When I was first asked to represent the local mosque at the monthly meetings of Glasgow's Interfaith group, the gatherings usually began with a short talk themed around an annually changing topic to provide a focus for discussion, with the different faith representatives taking turns to give an understanding of these themes from their own perspective. These are the notes for a talk I gave to the group on one of these occasions. I will try to make it more intelligible sometime.
 
 

Islam and Women

View of muslims from West
- misunderstanding as 1st world views 3rd
- looking back in time

Western views on women are very recent
- recent changes give new roles

Industrial Revolution - social changes / family breakup

Working women - 1st World War (3rd world 80% of labour but unwaged)

Education - Women's colleges at Universities (cf. Virginia Woolf)

The Vote - still no representation (cf Sudan) / men also had no vote

Still Main Role family and childbirth (my grandmother 1 of 12 children/time for work?)

Weaponry equalises battle roles (Kalishnikovs)

Social security cuts birthrate

NHS cuts birthrate as most survive

Birth control (introduction of pill in my student days)

Acceptable Nudity (Jerusalem Playboy v. Bethlehem dresses)

Muslim World going through major changes coping with the Industrial Revolution, Birth Control, Western Movies, etc., and has a variety of responses.

Scriptures eternally applicable, but to understand interpretations we must place in social setting

Jahiliyyah and women

No property rights except by force of family

No right to life - baby burying - In a society where children are social security, and acquiring wealth depends on force, boys make money and girls cost money.

Qur'an

Addresses itself to those with natural power

Laws and Commands

Right to Life

Property rights - Q - inheritance / dowry (not goods and chattels)

Marriage rights - Q - Divorce / women, children, orphans

Education rights - Q - Pakistan change from rights to obligations

Male Language of Qur'an - Q - (men who...women who) poetically beautiful but almost humorously over complex

Laws v. Guidance

Variety of cultural expressions of Deen

Veiling - Q - not fard for prayer - implementation in history - framework of guidance to modesty

Male Female Relationships

Vestment for each other

Rest within each other

And of His signs is that He created you of dust; then lo, you are
mortals, all scattered abroad.
And of His signs is that He created for you, of yourselves,
spouses, that you might repose in them,
and He has set between you love and mercy.
Surely in that are signs for a people who consider.
And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and earth
and the variety of your tongues and hues.
Surely in that are signs for all living beings. (Q 30.20-22)

O mankind, We have created you male and female, and appointed you
races and tribes, that you may know one another. Surely the noblest
among you in the sight of God is the most godfearing of you.
God is All-knowing, All-aware. (Q 49.13)

The most perfect of the believers in faith is the best of them in moral excellence, and the best of you are the kindest to their wives. (Hadith)

What is with you comes to an end, but what is with God abides;
and surely We shall recompense those who were patient their wage,
according to the best of what they did.
And whosoever does a righteous deed, be it male or female,
believing, We shall assuredly give him to live a goodly life;
and We shall recompense them their wage,
according to the best of what they did. (Q 16.96-97)