Islam and Women

Many of us are familiar with the hogwash dished out by Muslim apologists: "Islam respects women", "women are privileged in Islam" and "Islam gave women the vote". I did not know that they had elections back in the 7th century! Since 9/11 there has been an explosion in the number of books written about Islam. My local library has many books on the subject and nearly all of those books are written by Muslim apologists as well as Western scholars in an attempt to cover up the true nature of Islam. A typical whitewash is “What Muslims Believe” by John Bowker. The author interviews several Islamists from Britain on various topics. On the subject of wife beating pages 127 to 130, the Islamist tells us that the beating is a mild one aimed to prevent divorce and to keep the family intact. He goes on to explain that a husband can chastise his wife in private for infidelity and thus save her the humiliation of a public flogging. The Islamist conceals the fact that the Sharia penalty for extramarital sex is stoning.

“....While racism is unacceptable, an attack on Islam and Islamic states and laws is not only permissible but a requisite given the indescribable violence and misogyny meted out by Islam in political power. Progressive norms and secularism are the results of enlightenment and just struggles against this very sort of reaction. Ballard's (Ex MP Jackie Ballard) rebuke only attempts to silence those who speak out for civil rights by labelling them as racists. In fact, however, it is her culturally relativist assertions that are racist. By justifying and excusing women's status as cultural, she denies women and people living in the Middle East and Iran universal rights and freedoms.” Condemning Islam Isn't Racist" by Maryam Namazie
IRANIAN SECULAR SOCIETY.

Whenever anyone points out to the dreadful treatment of women in Muslim countries, apologists are quick to point out that women in pre-Islamic Arabia had no rights and that Islam elevated their status. Pre-Islamic Arabia was inhabited by many different tribes with diverse cultures. In some tribes women were mere chattels, unwanted baby girls were buried alive and widows were inherited by male relatives. In tribes where women had high status, women could practice polyandry, divorce their husbands and engage in trade. Muslims insist that tradition and not Islam is to blame for horrible treatment of women in Islam afflicted countries. Passing the buck on to tradition may be very convenient but it does not absolve Islam. One would think that in the course of fourteen centuries, Islam would have succeeded in eradicating these injustices against women, after all Islam is way of life not just a religion for Sundays. It has specific rules on all aspects of life from which hand to hold the Qur'an with, to rules on slavery and banking. Instead, tradition had become so intertwined with religion that one props up the other.

Nahid Riyazi: “The issue was the Danish government's position on the confirmation of Amina Lawal's stoning sentence in Nigeria. The Danish government, which has the presidency of the European Union, declared that it was better for Denmark to refrain from condemning this ruling. They argue that this would be better for Amina Lawal!....We must impel governments to maintain equal rights for all citizens. Just because a child is born in an Islamic family, we must not allow them to leave the child's education, fate, health and freedom to Islamic groups and their parents and evade any societal responsibility in safeguarding the child's physical and mental health and freedom. At the same time, we must seriously oppose religious and traditional backwardness and bring society into this battle. We must not allow governments to excuse themselves from defending the rights of women and children by reference to 'it's their own culture' and 'it's their own religion' and leave for example a little girl alone to deal with huge issues and problems such as veiling, forced marriage, honour worshiping, etc.” The above is a translation of an interview conducted in Persian in International Weekly number 123 dated 23 September 2002 - from the IRANIAN SECULAR SOCIETY

Recent decades have seen the migration of Muslims to countries such as Australia, America and Europe. We are already beginning to experience friction between migrant Muslim communities and the culture of the host countries. In Britain arranged/forced marriages are common as are honour killings and FGM. In a documentary shown on Britain's channel 4, a government school in a Muslim stronghold has implemented an Islamic syllabus, even non-Muslim girls have to wear the hijab and all students have to study the Qur'an (The Age, Melbourne, 7 Nov, 2003). This is NOT multiculturalism but Islamic imperialism. Some mosques in the West exclude women altogether while in others women must use a separate door for entering - preferably the one at the back next to the rubbish bin! See: http://www.muslimwakeup.com/mainarchive/000496.php

There are disputes among Islamic scholars as to the validity and accuracy of the Hadith (sayings of Mohammad). Some argue that Hadith reliability is determined by the amount of people present during a particular incident and utterance. If this is the criteria for accuracy and reliability what does that tell us about the Qur'an? The Qur'an was “revealed” to Mohammad over a period of years, in private by the angel Gabriel. His first convert was his wife Khadija, but as a woman her testimony would not count for much!

Seyyed Hossein Nasr an Islamic scholar and author had this to say in his book, “Islam - Religion, History and Civilization: ”“....denying the whole corpus of Hadith in effect invalidates the Islamic tradition itself.” and “The Hadith is the key for the comprehension of the attitudes and tendencies of the Muslim soul and the indispensable guide for the understanding of God's Word as contained in the Qur'an.”

The Sharia law favours men and is highly biased against women notably in matters of marriage, divorce, sex and custody of children: The husband is the head of the family, and wife is expected to be obedient at all times. Husbands are permitted to beat wives.

