Women's rights in the Quran lead the issue, through a review of Lisa Spray's book Heart's Surprise, which contrasts the Quran's equality of men and women with traditional practice on polygamy, veiling, marriage, menstruation and the contact prayer, and reading the Quran. A poem on doing good anyway follows, along with reader letters about submission.org from an Ebionite, a new Muslim, and a Christian.
Everyone, the world over, condemned the Taliban’s
abominable treatment of women in Afghanistan, but oppression of Muslim
women happens everywhere. It’s usually more subtle—sometimes
so subtle that even the women don’t know they’re being oppressed—
but it’s just as oppressive. Thank God we were blessed to receive
the purified message, and we have an easy-to-read-and-understand English
translation of the Quran. So, we know that God says that men and women
are equal and “oppression is worse than murder.”
Since we know the truth and since it’s so distorted in most of
the world, how do we get the message across? In this time when more and
more people are expressing interest in Islam and the Quran, how do we
reach people, especially women, with the truth?
It’s so important for people to realize
that Islam as it’s traditionally practiced has virtually nothing
to do with Islam as it was revealed. And it’s more than just terrorism
that’s false; it’s more than the fundamentalists who have
it wrong. Unfortunately the majority of average people in the world, who
claim to be Muslims, have serious misconceptions about the True Islam.
Because of the distorted view of Islam by so-called religious scholars
who make references to man-made sources, the Muslims en masse are essentially
unaware or ignorant of the beautiful message in their Holy Book, the Quran.
Into this time of heightened awareness, Lisa Spray has written a delightful
book addressing the discrepancies between women’s rights as set
forth in the Quran and as practiced by Muslims today.
She calls it Heart’s Surprise: A
Personal Reconciliation of Women’s Rights and the Quran and Islam.
Everyone who reads the Perspective or accesses the Submission web site
knows someone who should read and learn from this book. It’s light
and clear and very perceptive.
I have found that often when the practice of some Muslims does not
mesh with my understanding of the Quran, the issue is one of culture….
It is very human to accept that people eat food very different from what
we enjoy, listen to music that puts our nerves on edge, and then still
expect them to have the same spiritual reality we do. This is very human,
but very unrealistic. In many ways our spiritual reality is at the core
of our culture, and thus at the core of ourselves. How can we expect it
to be the same for every one?...
Cont’d on Page 2
Page 2
Women
So, before I first started reading the Quran, I thought I knew
all about Islam—and it was very demeaning to women. Naturally,
I assumed the Quran would bear this out. I was in for quite a surprise!
According to the Quran, men and women are equal….
There are areas where Islam, as traditionally practiced, is unfair
to women. But it is crystal clear that those practices are not from the
Quran. As in all religions, the practice does not always match the revelation
from God. In fact, we will see that the practices often go against the
principles of the Quran. The Quran was (and still is) an emancipating
document for women!...
Lisa tackles all the major issues of women today. Some examples are
given below.
Polygamy:
Clearly, the circumstances need to be unusual to warrant polygamy.
Whatever those circumstances, if the husband is not certain that he can
be perfectly fair to all parties, he should not take the chance of going
against the Quran, thus harming his soul and bringing pain to his family.
Veiling:
The definition of exactly what modesty means is different in each
culture. To me, walking down most Western streets in full hijab is not
actually modest because you are drawing attention to yourself. Likewise,
dressing as you would in the United States would not be covered enough
in most of the Muslim world. Once again, we are face to face with our
old friend culture….
I might add here that the Muslim men
I know who are following the Quran alone also dress modestly. It only
makes sense; the best way for all of us to stay out of trouble is not
to invite it!
Men in charge:
Knowing that a husband can have that power, a believing woman needs
to be especially careful about who she chooses to marry. If all
women are careful to marry only men who will treat them with dignity,
eventually abuse will die out…. The criteria for a good mate
also change when one looks at it from this perspective. A man’s
spiritual, moral and emotional character becomes much more important
than his looks or profession or standing in the community. In fact,
they become the only really important things.
Marriage:
Why is marriage so divinely supported? From these verses 24:32-3,
and our common sense, we know that marriage discourages immorality
and encourages morality. Thus, God validates the concept of the
family, the core unit of all societies….
You need to be sure you are choosing someone for the right reasons,
and that you are not being fooled by sexual attraction, or your
own daydreams…. The person you marry must be someone with
whom you fully intend to live out the rest of your life.
Salat:
But I was told I could not perform the Contact Prayer when I was
menstruating, because I was not clean.
Unhappily I accepted this indignity, not
knowing what else to do. However, this edict kept a friend of mine
from becoming Muslim. She simply would not accept that she could
not pray during the time of the month when she needed it the most….
In vain I looked for verses in the Quran that told me not to pray.
