We live in a society where there is an overdose of information. With cut throat competition, media – be it print, internet, TV – want to be on the lay man’s mind always. For doing this, the can go to any lenghts. They try to manufacture news, present false facts.
The latest news that has caused a lot of heart burn inside me is the one related to a Fatwa from Darul Uloom, Deoand regarding the working of Muslim women at workplaces shared by other men.
The media was quick to jump on this news and present it in such way that Islam is shown in a bad taste. This has been the case all along… I dont want to go into the details..
Well as far as this Fatwa (or edict) goes, here is a verbatum reproduction of what the edict said :
Question: 21031 India Asalamu-Alikum: Can muslim women in india do Govt. or Pvt. Jobs? Shall their salary be Halal or Haram or Prohibited? Answer: 21031 04 Apr, 2010
(Fatwa: 577/381/L=1431)
It is unlawful for Muslim women to do job in government or private institutions where men and women work together and women have to talk with men frankly and without veil.
Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala) Knows Best
Darul Ifta, Darul Uloom Deoband
You can see the Fatwa for yourself here
As you can see, there is no mention of salary being Halal or Haram in the reply to the query. The edict doesnt even say that Muslim women are not allowed to work. It just mentions a Muslim woman should wear a veil where she has to interact with other men.
The media has made so much of a tamasha of this Fatwa which is of no use. I am sure this does not affect the Muslim woman much. I can vouch for that because my mummy used to work and my sister-in-law works. So fatwa or no fatwa our live goes on..
I sincerely hope and pray that the media grows up from its childish ways and behaves in a more responsible way… Amen!!!!!!
Hello Aadil,
I haven’t read the fatwa.However what is unlawful about women working? I guess that word is used. I am not trying to decry Islam. You know I am an atheist. I am for discarding anything that bears religious connotations.
That aside, what is the rational behind having women wear veil?
That aside, I am with you on the Media’s irresponsibilities?
hey Prabhu,
. I’ll try and clarify ur queries to the best of my abilities. Will start bottom up.
Good to see you stopping by
1. Thanks… although i did not understand the “?” (…responsibilities?)
2. In Islam, a woman is described as a person that needs to be hidden (from the prying eyes of other men). A muslim man is not supposed to even see another woman, he has to keep his sight towards the ground always. A woman with her physique can be a cause of distraction to the man which could lead to unwanted consequences. Hence, in Islam both man and woman have been ordered to have self control.
In our world today, only one thing is highlighted and shown in bad taste without even considering all aspects of the topic.
3. Women working itself is not unlawful.. but women working without a veil would be unlawful. That is what the fatwa says.
Thanks for the reply!
What I don’t understand is if profane thoughts can get into the mind of the men if they see women, shouldn’t the men be punished for that? Why objectify women? Shouldn’t self control be on men?..And by all means there are many non-muslim women with whom Muslim men interacts with in this age, let alone the number that they get to see. Then where is the logic in having muslim women wear the veil?
Can’t the same thoughts get into women when they see men?.. Shouldn’t men wear veil too?
Yes men do interact with non Muslim women in all walks of life these days and in Islam men are also required to have self control. This control is defined in the way a man dresses and his sight and actions. The man is also supposed to cover his entire body not necessarily with a veil. Short clothes are a no no for men too. The man is required to control his thoughts, touch, sight too.
An true Muslim would do all the above to the best of his abilities. But then again there are some black sheep – men who do none of the above.
Women are never objectified. If one studies and understands the Holy Qur’an, one will know that a woman holds quite a high and respectful position in Islam. In some cases she is treated equal to men and in some cases otherwise. The sad thing is cases where women are equal to men are never heard of in the news. Its only the subjugation of women that makes front page news.
No. Shouldn’t men wear veil?
If Allah wanted men to wear a veil, HE would have said so in the Holy Qur’an. but this is not the case. So the short answer is No, men should not wear a veil.
I am not reading Quran. My question is why can’t the same logic extend to all?
I would say Quran missed it because men wrote it and to their whims. Thats what every civilization does. Supress women.
How would you differentiate between a man and a woman if everyone started wearing veils?
Why is one thing allowed and another thing prohibited, only Allah understands. Its difficult for us mortals to comprehend.
Qur’an is the word of Allah. Its impossible for man to compile such a book. Infact there is a challenge from Allah through Holy Qur’an to the humans, that is to compile even a small verse similar to Qur’anic verses. No man or woman has been successfull yet.
//How would you differentiate between a man and a woman if everyone started wearing veils?//
You think this is the reason? You seriously do?
//Why is one thing allowed and another thing prohibited, only Allah understands. Its difficult for us mortals to comprehend//
This is where the my whole problem is. Why should it be not comprehensible?
The arguments come to knot with believers(which ever religion they may be) taking up such a stand.
In this day and age when there are crores of people following Nithyanandas, Sai Babas and their writings its very much possible that Mohammed was a mere man and utilised it to great effect. Jesus the man found Christianity. Mohammed the man found Islam. One such or group would surely be their for Hinduism and all other sects. Attaching indisputably in what they wrote in their times to present day is out right wrong.
I differ with you here..
I cannot comment on other sects or religions because I do not know much about them but as far as Islam goes with whatever little knowledge that I have gained, its difficult to believe that Prophet Muhammed – The Man – would have started Islam on his own and narrated the Qur’an by himself.
There are specific references in the Qur’an that tell us that this is not a work of any human being. Like exact calculations of the solar and lunar movements for one.
Another thing is, had Prophet Muhammed started Islam, the concept of one and only one God (Allah) would not have been there. We would have known how Prophet Muhammed looked in person (now we have only a description of his personality – hence all the controversies). In short things would have been different than they are now.