Recently, the authorities in Saudi Arabia announced that they would be lifting the ban that prohibited women from driving (Hubbard, 2017). This announcement was welcome and hailed as a victory for women. For years, women in Saudi Arabia have endured injustices and stripped of rights that women in other countries enjoy. The system that it in place in Saudi Arabia is based largely on the Islamic religion and text. Given how Saudi Arabia and other Muslim nations treat its women, it is evident that Islam holds women back and denies them fundamental rights.
Across the world, women have made remarkable progress. This is particularly true in the West which has led the world in women empowerment. Here, women are permitted to vote, engage in public affairs, work in fields that are traditionally male-dominated and generally contribute to the development of their communities. The situation in such Muslim nations as Saudi Arabia is starkly different. As already observed above, until recently, women in this country were forbidden from driving. To understand how the Islamic faith contributed to this ban, it is important to examine the country’s religious profile and beliefs. Islam places high premium on sexual purity. Women serve as the custodians of chastity and are required to conduct themselves in a way that brings glory to their families and their communities. It was feared that permitting women to drive would promote sin (Associated Press, 2011). Note should be made that Islamic text does not explicitly prohibit women from driving. The patriarchal and conservative society is simply misappropriating Islam to hold women back. Therefore, since it imposes restrictions that are aimed at promoting sexual purity and righteousness, the Islamic religion mistreats women.
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The injustices that Saudi women endure go beyond being banned from driving. In this country, women are also barred from engaging in certain affairs without the company or consent of a male relative. For example, women cannot leave the country unless they are in the company of a man. The country has essentially established a guardianship system which severely limits the freedoms of women. This system has its foundation in Islamic text and tradition. Before a woman is permitted to travel, the Islamic faith stipulates that she should obtain a Mahram (Jawhar, 2011) . Essentially, this is authorization from a male individual that grants the woman the permission to travel. That the guardianship system is deeply anchored in the Islamic faith is among the reasons why it has been difficult to dismantle the system (Jawhar, 2011). Any attempts to bring down the system could be interpreted as defiance against Islam. Therefore, as it enshrines the guardianship system and makes it difficult eliminate the system, the Islamic faith creates conditions that allow for the injustices that women endure to thrive.
The situation in Saudi Arabia represents the oppression and injustices that women endure as a result of Islamic doctrine and practices. However, to gain a better understanding of the role that Islam plays in promoting injustice, an exploration of the situation in other Islamic territories where Sharia law applies is required. In an earlier discussion, it was noted that the Islamic faith encourages individuals to embrace chastity and righteousness. However, it appears that the burden of complying with this requirement is placed almost entirely on the shoulders of women. Islamic text prescribes that those found to have engaged in adultery should be stoned to death (Bello, 2012). This punishment has not been effected fairly. For example, in cases of adultery, the woman faces death while the man involved in the act is spared. In another case, a girl who claimed that she was raped received a punishment of 100 lashes (Steiner, 2002). The men that she accused of raping her faced no action. It is evident that the Islamic religion unfairly treats women. The restrictions that it imposes amount to a violation of their personal and sexual freedoms. Moreover, this religion spares men who commit crimes that are comparable to those that women have committed. Judicial wisdom and fairness dictates that punishment should be handed down in a fair and humane fashion. The Islamic faith clearly does not subscribe to this perspective.
It is true that many Muslim nations have made progress in empowering girls and women. However, many of these nations still enforce sexist rules that are based on Sharia law. One of the provisions of Sharia law regards the place of the woman in legal matters. The law stipulates that the testimony that a woman offers should be accorded less weight than that of a man (“Status of Woman in Islam”, 2014). This suggests that the Islamic faith regards women as dishonest people whose accounts of events must be questioned. Additionally, Islamic law spells out that the inheritance that a woman receives should be half of what her male family members are given (Azzeh, 2016). An argument can be made that the Islamic religion regards women as inferior to men. Despite charging women with the mandate of preserving morals and safeguarding family life, this religion fails to recognize gender equality. For this reason, it can be concluded that Islam mistreats women.
The discussion this far has examined the different ways that Islam mistreats women. However, for a more balanced and comprehensive discussion, it is important to consider how Islamic figures and doctrine have stood up for women. Prophet Muhammad is regarded as a feminist who championed for women (Beyer, 2001). He initiated a number of progressive beliefs and practices that elevated women. For example, he declared that women had the right to sexual satisfaction. He also granted women the right to inherit property. Furthermore, Muhammad set the stage for women to receive education. In contrast, the pagan religions that existed at the time that Muhammad found the Islamic religion treated women poorly. For example, female infants that were unwanted were buried alive (Beyer, 2001). Muhammad’s actions and policies suggest that perhaps Islam does not mistreat women after all. However, the philosophies that Muhammad established become irrelevant when one considers the injustices that Islamic societies continue to inflict on their women. Overall, the Islamic religion subjugates women and denies them fundamental rights.
Personally, I think that Islam is trying to distance itself from the injustices and ills that it has been associated with for years. I particularly feel that Saudi Arabia is making it clear that Islam is a progressive religion that recognizes the important role that its women play. However, it would be foolish on my part to fail to point out the injustices that Islamic nations have perpetrated against their women. I find that secular societies perform better as regards the treatment of women. I also think that other religions treat their women with more respect and honor their dignity. I desire to see a world where Muslim women enjoy freedom and are encouraged to pursue their dreams. Given the progress that such Islamic nations as Saudi Arabia have made, I am confident that it is only a question of time before all Muslim women across the world gain total freedom.
In conclusion, Islam is one of the world’s biggest religions. It commands a huge following and continues to transform humanity. For the most part, this religion has contributed to the advancement of mankind. However, it must be noted that Islam has failed women. It has sanctioned and directly encouraged policies and actions which violate the rights of women. Islam places women below men. It also requires women to serve as the custodians of sexual purity yet it fails to reward their effort. That Islam is in dire need of reform and modernization is not in question. There is need for Muslim societies to promote the freedom and rights of women.
References
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Azzeh, L. (2016). Study Proposes Equal Inheritance Rights for Women. Retrieved 1st
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Bello, A. H. (2012). The Punishment for Adultery in Islamic Law and its Application in Nigeria.
Journal of Islamic Law & Culture, 13 (2-3), 166-182.
Beyer, L. (2001). The Women of Islam. Retrieved 1st October 2017 from
http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,185647,00.html
Hubbard, B. (2017). Saudi Arabia Agrees to Let Women Drive. Retrieved 1st October 2017 from
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/26/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-women-drive.html?mcubz=0
Jawhar, S. (2011). Saudi Tribal Customs, not Islam, Responsible for Male Guardianship Abuses.
Retrieved 1st October 2017 from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sabria-jawhar/saudi-tribal-customs-not_b_269867.html
Status of Woman in Islam: Is Woman Equal to Man or Not? (Witness Equality). (2014).
Retrieved 1st October 2017 from https://icgt.org/khutbas-sermon/status-of-woman-in-islam-is-woman-equal-to-man-or-not-witness-equality/
Steiner, S. (2002). Sharia Law. Retrieved 1st October 2017 from
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