Instead I found verse after verse telling me just the opposite,
and making it very clear that I must pray regularly.
Studying the Quran:
When I first started reading the Quran, I was very blessed that I
had not been told that I could not read it when I had my menstrual
period. Otherwise, it is quite likely that I would never have bothered
to try and read it at all. To be forbidden from reading the scripture
for about one quarter of the time because my body was doing what
it was designed to do would have made me furious.
There are also sections on dowry, divorce, inheritance, witnessing,
religious practices and women in society. All of Lisa’s concepts
are supported with Quranic verses. She uses both Rashad Khalifa’s
translation and the more traditional Yusuf Ali, and it becomes clear
that whatever the translation, the message is the same: men and
women are equal as far as righteousness is concerned. This is God’s
message.
Many of the chapters are capped with personal stories from sisters around
the world. These are women who have been subjected to both the best
and the worst of Islam, and their experiences enlighten, sadden
and amuse the reader.
Cont’d on Page 3
Page 3
Women in Islam
Cont’d from page 2
Many of the chapters are capped with personal stories from sisters around
the world. These are women who have been subjected to both the best
and the worst of Islam, and their experiences enlighten, sadden
and amuse the reader. It’s a wonderful way to show the whole
picture. Lisa talks a lot about culture and that cultural difference
is apparent in these stories, but the underlying truth also shows
clearly—we are all united in our submission to God.
I hope that we can all find ways to make this wonderful book available
to our Muslim and non-Muslim friends. Only through enlightenment
can we change the way Islam is perceived and practiced. It’s
for the benefit of everyone’s soul. As Lisa says: For
the righteous believers there is happiness in this world as well
as in the hereafter. It does not matter whether these believers
are male or female. In my view, we can be truly happy only if we
are not op-pressed, nor oppressing others. Oppression hurts both
the op-pressed and the oppressors.
Lydia
Ed.’s note:
You can get Lisa Spray’s book Heart’s
Surprise (Paperback, 260 pages, ISBN 097148130X) from ICS/Masjid
Tucson, POB 43476, Tucson AZ 85733. The price for a single copy is $16.95.
Two to nine copies are $13.00 per copy. Ten or more copies are $10.00
per copy. Prices include the shipping.
-->
ANYWAY
People are often unreasonable,
illogical and self-centered;
forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you
of selfish, ulterior motives;
be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win
some false friends and true enemies;
succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank,
they may cheat you;
be forthright anyway.
What you spend years building,
they may destroy overnight;
build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness,
they may be jealous and scorn;
be joyous anyway.
The good you do today,
they often will forget tomorrow;
do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have,
and it will never be enough;
give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis,
it is between you and GOD;
it was never between you and them, anyway.
God be Glorified...
Author unknown; submitted by sister
Maryam
Page 4
Comments
on
submission.org
In the Name of God, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful!
As you will no doubt notice from the below signature,
I am what your writings define as a "submitter". I am a member
of a community known as Yahad 'Evyoni. These are the modern-day descendents
of those Ebionites who were recognized as the "True Followers of
Jesus" by Muslim scholars (and now some Christians, too). Our website
is at http://ebionite.org with our statement of beliefs. They are almost
identical to your own in most respects.
I just wanted to write and commend you on your excellent
work. You are doing much for the spreading of True Religion, and I shall
pray for the success of your endeavours, insha'allah.
Peace be upon you. Sincerely yours, Moshe
*
Greetings fellow Muslims:
I just want to say that the site you have is very informative,
and to thank you so much! I have just recently become a Muslim, and your
site has made my faith even stronger, clearing out some of the cultural
things that people have clouded the true religion with! Thank you so much!
Your friend, Jason B.
*
Peace and may Allah's blessings be upon you
I just wanted to express my joy in reading your well-grounded
webs on the hadith. I thought I was the only one who thought they (hadith)
were the source of 'the decline of rational' in Islam. I was so happy
to read educated essays on these gross books. Thanks again, if you have
any mailing lists, put me on.
Your brother, Yusuf
*
To those who Believe in and Fear God,
I just went through your website quite by accident- I
was reviewing the position Islam holds on the use of drugs and alcohol
and I noticed that you had something to say about Jesus and Christians.
I am a Christian; moreover, I am a Christian who has submitted
to the guidance of God. I follow the path laid down for me by God by recognizing
little signs and wonders that lead me closer to a righteous state of being…
From what you say it would appear that we're all heading
to great End and like I personally believe all of us (Jews, Christians,
Muslims) are numbered with righteous souls who will live to stand before
God in that last day. After all the fundamentals of the Bible and the
fundamentals of the Quran aren't too different.
Robert S.
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International Community of Submitters / Masjid Tucson