#women in Islam

[missmisandrytabletalk]

If I hear about Islam being an oppressive religion one more time, I'd absolutely lose my shit. Don't fixate your Islamophobic misinterpretations on us just because you coincidentally happened to read one or two verses of the Quran and literally took it out of the context. I mean you wouldn't be holding such an absurd of a notion and have the audacity to give ur two cents on something that your OWN western media has spoon fed you about the Muslim community for decades and the funny thing is most of you haven't even took the time to actually study or read the Quran.

If the choice of attire had anything to do with the oppression or inculcating patriarchal values, then y'all non muslim/non religious women would have been the most liberated women out of us right now lmao. But that's really not the case right. What all of you my sisters cease to comprehend is that misogyny transcends the barriers of religion, language, colour, caste and creed.

[jumeratnabila]

Her beauty won't raise your children, her mindset and character will. Choose your woman wisely.

[radykalny-feminizm]

I have some questions to those who argue that islam values women:

28% of Quran texts contain positive remarks about women, stating that they're men's equals

But

71% of Quran texts contain negative remarks about women, stating that they're not men's equals and should be submissive

So, first of all: why does your holy book contradicts itself? Could it maybe be because it was written by a power hungry sexually perverted man with no divine inspiration?

And second of all, how can you say that islam values women if the majority of your holy book states otherwise?

[secular-jew]

It's like Chickens for KFC.

[creatediana]

Ruba'i by the Sufi poet Mahsati (1098–1185), translated by Paul Smith

After nearly 900 years, Mahsati is highly respected for her courageous poetry that condemned religious fanaticism and prejudices, hypocrisy and dogmas. In the city of Ganjeh in Azerbaijan, a street and a school, an academic institution, a museum and others have been named after her.

[lightgriffinsect]

the “Islam is oppressive towards women because period blood is impure” argument will never not send me to the floor.

jaan. sit down.

The first thing you need to know is that in Islam, coming into contact with human waste makes you impure— not as in gross, impure as in you must perform Wudu, the ritual of washing your body with clean water, before performing any religious practice. When you have performed Wudu, you are in a state of purity and can pray, touch the Quran, fast, perform Umrah/Hajj, you name it.

Some things nullify your Wudu, making you impure again. You cannot perform any of the aforementioned religious practices until you re-enter a state of purity, by performing Wudu once more. You cannot even enter a masjid until you are pure again.

There are different ways that your state of purity becomes void. Indeed, one such way is that you come into contact with human waste. This includes piss, crap, and of course, period blood, or the shed lining of the uterus.

Do not come at me with “sweating and exhaling carbon dioxide count as producing waste” I will block you. Those are not included for obvious reasons. Sweat, let alone one’s breath, is not considered on the same level of impure as urine or feces. This is common sense.

Period blood does make you impure. Just like how peeing makes you impure, pooping makes you impure. Did you know that even farting will nullify your Wudu? How about sleeping?

(The logic behind the sleeping one is that you may not necessarily have released waste or passed gas in your sleep, but you don’t know for sure, so there is always a chance that you have. It is best to play it safe and assume you are impure after sleeping and perform Wudu again.)

Period blood is the same kind of impurity as pee or poop. It’s natural, but it is still impure. You’re not allowed to perform any religious practice after coming into contact with these until you have made Wudu. It’s that simple. Women are not inherently impure, but urinating and defecating will make anyone impure. Period blood is merely an additional waste product women have to look out for.

The only difference is that when a woman is on her period, for those few consecutive days, she will be in a constant state of impurity. This is because shedding the uterine lining is a constant process that takes multiple days. So even if we perform Wudu, our period will continue to flow until the uterus is done shedding its lining. So for those few days, we simply avoid praying, fasting, touching the Quran, going to the masjid, or any other religious practice.

Yes, this is the major reason. Another reason women cannot perform religious acts is because Allah (SWT) wants to make His religion easy for His followers. He (SWT) knows His creation best, which is why He mandates this time off of prayers and fasting for women. We are often in pain during periods, and in Islam you are not obligated to perform anything that puts a strain on you or can hurt you physically.

There is no obligation on women to compensate for any prayers they miss while on their period. For Ramadan, we are given the option to make up the days of fasting that we miss after Ramadan is over. If I remember correctly, the only deadline is the beginning of the next Ramadan. (I may be incorrect about this, though, so if anyone has a definite answer I would appreciate being educated.) This further illustrates how Allah’s wisdom makes His faith easier on women, because of the unique challenges we face.

