Pdf concept of gender equality in islam islam pdfs. The purpose of this study was to examine and explore the meanings, structures and essence of the lived experience of muslim women via an islamic theoretical kalam framework. Briefs on gender equality and muslim laws girls not brides. Some of the major evidences taken directly from the text are those verses ayahs, which reference both men and women in an equitable light. Recognizing equality among human beings requires that 1. Gender identityrefers to ones psychological sense of oneself as a male, female, gender transgressive, etc. A liberal contribution is essentially influenced by western perspectives salman 1997.
World assembly of muslim youth wamy studies on islam i. Mary s university in halifax, nova scotia, canada, where he served as professor of both. There has been a recent strengthening of traditional, sociallyconservative views on women in muslim societies, even in western countries some would go as far as to say that some of these views are. The following article highlights the seven important forms of gender inequality. Pdf the gender equality and womens human rights in. In february 1999, she founded the international network. Gender equality and islam promoting womens human rights through religion the religion of islam strongly influences the social, economic and political spheres of life. Secular feminists reject it because they argue religion generally and. As an individual person equality of status moral and legal freedom of action equality of basic rights equal implication of allahs orders equal accountability equality of reward as a member of an institution family 10282014 shagufta omar. Muslimfest is an awardwinning annual festival celebrating the best in muslim art, culture, and entertainment, attended by 25,000 visitors in toronto, canada, every year. Gender role refers to the socially constructed and culturally. The studys goal was to describe a detailed and comprehensive description of how muslim women use islam to promote gender equality and improve treatment within their daily lives. Gender studies institute gsi successfully completed.
Gender is the social term which identifies a person as female or male. Women do possess an independent legal entity in financial and other matters. But they have equal value and should be accorded equal treatment. Basic gender profile of the university is presented, while. This is a mustread for anyone who want to learn more about gender equity in the spirit of normative islamic principles. Gender equality and equity gender equality denotes women having the same opportunities in life as men, including the ability to participate in the public sphere gender equity denotes the equivalence in life outcomes for women and men, recognising their different needs and interests, and requiring a redistribution of power and resources. Most references to testimony witness in the qur an do not make any reference to gender. Gender iological sex b refers to the physiological and anatomical characteristics of maleness andor femaleness with which a person is born. Islam there can be no discrimination against women. The basic argument of islamic feminists is that the quran supports the principle of equality and justice of all human beings but that the practice of equality of women and men in todays muslim societies have been corrupted by. While recognizing biological, social, psychological and material benefits of marriage, islam recognizes the function of reproduction and the regeneration of the human race, as well as the spiritual function of the offspring. It originates from political, economic, social and cultural factors.
It suggests roles, characteristics, behaviour and activities which are seen. According to the quran, men and women receive the same punishment for crimes such as theft 5. An introduction to gender we are surrounded by gender lore from the time we are very small. Spiritual equality between men and women in the sight of god is not limited to purely spiritual, religious issues, but is the basis for equality in all temporal aspects of human endeavor. Messages of this world survey 14 gender equality and sustainable development 18 a. It fulfills its historic and civil role by keeping contemporary muslim in touch with religious principles, clarifying the right way, removing doubts concerning religious and worldly. To be treated equally, or justice, does not always mean that each is the same. In identifying what is islamic it is necessary to make a distinction between the primary sources of islam the quran and the sunnah and legal opinions of scholars on specific issues, which may vary. Gender equality means that women and men have equal conditions for realizing their full human rights and for contributing to, and benefiting from, economic, social, cultural and political development. Numerous verses of the quran and prophetic traditions enjoin gender equality which categorically proves that gender. Gender discrimination and islam dar alifta al misriyyah. Gender inequality, a hot issue, is genetically ascribed to religion whereas its causes are purely nonreligious. Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. This article sheds some light on the differences between men and women found by modern science, and how these results reflect the way justice is met to each of the two.
This article sheds some light on the differences between men and women found by modern science, and how these results reflect the way justice is met to each of the two sexes. Younos gender equality in islam is therefore a vitally important book that addresses the issue of womens rights in islam with the goal of exporting from the united states to the rest of the world, the true face of islam. Then again, there are some things that women dont do. Badawi presents an authentic approach to gender equity in islam and dispells certain misconceptions held by many muslims and nonmuslims alike. Muslim scholars contribute extensive literature and fatawa religious decrees to address gender and sexuality issues by taking varied positions, be it salafiyyah classical islamic trend, liberal or wasatiyyah. It is everpresent in conversation, humor, and conflict, and it is called upon to explain everything from driving styles to food preferences. Muslim women focuses disproportionately on the middle east and north africa region. Steven fish skip to main content accessibility help we use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. In aceh, indonesia, a charter on womens rights was announced that illustrates the efficacy of a religiousbased approach in the struggle to curb genderspecific discrimination. Azizah alhibri, a law professor and islamic scholar, started a nonprofit organization called karamah to advance the genderequitable principles of.
