in the acceptance of religion (e
2:256), and it prohibits aggression as well:
',And
cooperate in
righteousness and piety, but do not cooperfrte in sin and
aggression " (Q 5:2) However, Isldm allows fighting in self
defence, against occupation and oppression *J on behalf of
those who have been expelled forcibly from their homes:
"Fight in the wry of AIIdh those who
fight
you but do not
transgress. Indeed, Allah does not like trfrnsgressors-',(e
2:190) The often misunderstood and overused term jihai
literally means "struggle" and not "holy war." Jihad, Els an
IslEmic concept, may be on a personal level, an inner struggle
against evil within oneself; a struggle for decency zura goocness
on the social level; or a struggle on the bittlefield when
necessary.
The Status and Rights of Women
Perhaps one of the most misunderstood concepts about Islflm
today is that of the status and rore of women. Ivtany practices in
the Muslim world today are merely customs and have nothing
to do with Islam. The truth is that Isldm brought revolutionary
changes to women's rights. For the first time, the souls of
women were explicitly declared in a sacred book to be equal to
those of men (Q a:l). Rights and obligations are equally
bestowed upon them both (e 3:195).
IslEm gave women complete economic independence before
and after marriage. They are under no obligation to share in
family expenses; the husband bears the full responsibility
regardless of how wealthy his wife may be. The Muslim woman
has the right to a specified gift from her husband at marriage,
she may determine its value, and she can handle it as she
pleases.
Isldmic shari'ah gave women the right to choose their own
husbands and to initiate divorce. Muslim girls have the right to
be educated, and it is the duty of those raising them to provide
education.
In Islam, both men and women are entitled to a specified
share of the estate of their deceased parents or close relatives
(Q 4:7), whereas in some western countries until recent times
the whole estate of the deceased was passed on to the eldest
son. Both genders are entitled to specific rights before the law
and courts of law; justice is genderless (Q 5:38, 24:2,5:45).
Women also possess an independent legal entity in financial
and other maffers. (ln contrast, the right of independent
ownership was not given to women in Europe until the late lgtn
and the 20th centuries.)
The general rule in social and political life is the participation
and collaboration of males and females in public affairs (Q
9:71). There is historical evidence of participation by Muslim
wom€n in the choice of rulers (a right Western women only
recently obtained), public issues, lawmaking, administrative
positions, scholarship and teaching, and even in the battlefield.
In Isl6m, women even have the right to directly question their
head-of-state, as is evident in historv.
The west has in recent years become obsessed by the Muslim
woman's dress- The parameters of proper modesty for males
and females (dress and behaviour) are based on th*
eur'dn
(24:30-31, 33:59, 33:32) and sunnah with legitimate aims and
divine wisdom behind them. They are neither male-imposed nor
socially imposed restrictions, Muslim women wear the,,hijab"
(covering of the whole body except the face and hands) whin in
public out of devotion and obedience to the command of God.
It is a part of their religious practice, neither a symbol nor a
political statement. [n dressing modestly, a woman also forces
others to judge
her by her intellect, integrity and personality, in
other words, herself, and is no longer valued only for her looks.
Men are also required to dress modestly, althbugh the extent
of covering is less. western culture teaches that foithings to be
fair befween the two sexes, they must be identical. Although
men and women are equal in the sight of Go4 Islam
acknowledges that they are physicalry,
biologicalry and
emotionally different, and therefore some urprit, of life,
including dress, are different for each.
For 1400 years Islam has given woman rights of which she
was deprived in other religions, and which *om*n in the west
only recently started to obtain after a long struggle.
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