Lastly, periods are not a taboo subject in Islam. We are encouraged to pursue science and learn more about ourselves and our world, why would discussing periods be taboo? That is an unfortunate cultural norm that Muslims in many countries have confused with their Islamic beliefs. Discussing periods would be the same as discussing one’s digestive or excretory health. Obviously there are times when it’s not appropriate, but it must not be avoided.

Again, it’s just waste. It’s nothing to be afraid of. Islam does not teach humans, especially women, to be afraid of talking about our bodily functions. Certain countries’ cultures do.

It is absolutely haraam to declare something is haraam or forbidden in Islam when it is not. But Christians in the West don’t get the same flack for not following their religion perfectly that Muslims do.

thanks for attending my lecture! as always, don’t forget to eat your greens! from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.

[qahwahthoughts]

Ramadan 18, 2024: the day I was blessed with a daughter💗

“whoever has a daughter and does not mistreat her, nor prefer his son over her, Allah will bring him into jannah.”

الحمدلله 🤍

[wormsngods]

Khadija and Aisha were set up by history to be observers on the sidelines. They refused not inspite of their beliefs but because of them.

"History will call us wives"

[faithful-diaries]

May we become one of those women.💌

In sha Allah, Ameen.

[one-page-a-day]

amina wadud

Research interests: women in Islam / progressive Islamic thought / the Divine Feminine / reformist praxis / inclusive worship

More information: https://aminawadud.com/

Resources under the cut:

Publications free on the net

Her first book and edited dissertation:

Interviews

amina wadud on her academic work:

amina wadud on her spiritual journey:

amina wadud on her book Once in a Lifetime:

[missmisandrytabletalk]

Are you kidding me Islam is like the most oppressive misogynistic religion of all time 😂 What?? The denial is crazy. Fuck Islam and all religion. "Out of context" is so familiar, the excuse every abuser and religion uses. The cognitive dissonance you must have to be a feminist and still obey and worship a patriarchal misogynistic religion. Their brainwashing definitely worked on you... I genuinely hope you get better soon and escape.

lmao the audacity to call me "brainwashed" and "cognitively dissonant" when u urself sound exactly like how any spoonfed puppet of the west would say about Islam (i don't talk for any other religion.) like we're really going to throw those terms around like confetti huh? the blatant hate and cussing omg like are YOU okay? like you wanna hate? go ahead! but atleast bring some plausibility and justification in your arguments. this "oppression" thing has gotten old like it's too 2016. come from ur real ID as im always open to a healthy & respectful discourse. oh so now woke peeps like u are going to gatekeep feminism from the muslim women? cute. 😙

[salah-with-sadie]

As-Salam-u-Alaikum wa-rahmatullahi wa-barakatuh ("Peace be unto you and so may the mercy of Allah and his Blessings")!

The hijab is one of the most recognizable symbols in Islam. The hijab is a symbol of modesty and faith for millions of Muslim women around the world. In this blog post, we will explore the meaning and significance of the hijab while I tell you about my own personal relationship with the hijab.

What is a Hijab?

The hijab, in its most basic form, is a headscarf worn by Muslim women as a physical reminder of their faith and commitment to Islam. The primary purpose of the hijab is to maintain modesty and promote dignity for women. It serves as a visual indicator of a woman's devotion to her religion and her desire to be judged for her character and her ideas rather than her physical appearance.

What are the rules of Hijab?

It is important to note that “hijab” is just as much a verb as it is a noun. For men (yes, men have to hijab as well), that means to lower your gaze from women. Both men and women have clothing guidelines, specifically to wear loose-fitting clothing. The most known rule of the hijab, yet the most misunderstood, is that of the hijab, or headscarf.

The rules of hijab can vary among different interpretations of Islam and cultural practices. However, the general guidelines for hijab include covering the hair and neck. The purpose of these rules is to promote modesty, maintain privacy, and discourage objectification.

To Wear or Not to Wear

Contrary to popular belief, the hijab is not a symbol of oppression but rather a symbol of empowerment for many Muslim women. Islamically, no one is allowed to tell you to wear, or not wear, the hijab. By choosing to wear the hijab, women exercise their agency by deciding how they want to be seen and reclaim control over their bodies. It allows women to define their identity on their own terms, rather than conforming to societal pressures or objectification. The hijab becomes a means of self-expression, a way to showcase individuality, and a statement of faith and pride.

