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Caring for Women in Islam's Name

Posted on: Sunday, 19 March 2006, 21:00 CST

By Ranjeetha Pakiam

KUALA LUMPUR, Sat. - They were no ordinary women. Neither were their words.

The three were daughters of Malaysian prime ministers past and present on a common stage.

And their words carried an eloquence that touched the hearts of many.

Nori Abdullah, daughter of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir, daughter of Malaysia's fourth Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and Hanis Hussein, daughter of the third Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Hussein Onn, delivered passionate monologues which centred on equality and justice for women in Islam.

Appearing at the international consultation on "Trends in Family Law Reform in Muslim Countries", the women were unanimous in their call for laws which did not erode their rights as Muslim women.

They were referring to the recently-amended Islamic Family Law, whose gazetting was put on hold after a hue and cry because there are at least five amendments that are contentious and thought to risk women's financial and personal security.

Nori was concerned that some laws passed in the name of Islam could have a profound effect on society, irrespective of whether one was a Muslim or a woman.

"We live in a world where injustice is not only being perpetuated, but worse, injustice, under different guises and names, is being done in the name of Islam. Let this not come to pass in Malaysia."

Nori said Islam had from its early days given justice to women, sometimes in ways considered revolutionary.

"Had this trend continued to this day, Muslim women could have been the trail-blazers for justice and rights, but alas.

"If we do not remain true to Islam's principles, then we allow ourselves to be shackled by those who do not represent this religion as tolerant, just and peaceful. We cannot allow this to happen."

Organised by non-governmental organisation Sisters in Islam, the consultation saw Muslim scholars, activists and policy makers from all over the world sharing doctrinal arguments and strategies for a new Islamic Family Law based on a framework of justice and equality.

Marina's monologue centred around her worries about how her two daughters would one day react to their religion.

"I worry about how young people like them, who cannot help but see the many injustices perpetuated in the name of Islam, find themselves driven away from what is a beautiful and just religion, simply because it does not make them feel good.

"My hope for the future is that the Islam I grew up with, where we were taught to love God as much as fear Him, will be rejuvenated because human beings remember that God sees men and women as equal, that flawed man-made laws are never touted as 'perfect' because only God can be perfect."

Hanis spoke on how Islam's principles held true for men and women and quoted a verse from the Quran, which described Muslim men and women as each other's garments.

"This means Allah created men and women to be for mutual support, mutual comfort and mutual protection, fitting into each other as a garment fits a body."

Source: New Straits Times

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