Men have easy access to divorce. For a woman to divorce is very difficult. If a woman wishes to divorce she has to give back the dowry/gift to the husband even if the husband has tortured her - see Hadith: Sunaan Abu Dawud Book 12, Num.2220. No alimony for divorced wives. http://www.domini.org/lam/stories.html

Children belong to the father and his family. Upon divorce the father gains custody and if the father dies the children go to his family.
See stories: http://www.domini.org/lam/COM/childabduction.html and href="http://www.patroush.com/index.htm"> http://www.patroush.com/index.htm

Women are always regarded as minors: under sharia they need their father's, husband's - or any other male relative's who owns them - permission to marry, travel, study, work, obtain medical treatment etc. Muslim apologists tell us that this is for the woman's protection.
See: http://www.memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=subjects&Area=reform&ID=SP45803

Saudi Arabian law does not allow women to run a business ever if they own it. A woman who owns a company has to appoint a male guardian or agent to run the business on her behalf. A woman may be allowed to work as an employee in her company but she cannot administer her company except through her agent. To put it bluntly, Saudi law regards women as moronic imbeciles.
See article on: http://www.memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=subjects&Area=reform&ID=SP47203

Muslims in Canada have been campaigning for Sharia law to apply to Muslims living in Canada, particularly in personal and family law, which will eventually pave the way for stonings and mutilations. See: http://www.ccmw.com/Position%20Papers/Position_Sharia_Law.htm

THESE ARE THE QUR'ANIC VERSES, HADITH, QUOTES AND INCIDENTS
THAT MUSLIM APOLOGISTS DO NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT!!

“Men have a degree above women...” Qur'an 2:228

“....If I were to command anyone to make prostration before another I would command women to prostrate themselves before their husband, because of the special right over them given to husband by Allah. Abu-Dawud, Book 11 marriage, number 2135. Male superiority.

“Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength)than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband’s) absence what Allah would have them guard. As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (next) refuse to share their beds, (and last) beat them (lightly); but if they return to obedience, seek not against them means (of annoyance): For Allah is Most High, great (above you all).” Qur'an 4:34 – Yusufali translation.

“Men are in charge of women, because Allah hath made the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women). So good women are the obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah hath guarded. As for those from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Lo! Allah is ever High, Exalted, Great. Qur’an 4:34 Pickthal translation.

“Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend out of their property; the good women are therefore obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded; and (as to) those on whose part you fear desertion, admonish them, and leave them alone in the sleeping-places and beat them; then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them; surely Allah is High, Great. Qur’an 4:34 Shakir translation.

"Men have authority over women because God has made the one superior to the other, and because they spend their wealth to maintain them. Good women are obedient. They guard their unseen parts because God has guarded them. As for those from whom you fear disobedience, admonish them and forsake them in beds apart, and beat them. Then if they obey you, take no furter action against them. Surely God is high, supreme." Dawood translation

The four translations are unanimous in three things:

1. Male superiority.

2. Women’s obedience.

3. Beating of wives.

Yusufali added lightly after the word beat and protectors and maintainers instead of superior or in charge. Perhaps he was aware of Westerners' disdain for the beating of wives. Shakir also writes maintainers instead of superior. However, I have puchased a copy of the Qur'an which has the verses in Arabic as well as English. I have consulted a Middle Eastern, Arabic language teacher who also happens to be familiar with the Qur'an, having studied it in her home country. She read the sura 4:34 in Arabic and then in the English section and she said there was no ambiguity or error. The Qur'an is very clear, men have superior status and are permitted to beat their wives.

"Islam opts for the family, as it knows its critical importance in producing good citizens for a healthy society. So, it assigns a single leader - usually the husband - who needs to ensure discipline [4:34] by following a hierarchy of steps contained in the Koranic verse quoted by Lane ."
AMIRUDIN AHAMED (Dr.) Oakleigh - in response to Terry Lane's criticism of wifebeating in Islam. The Sunday Age, 21/7/2002

What I would like to say to Dr. Ahamed is that a society which mandates violence against women and keeps them in slavery, can never be a healthy society - period!

As you can see the beating of women is commanded by the Qur'an and supported by several Hadith, and encouraged by many Islamists, this fact alone should be enough reason to condemn and abandon Islam. In many countries mullahs argue that husbands have the right to beat their wives. Western women contemplating on marrying Muslim men take note! http://answering-islam.org/Silas/wife-beating.htm

The photo above is of two Pakistani victims of violence (source: BBC “World: South Asia Pakistan will study ‘honour killings’ article, Sept. 22, 1999.) The photo on the right (CNN, April 20, 2004) is of a Saudi TV host, Rania al-Baz who was brutally beaten by her husband, her husband banged her head on the floor until she lost consciousness. Al-Baz suffered 13 facial fractures and required 12 operations.

In Spain, imam Mohamed Kamal Mustafa has written a book advising husbands on how to beat their wives “....on hands and feet with a light rod so that the blows don't leave scars or bruises.” The imam was taken to court by women's groups for inciting violence against women and was sentenced to 15 months in prison. See: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3396597.stm

Narrated Umar ibn al-Khattab: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: A man will not be asked as to why he beat his wife. Sunaan Abu Dawud Book 11, Num.2142. Muslim apologists tell us that Mohammed did not beat his wives and point to Hadith Abu Dawud Book 11. Numbers 2137, 2138 and 2139 where Mohammad tells men not to beat their wives, in 2137 he tells men not to hit their wives in the face. However, Mohammad did nothing to alleviate the plight of beaten wives and he did permit his wives to be beaten by their fathers (see Hadith Sahih Muslim Book 9, Num.3506) and gave permission for men to beat their wives:

Narrated Abdullah ibn Abu Dhubab: Iyas ibn Abdullah ibn Abu Dhubab reported the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) as saying: Women have become emboldened toward their husbands, he (the Prophet) gave permission to beat them. Then many women came round the family of the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) complaining against their husbands. So the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “ Many women have gone round Muhammad's family complaining against their husbands. They are not the best among you.” Abu Dawud Book 11, Num.2141.
Muslim apologists tell us that the part “they are not the best among you” refers to the men who had beaten their wives. This is not the case as the following two Hadith indicate:

Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin: Habibah daughter of Sahl was the wife of Thabit ibn Qays Shimmas. He beat her and broke some of her part. So she came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) after morning, and complained to him against her husband. The Prophet (peace be upon him) called on Thabit ibn Qays and said (to him): Take part of her property and separate yourself from her. He asked: Is that right, Apostle of Allah? He said: Yes. He (the wife-basher) said: I have given her two gardens of mine as a dower, and they are already in her possession. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Take them and separate yourself from her. Sunaan Abu Dawud Book 12, Num.2220.

