The region of the Middle East and its inhabitants have always been a wonder to the Europeans, dating back to the years before the advent of Islam and the years following the Arab conquest. Today, the Islamic world spreads from the corners of the Philippines to the far edges of Spain and Central Africa. Various cultures have adopted the Islamic faith, and this blending of many different cultures has strengthened the universal Islamic culture. The religion of Islam has provided a new meaning to the lives of many people around the world. In the Islamic world, the religion defines and enriches culture and as a result the culture gives meaning to the individual. Islam is not only a religion, it is in its own way a culture. It may be this very fact that the Europeans have not yet understood, as to how religion plays a significant role in the life of a Muslim. One of the more commonly misunderstood aspects of the Shariah is the role of the family, in particular the role of the women in the family and in the society in which she lives in. The actual role of a woman in a particular Muslim community may vary according to the part of the world she lives in, nonetheless all Muslim women abide by the same fundamental rules and regulations which the religion clearly defines. Both the Quran and the Hadith are detailed sources that describe the role of women in Islamic History. The rights and responsibilities of a woman are equal to those of a man, although are not identical with them. The difference is understandable because men and women are not identical but are created equals. Equality is desirable, just, fair: but similitude is not. People are not created identical but they are created equals. With this distinction in mind, there is no room to imagine that women are inferior to men. The fact that Islam gives women equal rights- but not identical – shows that it takes into due consideration, acknowledges her and recognizes her independent personality. The position of the woman and the role of the family exist side by side in an Islamic community. Since early times the family has been mentioned as the basic unit for protection, income and status in a society. The larger the family the better equipped it will be economically and in times of danger. Each person in the family depends on the other and this develops into a closely bonded relationship within a family. The ind...
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...other dependent on each other. The family adapts to the condition of the society and the relationship between the men and women should be suitable enough to raise the family and support it financially. The family structure differ throughout the Middle East, and with it the culture of each region. The status of women in Islam is something unique, without similarities to any other system. Muslim women have a great responsibility to the family. They have been brought up to focus on the family rather than look out for themselves alone in the male dominated world outside. It is the situation in today’s world that women find themselves alone and helpless, yet an Islamic family role provides them with security and ensures them with a social and economical shelter, first within the family then in the community. However strange the family life and relationship between Muslim men and women may seem to outsiders, the Muslim family system has resulted in stable and productive Islamic communities throughout the world.
Bibliography
Fernea Guest, pg 165 Fernea Guest, pg 166 Dawood Tales From The Thousand And One Nights pg 184 Officials in charge of a particular city within the Islamic Empire
...ople. It is heart breaking to see how few women contribute, compare to what they can contribute to the society for the moral and prosperity of the country. Islam teaches tolerance and sacrifice for both men and women because we are one under God’s eye. Women are not the only one to learn tolerance, sacrifice and serve men. It is important for people to educate themselves and find the purpose in making this world a better place for women and children. In addition, I wish to make every woman aware of their individuality that they are worthy in and of themselves and not by the men in the society.
In addition, studying the place of women in the light of spiritual teachings of the western religions, we can convince other women and people around in bringing about a positive change in the modern global village. Studying various religious beliefs and their in-depth analysis proves that there is a fundamental teaching and principle of all spiritual forms that humanity is to be treated as one concrete unit wherein all men and women share similar relationship and identical position in the eyes of the Almighty. The unjust oppression of women is based on false assumptions and preconceived notions by the male-dominating world, has been obvious and responsible for paving the way for serious gender issues to emerge. This caused religious conflicts among the masses. Confined to narrow realms of activity in society, deprived from the essential human rights, restricted to confined educations scope, open to unhealthy criticism and mental and physical abuse, this society has not permitted women to become what they potentially are.
In Islam, women are treated with the highest esteem. They are not seen as inferiors or as sexual objects. They are seen to be very important in life as they give birth. The Qur’an mentions how men and women cannot be separate.
From the Near East comes the Old Babylonian account of the life and death of GILGAMESH. There was a real Gilgamesh, a king who ruled some 2700 years before Christ lived and the Romans consolidated their vast empire. The character and the exploits of this king were preserved in the form of stories that circulated for many years after the king's death. Some of these tales -- more than 600 years after Gilgamesh's rule -- were collected by a story teller and were put down in the form of an epic poem. This poem is what we know today as The Epic of Gilgamesh.
The first religion and its views on women that will be discussed in this essay is Islam. Islam is a religions founded in Saudi Arabia almost two thousand years ago, by the prophet Muhammad. In fact, Muhammad dedicated much attention towards women in the Koran, the holy book of Islam. However, even though much was dedicated to women in the Koran, it was not dedicated to them in the sense of equality. Women in Islamic culture were apparently much lower on the totem pole than men, "The men are made responsible for the women, since God endowed them with certain qualities, and made them the bread earners...If you experience opposition from the women, you shall first talk to them, then [you may use such negative incentives as] deserting them in bed, then you may beat them (129)." Excerpt...
A sensitive subject, in the Islamic religion, is the status that a women holds - specifically with respect to the theme of how women are treated within polygamous relationships. Smith’s main thesis is that the Islamic religion has been accused of degrading women and he plans to share information to prove that this is a very valid fact. A polygamous relationship is a relationship or marriage with many partners. The Islam’s believe in polygamous relationships and the rules are specifically stated within the Koran. The Koran allows for a man to have up to four wives/partners, although, if he cannot equally share his love with all of his wives/partners, then he must only marry one . Smith has a very valid point, although there are many sources that support and refute his opinion. Mohammad Ali Syed discovered that the Islamic law allows for polygamy under certain circumstances, such as the treatment towards orphans. ...