My First Hijab Story

I have yet to convert to Islam. That is not indicative of my relationship with Islam but of mine with my family. Despite that, I am a hijabi. I never thought I would be a hijabi. I was afraid the hijab would create a barrier between me and non-muslims. I was afraid wearing a hijab would be isolating. While some relationships have been negatively affected by my choice, the resounding effect has been the opposite.

It all started when I went to Veiled-Fest with my partner, James. I got a few hijabs for Salah, or prayer. When I walked out of the modest clothing sale, there was a beautiful courtyard with an area hidden awy by some trees. To be honest, I went to the covered area to hide while I tried on a new hijab. I was embarrassed that I didn’t know how to wear one “properly.”

After a couple of failed attempts, a group of girls who had been sitting at a table near by said I was doing great. I came clean and told them I had no clue what I was doing. “Do you want some help?” I hear a chorus reply. Please!

Before I knew it, one of the girls was showing me how to place the headscarf on my head, guiding my hands to place the magnet and fold the hijab, and how to tie it off. “Masha-Allah!” all the girls replied. Overwhelmed by the support and genuine kindness, I was fighting a lump in my throat. “Thanks! Bye!” I ran out of the courtyard so fast so I wouldn’t cry in front of them.

I wonder if they ever think about the girl they helped in the courtyard. I still think of them sometimes whenever I put on my hijab. For me, that’s what hijab symbolizes: womanhood. The way women go out of their way to support each other and have each other’s back. Women having the opportunity to protect themselves and control their own narrative. I choose how I want to be remembered: not for how I look but for what I say, how I act, and how I treat people.

Conclusion

In my personal journey, wearing the hijab has been a deeply meaningful decision. It is a reflection of my faith, my identity, and the support shared with other women. Wearing the hijab allows me to not only align my outer appearance with my inner beliefs but also serves as a reminder that I control how I want to be perceived. It has become a source of strength, empowerment, and a way to express my individuality within the framework of my faith.

[secular-jew]

I can't tell if it's Botox of if she's scared

[jumeratnabila]

Prophet Muhammad SAW was born in the lap of a woman. He was delicately wrapped up and nursed by a woman. The first person to see his beautiful and illuminated smile was a woman. When his mother passed away in Abwa, he tearfully came back to Makkah with a woman. When he returned from Hira, the first person who covered him was a woman and the first person he spoke to was a woman. A woman was the first to believe in him. A woman was the first to pray with him. A woman was the first to die for him. When he delivered khutba, a woman was the first to build a minbar for him. When he left this world, he left resting his head on a woman. His lineage continued through a woman; and from his words were, "I give you counsel that you be good to your women." So it amazes me how some of us still don't know the rank of our women.

[venicepearl]

Aisha bint Abi Bakr (c. 613/614 CE – July 678) was the Islamic prophet Muhammad's third and youngest wife.

Little is known about her childhood. A preponderance of classical sources converge on Aisha being 6 or 7 years old at the time of her marriage, and 9 at the consummation; her age has been a source of ideological friction.[ Aisha had an important role in early Islamic history, both during Muhammad's life and after his death. In Sunni tradition, Aisha is portrayed as scholarly, intelligent and inquisitive. She contributed to the spread of Muhammad's message and served the Muslim community for 44 years after his death. She is also known for narrating 2,210 hadiths, not just on matters related to Muhammad's private life, but also on topics such as inheritance, pilgrimage, and eschatology. Her intellect and knowledge in various subjects, including poetry and medicine, were highly praised by early scholars and luminaries such as al-Zuhri and her student Urwa ibn al-Zubayr.

Her father, Abu Bakr (r. 632–634), became the first caliph to succeed Muhammad, and after two years was succeeded by Umar (r. 634–644). Aisha played a leading role in the opposition to the third caliph Uthman (r. 644–656), though she did also oppose those responsible for his assassination. She refused to recognize Uthman's successor Ali (r. 656–661) and joined al-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam and Talha ibn Ubayd Allah. She was defeated in Battle of the Camel, after which she retired in Medina, became reconciled to Ali and did not oppose caliph Mu'awiya (r. 661–680). She participated in the battle by giving speeches and leading troops on the back of her camel. She ended up losing the battle, but her involvement and determination left a lasting impression. Because of her involvement in this battle, Shia Muslims have a generally negative view of Aisha. In Sunni Islam, Aisha is viewed as a leading Islamic scholar and a teacher of several companions and the tabi'in.