Here we have a case of a battered wife, with broken bones rightly complaining about the violence meted out to her by her husband. But does she receive justice? Nooooo!!! Instead, she had to return mahr (dowry) she received from her husband.
Narrated Ibn 'Abbas: The Prophet said, “The one who takes back his gift is like a dog swallowing its own vomit and we (believers) should not act according to this bad example.” Sahih Bukhari Vol. 9, Book 86, Num.105.
Obviously the above Hadith does not apply to dealings with women. Mohammad's verdict makes it clear that it is acceptable for husbands to beat their wives. Those insisting that Islam elevates and respects women ought to take note of the above and the following Hadith:

Narrated Ikrima: 'Rifaa divorced his wife whereupon Abdur-Rahman married her. Aisha said that the lady came wearing a green veil and complained to her (Aisha) and showed her a green spot on her skin caused by beating. It was the habit of ladies to support each other, so when Allah's messenger (Mohammad) came, Aisha said, "I have not seen any woman suffering as much as the believing women. Look! Her skin is greener than her clothes!" When Abdur-Rahman heard that his wife had gone to the prophet, he came with his two sons from another wife. She said, “By Allah! I have done no wrong to him, but he is impotent and is as useless to me as this," holding and showing the fringe of her garment. Abdur-Rahman said, “By Allah, O Allah's messenger! She has told a lie. I am very strong and can satisfy her, but she is disobedient and wants to go back to Rifaa.” Allah's messenger said to her, “If that is your intention, then know that it is unlawful for you to remarry Rifaa unless Abdur-Rahman has had sexual intercourse with you.” The prophet saw two boys with Abdur-Rahman and asked (him), “Are these your sons?” On that Abdur-Rahman said, “Yes”The prophet said, “You claim what you claim (that he is impotent)? But by Allah, these boys resemble him as a crow resembles a crow.” Bukhari vol. 7, Book 72 (Dress) Num. 715. Oh yes, Muslim women are sooo privileged!!! For Muslim Clerics’ views on wife-beating see:
http://www.memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=subjects&Area=reform&ID=SR2704

“If a wife fears cruelty or desertion on her husband's part, there is no blame on them if they arrange an amicable settlement between themselves: and such settlement is best; even though men's souls are swayed by greed.” Qur'an 4:128 How could the settlement be amicable if the wife is living in fear of violence by the husband? Narrated Aisha: regarding verse 4:128 “It concerns the woman whose husband does not want to keep her with him any longer, but wants to divorce her and marry some other lady, so she says to him: “Keep me and do not divorce me, and then marry another woman, and you may neither spend on me, nor sleep with me.”Sahih Bukhari Vol. 7, Book 62, Num. 134.This must be the women's dignified status that Muslim apologists tell us about!

Narrated Basrah: A man from the Ansar called Basrah said: I married a virgin woman in her veil. When I entered upon her, I found her pregnant. (I mentioned this to the Prophet). The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: She will get the dower, for you made her vagina lawful to you. The child will be your slave. When she has begotten (a child), flog her. Abu Dawud Book 11, Num. 2126.
Basrah bought used goods and was compensated with the acquisition of child slave as well as being allowed to flog his wife. How's that for justice!

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: By Him in Whose Hand is my life, when a man calls his wife to his bed, and she does not respond, the one who is in the heaven is displeased with her until he (her husband) is pleased with her. Sahih Muslim Book 8, Num. 3367. Husband is next to Allah and is entitled to get what he paid for!

Jabir reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) saw a woman, and so he came to his wife, Zainab, as she was tanning leather and had sexual intercourse with her. He then went to his Companions and told them: The woman advances and retires in the shape of a devil, so when one of you sees a woman, he should come to his wife, for that will repel what he feels in his heart.” Sahih Muslim Book 8, Num. 3240, also 3241 and 3242.

Ibn' Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: “If anyone amongst you intends to go to his wife he should say: 'In the name of Allah, O Allah protect us against Satan and keep away the Satan from the one that you have bestowed upon us, and if He has ordained a male child for them, Satan will never be able to do any harm to him.'” Sahih Muslim Book 8, Num.3361. Males are deemed superior even before birth.

“And all the married women (are forbidden unto you) save those (captives/slaves) whom your right hand possess....” Qur'an 4:24 Sex with slave girls permitted. Also 23:6 and 33:50.

“If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, marry women of your choice, two or three or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or (a captive) that your right hand possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice.” Qur'an 4:3. While the husband is allowed sex on demand with all his wives and slave girls the wife is to always remain faithful to the husband, is she dares to indulge with the male slaves she will be stoned to death for 'adultery'. Even in the afterlife men are supplied with a harem of sex slaves: In them will be (Maidens), chaste, restraining their glances, whom no man or Jinn before them has touched. Qur'an 55:56.