In the book, Women in the Middle East, a Saudi Arabian proverb states, "A girl possesses nothing but a veil and a tomb" (Harik and Marston 83). The key words, "veil" and "tomb" lend evidence to the fact that many Middle Eastern women lack identity symbolized by the “veil” and lack the right of ownership except for their veil and the tomb. This statement further enforces the notion that many women in the Middle East are expected to serve and tolerate the oppression of the men in their lives throughout their lives on this earth. Moreover, it confirms that many of these women do not get the opportunity to obtain education, join the work force, and even participate in the political affairs of the country. This arrangement further helps the Middle Eastern men to view women as their properties, servants, or even as slaves. Ultimately, there are three main reasons why Middle Eastern men engage in the act of oppressing their women.
The religion of Islam has obtained the reputation of violence and misogyny in recent decades due to radical sects in the international spotlight. Although violence has been limited to radical groups, many people outside of the religion view Islam’s law, Shari’ah law, to define the status of women below men. However, from the original holy text, the Qur’an, and the Prophet Muhammad’s Sunnah, a framework of equality and mutual respect across sexes is evident. Although the Qur’an is the unadulterated Word of God, it is interpreted by Muslims in many different ways. It has been through these patriarchal interpretations of the five schools of Islamic law that the status of women has been impinged upon (Barlas, 2002). The Qur’an itself contains versus which demonstrate the equality of men and women, but also seemingly contradicts itself by undermining the status of women. These contradictory phrases have recently been interpreted by female scholars differently than the original schools to support the equality of sex. Muhammad’s life also displays his affection and respect for his wives as opposed to a lifestyle of misogyny. In the end, the status of women in Islam has been largely degraded by human interpretation of the text to create a power dynamic between a husband and his wife, or wives. Although a woman’s status has been lowered in the eyes of many Muslims, recent civil rights movements and women activists are challenging these emboldened concepts to achieve social and political leadership.
The Muslim nationality is a kind of nationality who embrace Allah very much. As a Muslim women, you have to obey you husband in your marriage. The Koran said that "virtuous women must be obeyed and abide by the principles in private."[7]So that long time in this kind of concept influence the Arabia women formed the characters that obedience, conservatism and dependence gradually. A lot of female choose to stay at home to help the husband and teach the children, even when they go outside occasionally they have to cover their face by a piece of the veil. Under this kind of situation, the female lost their self-viewpoint and become a vassal of man step by step. Also, the rights of female can't be guaranteed by laws. Even some stories told that a husband can kill his wife as his, please. In the story he Jewish Kazi and His Pious Wife, a Jewish businessman want to take forcible possession of a big fortune from the girl's father that earned when he was alive. He uses a lot of ways to cheated it and even married this woman. But after he married her he just treats her like a tool and Free disposal. To prevent his wife talk to other people, he didn't allow her go out and locked her up with Iron chain[5].In the story love between wife and husband is a kind of property. Women have no status at
Within the Middle East, there are distinct boundaries that are formed by culture. For example, women must wear the hijab in public and serve their husbands. Women of this culture are caught in between two sets of moral values, these cultural ones and their personal values. The cultural values form morals for what is expected of women in their society, while their personal values form morals that cater to what they believe in. However, these values may not always be competing.
Arab is not a race, but is a group of individuals that are united by their culture and history (ADC, 2014). There are many different variations commonly based on a particular individual’s country of origin such as Arab Americans. Other variations are based on their social class, the level of their education, if they live urbanely or rurally, or the time they have spent in the United States (Lipson & Dubble, 2007). Most Arabs also practice Islamic religion and are Muslim. When working with an Arab or Muslim client, nurses should ask what the client wishes to be referred to so as not to offend them in any way (Lipson & Dubble, 2007).
This essay deals with some stereotypes and about how Muslims really are. All opinions are mine and based on my and my friends' daily lives. The major believe today’s society has, is that women are oppressed by their family and by other people in their environment. For the society, women are victims of Islam.
The term ‘Muslim culture’ is commonly used to represent many diverse Muslim cultural groups: the Asian Muslims, the Middle Eastern, the African, the European and the American Muslims, each with their own variations on customs and traditions. Some customs and traditions may be more motivated by culture than by religion. The Muslim cultural group where literally women have not rights is in the Middle Eastern. According of the Qur`an (Islamic bible), Allah grants the equality to the man and to the woman, the same rights, virtues and obligations. Nevertheless, the truth of the role of woman is different, in the majority of Muslim countries, woman suffers a strong discrimination and oppression.
Being Saudi Arabian is to be faithful and authentic to one important religion symbol of Islam which is being believer of Allah but no one else and being the believer that Mohammed is the prophet of Allah, which is considered very essential aspect of the culture. Saudi Arabians are the people who have strong affiliation and loyalty to the authentic, generous, wise Arab tribes who settled in the Arabian Peninsula many years ago. In addition, being Saudi Arabian represents being loyal to the country that fully contributed to provide free healthcare, education, and public services for the citizens. Saudi Arabians are the people who care and help others when they face any life disasters. The Saudi Arabians have many symbols that represent them. First, the date tree is an important symbol of the culture, which represents them as the glorious and authentic people who serve dates besides Arabic coffee together in celebrating any special occasion such as family gatherings, weddings, and funerals. The date tree also represents them as the people who always give to their families, and community...
Gender roles are extremely important to the functioning of families. The family is one of the most important institutions. It can be nurturing, empowering, and strong. Some families are still very traditional. The woman or mother of the family stays at home to take care of the children and household duties. The man or father figure goes to work so that he can provide for his family. Many people believe that this is the way that things should be. Gender determines the expectations for the family. This review will explain those expectations and how it affects the family.