We have to ask ourselves, why did the Prophet not beat his wives even though it was a command in the Qur’an? It appears from his behavior in the same type of situation that he did not consider it to mean “beat them”. It may be because the Qur’an uses three other words for “strike” or “beat”.
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Jurists have created a contradiction that is not in the Qur’an by encouraging divorce and discouraging marriage. In other words, a Muslim woman who wants a divorce must be set free without using force against her, but a Muslim woman who wants to remain married does so under the threat of being beaten. What woman would want to stay married under such circumstances?
Read More“What makes Altmuslimah different is its combination of journalistic and academic perspectives with deeply private looks into our identity struggles vis-à-vis both Muslims and non-Muslims,” says Asma Uddin, Editor-in-Chief of Altmuslimah.com.
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After a brief, identity-driven swell in the number of hijab wearers, there now appears to be a decline. Why did women who spent years, or decades, in hijab decide to dehijabize? What is it that women feel must be fulfilled in life without the hijab that is apparently missing while wearing it?
Read MoreIraq's nearly 1 million war widows desire progress. Like men, women seek opportunities to feel normal again. But in a patriarchal society, women understand that men are central to their survival. Therefore, we can only hope to improve the lives of women in Iraq by making sure that men are included in any gender-based project.
Read MoreThe difference that Mona and I have on the interpretation of verse 4:34 of the Qur'an is really related to our basic theological orientations. In addition to bringing to light the issues involved in gender roles, it also highlights the diversity of systematic traditions in the Muslim world.
Read MoreOutdated family laws are a major source of concern to Muslim women, as it’s often women who get the short end of the stick. As a result of family laws that have been misguidedly interpreted or carried out, many women lose the custody of their children, receive no mahr or alimony in divorces, are given no legal options in the instance of rape, and worse.
Read MoreHow do theological definitions work in the context of gender relations? How can we believe that we as humans tend toward goodness, and somehow still not only oppress others but also try to argue that such oppression is religiously sanctioned?
Read MoreSexual crimes have been mainstays of Pakistani politics for nearly all of its sixty-one-year history and have been used to legitimise all sorts of regimes. This gives the Taliban ample room to justify yet another repugnant episode in the history of Pakistani women.
Read MoreWhile many foreign correspondents based across the Muslim world are under pressure to file stories that will make headline news, Jack had the opportunity to go in-depth and focus on the day-to-day lives of everyday people across the Muslim world.
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