Narrated Anas: “The Prophet I used to go round (have sexual relations with) all his wives in one night, and he had nine wives.” Bukhari Vol. 7, Book 62 marriage, Num. 6.

Narrated Said bin Jubair: Ibn 'Abbas asked me, “Are you married?” I replied, “No. He said, “Marry, for the best person of this (Muslim) nation (i.e., Muhammad) of all other Muslims, had the largest number of wives.” Bukhari Vol.7, Book 62, Num.7.

Women, stay quietly in your houses.... Qur'an 33:33.

And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs (castrated), or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O ye Believers! Turn ye all together towards Allah, that ye may attain Bliss. Qur'an 24:31. In other words, women should be neither seen nor heard! The extreme segregation imposed upon the women in Islamic societies is in many ways similar to the apartheid suffered by African Americans. Once I went to the Global Islamic Youth Centre to acquire some of their literature. The entry to their gym had a sign saying: “No women enter” it reminded me of the “Whites only” signs in the US, prior the civil rights movement.

Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin: “Safiyyah, daughter of Shaybah, said that Aisha mentioned the women of Ansar, praised them and said good words about them. She then said: When Surat an-Nur came down, they took the curtains, tore them and made head covers (veils) of them.” Sahih Abu Dawad Num. 4089, Book 32 - also Num. 4091 and 4104.

Muslim proponents of the veil living in Western countries, insist that the veil protects women from being perceived as sex objects and that it allows Muslim men to appreciate the woman's mind. They also insist that it protects the woman from sexual harassment rape etc. If that was the case Islamists would not be bullying women to veil and rape in Islamic countries would be unheard off, we all know this it not the case. In some Muslim countries veiling is mandatory and women who do not wear veils can be punished. This is all about controlling female sexuality. Unfortunately women have been led to believe that unless they wear the Muslim veil, they are not good women. If I was going to travel to Saudi Arabia or Iran I would have to wear an abaya or chador even though I am not a Muslim. On March 11, 2002, a fire at a girl's school in Saudi Arabia, claimed the lives of fourteen girls. The girls were prevented from leaving the burning building by the mutawwa' in (religious police) because they were not wearing the abaya - all enveloping black shroud. Read the full story at http://hrw.org/press/2002/03/saudischool.htm

“....It is simply not true that Islam fails to treat women as sex objects. In fact, women are so sexualized within Islamic society that it is assumed that any private encounter between a woman and a man will be sexual. Women are thus assumed to have two functions, and these are sex and child-bearing. By submitting to the adoption of an outward sign of modesty, the headscarf, chador or burqa, women allow men to divide and conquer. Women are either “good” - which is to say obedient - or they are “bad”. “Bad” women are sluts, who are despised and assumed to be generally available. In order for feminist goals to be achieved, modest women need to unite with their more sexual sisters. They need to say that women have the right to dress as they please. Men must learn to treat women as individuals, whose interest or lack of interest in a sexual relationship can be determined through a friendly conversation. In fact, by wearing the headscarf, chador or burqa, women allow themselves to be reduced to objects, each equivalent to the other. A practical consequence of the way women are sexualized in Islamic society is a tendency towards separatism. Women live in a women's sphere within the home; men interact with men in the public arena. Women know little of what men are saying in their all-male company and are kept busy in the home producing babies and dinner. This makes it almost impossible for women to influence men's ideas. A society in which men and women have an equal say cannot be a separatist society in which elaborate restrictions prevent the sexes from talking freely to each other....Muslim women claim to wear the headscarf, or other voluminous covering, out of modesty. I suspect that, in fact, the veil is attractive to women because it subtly appeals to their vanity. Islam tells women that, no matter how plain, old or ill-favoured she is, the sight of her uncovered hair will be so stimulating, that any man who sees it will lose control of his passions. Thus, beneath her modest covering, a Muslim woman can imagine herself the most desirable creature possible. Women who operate freely in society, conversing with men on a daily basis, are, in the end, forced to form a just assessment of their desirability. Unless she is particularly young and pretty, a woman will be made aware of most men's indifference to her charms. She will find, in the long run, that likeable men will like her as much for her character, skills and wit, as for her beauty. It is when woman's sexuality is not shrouded that it ceases to be an object of mystery and passion to men, and women have the greatest chance of being treated as more than sexual objects. The headscarf and restrictions that Muslim women adopt lead to the strangest pantomimes when a man approaches. Coverings that have been laid aside among other women have to be hastily donned, emphasizing, rather than reducing, the sexualisation of male-female relations. But in order for women to operate as equal in the public sphere, it has to be assumed that the bulk of interactions between men and women are non-sexual.
Muslim women are wrong if they think that the headscarf prevents them from being treated as sex objects. In fact it confirms that that is their social status.

“The burqa stripped bare” from “The Age” 18th January, 2004, written by Karen Green. (Karen Green lectures in philosophy and feminism at Monash University)

“Nothing is more harmful to men than women....” Sahih Bukhari Volume 7, Book 62, Num. 33.

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, “If a woman spends the night deserting her husband's bed (does not sleep with him), then the angels send their curses on her till she comes back (to her husband).” Sahih Bukhari Vol.7, Book 62, Num.122. Also Sahih Bukhari Vol. 4, Book 54, Num.460. There you have it ladies! If you don't spread them, the winged peeping toms will curse you all night. Too bad if you just had surgery or if the baby's crying has kept you wake for the last two nights.

