Women in Islam
...hose few who are abused happened to tell their stories to the western media, like we saw prior to the war in Afghanistan and what we see in the media about the brutality of men in Saudi Arabia! In accordance to my statement above, I read on (www.themuslimwoman.com) that During the Gulf War, a Western reporter interviewed a Saudi woman. The reporter in trying to make her feel inferior, asked her, "Doesn't it bother you that you are not able to go and get a job as a waitress, if you wanted to?" The woman answered, "Are you joking? I am a woman with maids and servants, why would I want to lower myself to such a task." If you think about it, the job of a waitress is a glorified servant. It is rare to find a woman who actually aspires to be a waitress; most are forced to do it because there is nothing better for them. And, many of these waitresses are nothing more than cheap entertainment for men. When questioned about not being able to drive, Saudi women point out that having a driver is a luxury that most Westerners yearn for, having said that why should it be considered humiliating only for Muslim women? To my knowledge many Western women hope for the opportunity to be a stay-at-home mother. Furthermore, I read The French Economic Philosopher, Jules Simon who said, “Women have started to work in Textile factories and printing presses etc... The government is employing them in factories, where they can earn a few francs. But on the other hand, this has totally destroyed the bases of family life. Yes, the husband may benefit from his wife's earnings, but apart from that, his earnings have decreased because now he is competing with her for work." Also The famous English Writer, Anna Ward said, "I wish that our country was like the lands of the Muslims, where modesty, chastity and purity are like a garment...it is a source of shame for England that we make our daughters examples of promiscuity by mixing so much with men. Why do we not try to pursue that which makes a girl do work which agrees with her natural temperament, by staying at home, and leaving men's work to men, to keep their honor safe?" (Both Quotes are from The Muslim Woman, Dr. Muhammad Ali Al Hashimi, p. 447). In today’s society including the western one it is apparent that woman with husbands in the upper income level rarely work, especially if they have children. Therefore, Individuals brought up in a western society as well also tend to believe that it is acceptable for a woman to stay home rather than to work if that luxury is made available to them. As we see in Islam the role of the woman is balanced but fair. She has been removed from the burden of supporting herself. This responsibility was given to the men in her life, her father and her brothers and even the government, if the other two are not available. If she does not want to work, she does not have to. She is free to spend her time raising her children and tending to her family, social and religious life. However, if she wants to work, she is not forbidden to do so....