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I was reading this balanced column on the state of Muslim women in India when a particular section caught my eye:
Take Maulana Tauhid Akhtar, the imam of Bandra’s Station Masjid for over 12 years: “The Prophet was many years ahead of his times. He gave women rights, and came down heavily against female foeticide, a common practice those days.” But has Islam in the subcontinent especially failed to adapt that spirit to changing realities?
I was with him so far and wanted to know the answer to that extremely relevant question. So he says:
“No,” says Akhtar. “You all (women) did emerge from the rib, women aren’t equal to men. If we handed over the nizam (management) of the world to women, all would be topsy-turvy” he laughs. “The hijaab, women covering their hair, their arms, legs etc, are all dictated by Islam. We cannot allow otherwise with our women” (emphasis mine).
And I lost him. I really can’t argue with that. Or rather I don’t want to.
PS. I am familiar with the Adam’s rib belief; I just didn’t think anyone still believe in it so strongly as to use that as an excuse to deny rights.
Tags: Islam, women’s+rights, secularism, India, Muslim, talaaq
by Patrix | on Sunday, September 10th, 2006 at 1:33 pm | 
Politicking, Rants, Religion . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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September 10th, 2006 at 7:16 pm reply
heh. But the entire series was very well done and raised some very interesting questions.
September 18th, 2006 at 9:24 am reply
I am a muslim woman, and heck I don’t bother abt what anybody says abt what my rights are, i know what i am worth and am very well living it. And abt hijab, it hardly is something that hampers proffessional or personal life in any way. I dont wear it, coz I dont feel the need to. My own sister wears it coz she does feel the need and is convinced abt it. if we were not confident and independent enough, only then we would be thinking of comparing ourselves to men as men and not as just another individual.
What is lacking is, not the understanding of religion as much but education more so, among these men who make such statements and i would also say among women in general.
>>I just didn’t think anyone still believe in it so strongly as to use that as an excuse to deny rights.
No rights are being denied to anybody, there are some women who are not excercising their rights and that’s where an attitude shift is needed.
But I really don’t understand why bloggers write about such random statements made by some inconsequential people.
Media (blogs included) needs to stop giving undue attention to religion.
September 22nd, 2006 at 1:19 pm reply
fridi,
They would if religion would stop being such a pain in the ass!