“Women, slaves and camels are same; must seek Allah's refuge from all these....” Sunaan Abu Dawud 11.2155.

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: It is not lawful for a woman who believes in Allah and the Hereafter to undertake a day's journey except in the company of a mahram (male relative).Sahih Muslim Book 7, Num. 3105, see also Sahih Malik, Book 54: 14. 37. Afghan women under the Taliban were forbidden to travel without a mahram and they are still oppressed by fundamentalists. In many Islamic countries women cannot travel without the permission of the male relative in charge of them. Even after the demise of the Taliban, Afghan women are still suffering at the hands of various fundamentalists, girls’ schools have been destroyed and fanatical Islamists are campaigning against the education of women and girls.

Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: “A woman who has been previously married (Thayyib) has more right to her person that her guardian. And a virgin should also be consulted, and her silence implies her consent.” Sahih Muslim Book 8, book of marriage, Num.3307.
If the virgin were to speak out and say no to the marriage she would be likely to receive a beating. “Silence implies consent” is still valid today in the year 2004! Although, in Hadith Sahih Bukhari vol. 9, Book 86, num.99 we are told that Mohammad did cancel a marriage where a woman was married against her will. Women's right to divorce - the most “hated” thing in Islam - is in theory only and even the theory is shaky. Muslim apologists “explain” that women are restricted because they are emotional.

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) prohibited Shighar. Ibn Numair added: Shighar means that a person should say to the other person: “Give me the hand of your daughter in marriage and will (in return) marry my daughter to you; or marry me your sister, and I will marry my sister to you.” Sahih Muslim Book 8, Num.3299. Shighar marriage means that two men can marry each other's daughters or sisters - swapping without paying dowry. The objection here is to the avoidance of dowry rather than the girl-swapping.

Narrated Aisha: The things which annul the prayers were mentioned before me. They said, “Prayer is annulled by a dog, a donkey and a woman (if they pass in front of the praying people).” I said, “You have made us (i.e. women) dogs. I saw the Prophet praying while I used to lie in my bed between him and the Qibla. Whenever I was in need of something, I would slip away, for I disliked to face him.” Sahih Bukhari Vol. 1, Book 9, Num.490.
Women likened to dogs and donkeys, yes, this is very dignifying!

“....Had it not been for Eve, woman would not have ever acted unfaithfully towards her husband.” Sahih Muslim Book 8, Num. 3471

“Your women are a tilth for you (to cultivate) so go to your tilth as ye will....” Qur'an 2:223.
Women as property.

“They ask concerning women's courses. Say: They are a hurt and a pollution: So keep away from women in their courses and do not approach them until they are clean.” Qur'an 2:222. For a religion which “elevates” and “respects” women, Islam has a very unhealthy attitude towards women natural body functions. An Islamic site states that the menstruating woman, post-partum bleeding woman and sexually defiled person are not allowed to sit in the mosques: http://www.uh.edu/campus/msa/articles/fatawawom/menses.html#mosque

An Australian convert to Islam, Silma Ihram “explains” why women cannot have more than one husband: “There would be doubt about the parentage of the children and it's very hard to please two partners. Women have the disadvantage in that area... When a woman is pregnant, when she is menstruating, when she's breastfeeding, generally her needs are chaotic. She's got hormonal ups and downs. When she's breastfeeding, she can't be with her husband, or when she's menstruating, because that's regarded as a hurt, or a sickness - then he protects her, looks after hher, leaves her alone. You let her heal before you invade her again. So, from that point of view, the woman is the one the man has to wait for. He might have all the needs in the world but he has to wait for her - if he is considered. Thus a man can take more than one wife to ensure that his needs are met.” From “Women Of Spirit” by Deborah Selway (pages 114,115.).

“You may put off whom you please of them, and you may take to you whom you please, and whom you desire of those whom you had separated provisionally; no blame attaches to you; this is most proper, so that their eyes may be cool and they may not grieve, and that they should be pleased, all of them with what you give them, and Allah knows what is in your hearts; and Allah is Knowing, Forbearing.” Qur’an 33:51.

This is what it all boils down to, men's needs! Indeed Allah caters to men’s needs extremely well as Mohammad’s child bride A’isha noted: A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: “I felt jealous of the women who offered themselves to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and said: Then when Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, revealed this:” You may defer any one of them you wish, and take to yourself any you wish; and if you desire any you have set aside (no sin is chargeable to you) ( referring to Q’uranic verse 33: 51), I (A’isha) said: “It seems to me that you Lord hastens to satisfy your desire.” Sahih Muslim Book8, Num.3453.

Silma also tells us that “when women are menstruating they are not permitted to touch the Qur'an.” In addition “a woman is not to get up in front of men and address them because she would be putting herself on display and that the men will be listening to her more as a woman than an educator.” (page 117.) If Muslim men are brought up to see women as inferior beings and a necessary evil, how can we expect them to accept a woman in authoritarian position? In schools where there are large numbers of Muslims boys there are always problems with the way the boys treat female teachers. Part of the problem lies with the lack of discipline in state schools. However, most of the blame lays with the attitudes and values instilled in the boys by their families, communities and religious leaders: Abdul Haq, an Afghan mullah insisted that women should be denied education “because Allah says in the holy Qur'an that women should stay at home and not expose their beauty.” At the literacy centers, the girls might be seen by male strangers visiting the classes, he said. (Source: The Guardian, 29 November 2003, “Marriage spells the end of learning.”) see Qur'anic verses 24:31 and 33:33.
http://www.feminist.org/afghan/Girls%27_Schools_Attacks.pdf

“....And call to witness, from among your men, two witnesses. And if two men be not (at hand) then a man and two women, of such as ye approve as witnesses, so that if one erreth (through forgetfulness) the other will remember....” Qur'an 2:282.
Some Muslims claim that the above verse is to apply only to business transactions since women were ignorant of business dealings and therefore unsuitable as witnesses, this argument does not stand up to scrutiny if we are to take into account Khadija, Mohammad's first wife who was a wealthy widow and managed her own affairs. An Islamic site has an article on why the testimony of a man is equal to two women. They insist that women are “different” due to their biological functions and that these functions affect women's mental capacity. http://www.thetruereligion.org/witnesses.htm

The following Hadith confirm the Muslim belief that women are less intelligent than men.

Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri: Once Allah's Apostle went out to the Musalla (to offer the prayer) 'Id-al-Adha or Al-Firt prayer. Then he passed by the women and said, “O women! Give alms, as I have seen that the majority of the dwellers of Hell-fire were you (women).” They asked, “Why is it so, O Allah's Apostle?” He replied, “You curse frequently and are ungrateful to your husbands. I have not seen any one more deficient in intelligence and religion than you. A cautious, sensible man could be led astray by some of you.” The women asked: “O Allah's Apostle, what is deficient in our intelligence and religion?” He said: “Is not the evidence of two women equal to the witness of one man?” They replied in the affirmative. He said: “This is the deficiency of your intelligence. Isn't true that a woman can neither pray nor fast during her menses?” The women replied in the affirmative. He said: “This is the deficiency in your religion.” Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 6, Number 301.
See what the mullah says: http://www.uh.edu/campus/msa/articles/fatawawom/misc.html#mean

Narrated Abu Said: The prophet said, “Isn't true that a woman does not pray and does not fast on menstruating? And that is the defect (a loss) in her religion.” Sahih Bukhari Vol. 3, Book 31, Num. 172.

Narrated Abu Bakra: ....When Allah's Apostle was informed that the Persians had crowned the daughter of Khosrau as their ruler, he said, “Such people as ruled by a woman will never be successful.” Sahih Bukhari Vol. 5, Book 59, Num. 709.

“Allah (thus) directs you as regards your Children's (Inheritance): to the male, a portion equal to that of two females....” Qur'an 4:11.

Under Islamic law a woman inherits half the amount of a male, the excuse for that is that the men are the breadwinners and the providers for the women. When Islamists are cornered about the traditional role mandated to women by Islam, they insist that the traditional role is valued just as much as the men's role, if that was the case women would be granted equal inheritance rights. Also, a woman's life is worth half that of a man's life. There was a case in Iran where an 11 year old girl was raped and murdered by three men. The three men were found guilty and sentenced to death - so far so good! Under Iran's laws which determine compensation, the killers' lives are worth more in financial terms than the murdered girl. The murdered girl's impoverished family was required to come up with thousands of dollars to pay the “blood money” for the execution of their daughter's killers. For more on this story see: http://www.womeniniran.org/english.htm

“Do not marry unbelieving women (idolaters), until they believe....” Qur'an 2:221

Narrated Abdullah Ibn Abbas: A blind man had a slave-mother who used to abuse the Prophet (peace be upon him) and disparage him. He forbade her but she did not stop. He rebuked her but she did not give up her habit. One night she began to slander the Prophet (peace be upon him) and abuse him. So he took a dagger, placed it on her belly, pressed it, and killed her. A child who came between her legs was smeared with the blood that was there. When the morning came, the Prophet (peace be upon him) was informed about it. He assembled the people and said: I adjure by Allah the man who has done this action and I adjure him by my right to him that he should stand up. Jumping over the necks of the people and trembling the man stood up. He sat before the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said: Apostle of Allah! I am her master; she used to abuse you and disparage you. I forbade her, but she did not stop. And I rebuked her, but she did not abandon her habit. I have two sons like pearls from her, and she was my companion. Last night she began to abuse and disparage you. So I took a dagger, put it on her belly and pressed it till I killed her. Thereupon the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Oh be witness, no retaliation is payable for her blood. Sunan Abu-Dawud Book 38, Num. 4348.

Narrated Ali ibn Abu Talib: “A Jewess used to abuse the Prophet and disparage him. A man strangled her till she died. The Apostle of Allah declared that no recompense was payable for her blood.” Sunan Abu-Dawud Book 38, Num.4349.
It appears that Mohammad was extremely sensitive to criticism. He must have felt insecure that these women had such low opinions of him.

Abu Said as-Khudri said: “The apostle of Allah sent a military expedition to Awtas on the occasion of the battle of Hunain. They met their enemy and fought with them. They defeated them and took them captives. Some of the Companions of the apostle of Allah were reluctant to have intercourse with the female captives in the presence of their husbands who were unbelievers. So Allah, the Exalted, sent down the Qur'anic verse, “And all married women (are forbidden) unto you save those (captives) whom your right hand possesses.” That is to say, they are lawful for them when they complete their waiting period.” ” Sunaan Abu Dawud 11.2150 referring to Qur'anic verse 4:24. See also Hadith: Sahih Muslim Book 8, Num.3432.
It is okay to rape women captured in war, don't worry if their husbands are watching! See what the mullah says: http://www.binoria.org/q&a/miscellaneous.html#possessions

'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: “Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) married me when I was six years old, and I was admitted to his house at the age of nine.” She further said: “We went to Medina and I had an attack of fever for a month, and my hair had come down to the earlobes. Umm Ruman (my mother) came to me and I was at that time on a swing along with my playmates. She called me loudly and I went to her and I did not know what she had wanted of me. She took hold of my hand and took me to the door, and I was saying: Ha, ha, (as if I was gasping), until the agitation of my heart was over. She took me to a house, where had gathered the women of the Ansar. They all blessed me and wished me good luck and said: May you have share in good. She (my mother) entrusted me to them. They washed my head and embellished me and nothing frightened me. Allah's Messenger, (may peace be upon him) came there in the morning, and I was entrusted to him.” Sahih Muslim Book 8, Num.3309.