The focus of this paper is the normative teachings of islam as the criteria to judge muslim practices and evaluate their compliance with islam. Islam in particular is oppressive to women2 and many muslim women reject it because they. Sufism as a mystical dimension of islam, has many strands. Gender equality the issue of womens rights in islam is a key arena of the debate between traditionalists and reformers in contemporary islam.
He supports his position by drawing from examples in the quran and the hadeeth. One dimension, which is particularly shaped by islamic tenets, is the status of and relationship between men and women. Womens absolute lmp is higher in muslim countries with higher levels of economic development and in the oilexporting countries. Gender equality and islam promoting womens human rights. In contrast to the feminist premise that women can do anything men can do, science is demonstrating that women can do some things better, that they have many biological and cognitive advantages over men. The question assumes gender equality is essentially the same as gender neutrality and that this is somehow a good and worthy goal. Equality, responsibility and accountability for both men and women are a well developed theme in quran. Azizah alhibriwho started a nonprofit organization called karamah with the goal of advancing the genderequitable principles of islam to musllm women. For decades, women activists in islamic countries have been striving for political and legal reforms in order to overcome genderspecific discrimination.
Leilas ahmeds groundbreaking 1992 work, women and gender in islam, is an extremely wellresearched and informative introduction to a history of women in islam, though, as with any such work with broad ambitions, there are shortcomings in terms of coverage. Grb tools and guidelines and the understanding of the basic concepts of grb for the planning staff of mowa and lm. Gender equality and womens empowerment united nations. Gender equality is therefore the equal valuing by society of the similarities and the differences of men and women, and the roles they play. Female religious agents in morocco research explorer. When dealing with the islamic perspective of any topic, there should be a clear distinction between the normative teachings of islam and the diverse cultural practices among muslims, which may or may not be consistent with them. Radio islam is americas only live daily muslim radio talk show that provides a twoway conversation on the air with muslims and their neighbors in the chicagoland area. It has been the premier institute to represent islam and the international flagship for islamic legal research. Dar alifta al misriyyah is considered among the pioneering foundations for fatwa in the islamic world. Gender equality in muslimmajority countries econstor. One basic element in the value system of islam is the principle of equality or equity. The gender equality and womens human rights in islamic.
They provide useful knowledge to support advocacy efforts for increased gender equality in the law in muslim contexts, including to address child marriage. This value of equality is not to be mistaken for or confused with identicalness or stereotype. Azizah alhibriwho started a nonprofit organization called karamah with the goal of advancing the. Gender equality is the measurable equal representation of women and men. Men, muslims, and attitudes toward gender inequality volume 9 issue 1 danielle n. The concept of gender equality is best exemplified in the quranic rendition of adam and eve.
Islam teaches that in the sight of allah almighty, all people are equal, but they are not necessarily identical. In malaysia, this principle also took center stage and became the focus in the provisions and implementations of. Spiritual equality of men and women as mentioned in the quran, and a glance at the differences between the genders in other aspects of life. Numerous verses of the quran and prophetic traditions enjoin gender equality which categorically proves that gender inequality is not faithbased. Equality, or its arabic equivalent musawah, was mentioned in the quran and implemented by the prophet. As for islam, gender equality is part of its jurisprudence and fundamental teachings. For instance, the most famous of which is n surah alahzab. As mentioned in a new york times article on womens health. In most of the societies the malestream is the main stream who argues that women have comparative advantage in household nonmarket production, like cooking and cleaning for the family that can be called emotional and personal caring work. Some references fully equate the testimony of males and female. The impact of islam as a religion and muslim women on. In islam human rights have been conferred by god, no legislative assembly in the world, or any government on earth has the right or authority to make any amendment or change in the rights.
Gender equality and womens human rights in islamic texts in this regard an attempt is made to focus on verses and hadiths t hat talk about the gender equality and womens human rights issues. Pdf on the compatibility of islam and gender equality. Baseline definitions of key concepts and terms unesco. Men, muslims, and attitudes toward gender inequality. It is ironic that while human rights instruments proclaim that everyone is equal, the attainment of this fundamental truth is hampered by traditional. At the core of mirhosseinis work and what distinguishes her from many feminist scholars, religious scholars, and human rights activists today, is her belief that an effective struggle for gender equality cannot be limited to any one of these approaches to justice feminist critique, islam, or human rights but must reflect the reality that these discourses are contested. The social science scholarship most familiar to the west about.