What counts as being “oppressed” in Islam?
[thread]
[thread]
You are oppressed when a right you are entitled to is unjustly taken from you. You are NOT oppressed simply because you do not get what you want.
Let’s take a look at women for example.
Let’s take a look at women for example.
A woman would be oppressed if her husband physically abused her. A woman would be oppressed if she is denied basic education. A woman would be oppressed if she is not offered security and a decent accommodation (agreed upon in advance before getting married).
A woman would be oppressed if she is insulted or degraded in any manner which the Shariah shuns (not merely what she subjectively perceives to be insulting to her standards). Etc. Oppression of women exists and it’s real. No denying that.
A woman IS NOT oppressed if she doesn’t like the idea of her needing a wali to get married. A woman IS NOT oppressed if she doesn’t have the right to marry a non-Muslim.
A woman IS NOT oppressed if she is demanded to wear hijab, receives half the inheritance of her siblings, does not have a chance of becoming a Caliph, does not have equal divorcing powers and marital authorities as her husband, etc.
Hence, we have three categories of women:
1) A woman demanding her Islamically legislated rights. Examples include battered women and sexually harassed women demanding an immediate halt to their oppression, women who are forbidden basic education demanding that this be changed, etc.
2) A woman demanding more rights than what she is islamically entitled to, YET it’s not haram for her to demand them (debatable, could vary from society and era and maqasid plays a critical role in determining whether it’s permitted or recommended to grant these rights to women.)
3) A woman demanding more rights than what she is islamically entitled to, YET IT IS haram for her to demand them (e.g. strict equal authority with the husband, rights to marry like the husband without need of wali or to Ahlul Kitab, etc.)
Looking at these groups, one would definitely expect some overlap.
Category 2, would also demand what Category 1 demands. Category 3 would demand what categories 1 and 2 demand.
Category 2, would also demand what Category 1 demands. Category 3 would demand what categories 1 and 2 demand.
Now from amongst these three categories, which one is the seriously problematic one? Category 3, no question about it.
When category 3 is critiqued and attacked, it’s possible that categories 1 and 2 would also feel attacked as well.
When category 3 is critiqued and attacked, it’s possible that categories 1 and 2 would also feel attacked as well.
They would feel that since category 3 also demands some of the things categories 1 and 2 demand, then categories 1 and 2 would also feel that they are being attacked.
However, one must be careful to determine and judge whether the critique against category 3 is absolutist in the sense that it critiques EVERYTHING category 3 is demanding, or whether the critique is...
...launched against the underlying ideological premises of this category’s line of thinking.
Categories 1 and 2 should equally shun category 3 and not feel some sort of sympathy with this deviant group just because of some of the superficial similarities which may be observed. The ideological differences between the two are great.
Those who critique category 3 should equally be careful in not making categories 1 and 2 feel they are coming under attack.
Furthermore, those who critique category 3, must ensure that they are knowledgeable enough to not attack category 2, which could be easily misconstrued...
Furthermore, those who critique category 3, must ensure that they are knowledgeable enough to not attack category 2, which could be easily misconstrued...
...as category 3 if knowledge of what constitutes valid opinion and scholarship is not recognized.
Liberal feminists belong to category 3. And even though there aren’t any statistics to prove or disprove otherwise, what could apparently be observed is that a sizeable percentage of category 3 women DO NOT have the problems of category 1 women.
In fact, many of them are from upper class privileged families studying at top-notch universities and are in fact living better than most men in the world. This batch of category 3 feminists are particularly deviant.
The batch of category 3 who are or used to be category 1, definitely have some internal scars which need healing. Nevertheless, their decision to become liberal feminists simply cannot be justified. Pain and suffering does not justify haram decisions.
What did the Prophet (peace be upon him) say about the man who was fighting Jihad and was wounded and in great pain, then proceeded to commit suicide?
He said: “He will go to the (Hell) Fire.”
(sunnah.com).
He said: “He will go to the (Hell) Fire.”
(sunnah.com).
These situations are difficult, but we must not let our emotions and desires take sway. The truth is the truth. What is wrong, is wrong. This is not about being mean spirited, but rather having the required protective jealousy to stand up for Allah’s Deen.
Otherwise, the floodgates would open to sympathizing with anyone and everyone.
We would soften towards Kharijites because many of them had abusive childhoods, were victims of government torture, had family members murdered, etc....
We would soften towards Kharijites because many of them had abusive childhoods, were victims of government torture, had family members murdered, etc....
...and we would then try to humanize them and sympathize with the psychological factors which lead them to becoming Kharijites, etc.
We would soften towards religious pluralists because many of them can’t bear the emotional difficulty of having non-Muslim parents who died, etc.
We would soften towards Shias who may share some legitimate concerns here and there of Sunni persecution, etc.
We would soften towards Shias who may share some legitimate concerns here and there of Sunni persecution, etc.
We would soften towards……….. etc.
Yes, yes…. Use wisdom when you speak. Be cautious of what you say. Sure, that’s fine. But let’s not kid ourselves into thinking that we are not sometimes guilty of being selective when we choose to overemphasize such traits and not.
Yes, yes…. Use wisdom when you speak. Be cautious of what you say. Sure, that’s fine. But let’s not kid ourselves into thinking that we are not sometimes guilty of being selective when we choose to overemphasize such traits and not.
Something to ponder upon.
[Originally by Ustadh Bassam Zawadi]
[Originally by Ustadh Bassam Zawadi]
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