Narrated 'Aisha: Allah's Apostle said (to me), “You have been shown to me twice in (my) dreams. A man was carrying you in a silken cloth and said to me, 'This is your wife.'I uncovered it; and behold, it was you. I said to myself,'If this dream is from Allah, He will cause it to come true.'” Bukhari Vol. 7, Book 62, Num.15.

Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah: When I got married, Allah's Apostle said to me,“What type of lady have you married?” I replied, “I have married a matron” He said, “Why don't you have a liking for the virgins and for fondling them?” Jabir also said: Allah's Apostle said,“Why didn't you marry a young girl so that you might play with her and she with you?” Bukhari Vol.7, Book 62, Num. 17.

'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) married her when she was seven years old, and she was taken to his house as a bride when she was nine, and her dolls were with her; and when he (the Holy Prophet) died she was eighteen years old. Sahih Muslim Book 8, Num. 3311. See: http://www.domini.org/lam/COM/abusive.htm

Narrated 'Aisha: that the Prophet married her when she was six years old and he consummated his marriage when she was nine years old. Hisham said: I have been informed that 'Aisha remained with the Prophet for nine years (i.e. till his death). Bukhari Vol.7, Book 62, Num. 65. Mohammad’s marriage to six year old Aisha (some sources say seven years old) is a huge embarrassment for some Muslims. In one Islamic site they go as far as stating that the Hadith are all fabrications. See: http://www.submission.org/women/Aisha.html

“A man can have sexual pleasure from a child as young as a baby. However he should not penetrate, sodomising the child is OK. If the man penetrates and damages the child then he should be responsible for her subsistence all her life. This girl, however does not count as one of his four permanents wives. The man will not be eligible to marry the girl's sister....It is better for a girl to marry at such a time when she would begin menstruation at her husband's house, rather than her father's home. Any father marrying his daughter so young will have a permanent place in heaven.” From Ayatollah Khomeini's book “Tahrirolvasyleh”, Gom, Iran, 1990. Also see paedophilia section at http://www.homa.org

* In June, 2002 Iranian authorities approved a law raising the age at which girls can marry from 9 to 13. The “Guardian Council” a 12 men body of conservative clerics, vetoed it as contradicting Islamic Sharia law. The clerics insist that the marriage of young girls is a means to combat immorality. In Saudi Arabia there is no minimum age for marriage.

Narrated Abu Huraira and Zaid bin Khalid Al-Jubani: A Bedouin came and said, “O Allah's Apostle! Judge between us according to Allah's Book (laws).” His opponent stood up and said, “He has said the truth, so judge between us according to Allah's Laws.” The Bedouin said, “My son was a laborer for this man and committed illegal sexual intercourse with his wife. The people said to me, 'Your son is to be stoned to death' so I ransomed my son for one hundred sheep and a slave girl. Then I asked the religious learned men and they said to me, 'Your son has to receive one hundred lashes plus one year in exile.' The Prophet said, “I shall judge between you according to Allah's Book (laws)! As for the slave girl and the sheep, it shall be returned to you, and your son shall receive one-hundred lashes and be exiled for one year. “ O you, Unais!” The Prophet addressed some man, “Go in the morning to the wife of this man and stone her to death.” So Unais went to her the next morning and stoned her to death. Bukhari Vol. 9, Book 89, Num.303.

Abdullah b.'Umar reported that a Jew and a Jewess were brought to Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) who had committed adultery. Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) came to the Jews and said: What do you find in Torah for one who commits adultery? They said: We darken their faces and make them ride on the donkey with their faces turned to the opposite direction (and their backs touching each other), and then they are taken round (the city). He said: Bring Torah if you are truthful. They brought it and recited it until when they came to the verse pertaining to stoning, the person who was reading placed his hand on the verse pertaining to stoning, and read (only that which was) between his hands and what was subsequent to that. Abdullah b. Salim who was at that time with the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Command him (the reciter) to lift his hand. He lifted it and there was, underneath that, the verse pertaining to stoning. Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) pronounced judgment about both of them and they were stoned. Abdullah b.Umar said: I was one of those who stoned them, and I saw him (the Jew) protecting her (the Jewess) with his body. Sahih Muslim Book 17, Num. 4211. (see rest of Book 17).

The Stoning of Soraya
Soraya

The mayor took a stone and handed it to Soraya's father: “It is to you,” he said, “that befalls the honor of throwing the first stone....” The old man set his cane down on the ground and took the large stone in his hand. He gave thanks to God, drew his arm back and, as he threw the stone with all his might in the direction of his daughter, he shouted: “Allah be praised!.... There, whore, take that!” ....Then it was Ghorban-Ali's turn. He had rolled up his sleeves and had four rocks neatly piled next to his feet. He waited for the mayor's signal. “Your turn, my boy,” the mayor said to him affectionately, “and may God guide your arm.” ....The crowd was screaming hysterically now, and there were ripples of applause from the men. The shadow of a smile flitted across Ghorban-Ali's face; he picked up another stone, aimed more carefully, and threw it as hard as he could. This time the stone struck the woman on the forehead, just at the hairline. The skin burst open, blood began to trickle down her face, as Soraya's head jerked violently backward.... “That's it, you got her! Good for you, Ghorban-Ali. He got her, did you see? Throw another stone, go ahead, give the slut what she deserves!” The victim's two sons were next. They both picked up stone and threw them at the same time. One of them struck her on the head. There was a sound, like a loud hiccup. As her head again jerked back. Now the stones were flying thick and fast, piling up on the ground around them. And there, only a few feet in front of them, was a head whose face they never saw, a head that kept bobbing to and fro in time to the stones that were striking it....Finally it was Sheik Hassan's turn. He put his Qur'an in his left hand and, with his right, picked up a large stone. But before he threw he turned back to the crowd and said with great bombast: “I am not the one who is throwing this stone....It is God who is guiding my arm....It is he who commands me and the revenge I am meting out is not for me, but for our imam, revenge for the heinous crime this woman has committed.” The applause of the crowd was deafening. “I shall throw as many stones as it takes to kill this bitch” ....In the center of the circle, Soraya was slowly expiring. Her head and chest were little more than a shapeless mass of bloody flesh. The noisy crowd, completely out of control, broke ranks and moved in even closer, ready for the kill. Her scalp was nothing more than a gaping wound; her jaw had exploded; her eyes and nose burst open. Her head drooped at a grotesque angle, like some bizarre carnival mask, over what remained of her right shoulder. In the front row, Hassan, his robe spattered with blood, raised his arm and called for silence. “My dear friends....I believe that God has done his work. I believe that his will has been done. Would someone like to check and make certain the harlot is dead?” Several men raised their hands. Hassan picked Said the well digger. The man lay down on the ground right next to the victim and put his ear close to Soraya's open mouth. “She's still alive....The bitch still hasn't croaked,” he said to Sheik Hassan, getting to his feet. A man slowly stepped forward, holding a stone above his head with both hands, and brought it down directly on top of her skull. Another followed, picked up a brick that was lying there next to the victim, and hit her furiously with it half a dozen times. The skull burst open, and the brains spilled out onto the ground. At that point an immense cry of joy broke out. “Allah Akbar! Allah Akbar! God is great!....Praise be to God!” Hassan Lajevardi raised his Qur'an in a sigh of victory and commanded the villagers to form a circle around him. “Let us give thanks to God, the All-powerful.” A sudden silence came over the assembly. Then, after a brief moment of meditation, the crowd intoned, together with the mullah: “In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.”

From “The Stoning of Soraya M.” by Freidoune Sahebjam - condemned to death by the Khomeini regime for his writings, the author returned undercover to Iran in 1987, in order to research this book. See: http://www.oocities.org/hammihanirani/soraya.html

Theoretically stoning to death for adultery applies to both men and women.

Stoning in the Bible: http://www.free-minds.org/bible.htm
More Hadith on stoning: http://www.faithfreedom.org/Articles/stoning.htm
Video on stoning: http://www.apostatesofislam.com/media/stoning.htm#video

“She should stay at home and get on with her spinning, she should not go out often, she must not be well informed, nor must she be communicative with her neighbours and only visit them when absolutely necessary; she should take care of her husband and respect him in his presence and his absence and seek to satisfy him in everything; she must not cheat on him nor extort money from him; she must not leave her house without his permission and if given his permission she must leave surreptitiously. She should put on old clothes and take deserted streets and alleys, avoid markets, and make sure that a stranger does not hear her voice or recognize her; she must not speak to a friend of her husband even in need; her sole worry should be her virtue, her home as well as her prayers and her fast. If a friend of her husband calls when the latter is absent she must not open the door nor reply to him in order to safeguard her and her husband's honour. She should accept what her husband gives her as sufficient sexual needs at any moment....She should be clean and ready to satisfy her husband's sexual needs at any moment. Ghazali (1058-1111).

“Let these women be warned. We will tear them to pieces. We will give them such terrible punishments that no one in future will dare to raise a voice against Islam” A Pakistani mullah addressing the dissenting women of Rawalpindi - From “Why I am not a Muslim” by Ibn Warraq, pg 321.

“Woman was made to bear and feed children. Therefore she is very emotional. And she is forgetful, because if she did not forget how it is to give birth she would not have another child. That is why she will not be as reliable a witness as a man.” From “The Age” “Life behind a veil of Islam” 3/3/1992 pg 11. This “gem” is from a Muslim woman who has an arts degree and postgraduate diploma in education. It is a testament of the damage religion can do to a person's mind. If a University educated woman can be made to see herself as inferior on account of her gender, what hope is there for the millions of illiterate women around the world?

“A married woman should endure any violence or torture imposed on her by her husband for she is fully at his disposal. Without his permission she may not leave her house even for a good action (such as charitable work). Otherwise her prayers and devotions will not be accepted by God and curses of heaven and earth will fall upon her.” Iranian religious leader Hojatoleslam Imani.

"A victim of rape every minute somewhere in the world. Why? No one to blame but herself. She displayed her beauty to the entire world. She dagraded herself by being an object of sexual desire and thus becoming vulnerable to man who looks at her for gratification of his sexual urge..." Sheik Faiz Mohamad, speech at Bankstown Town Hall, Sydney, Australia, on March 18th 2005. Source: " Veiled threat an insult to all." by Miranda Devine, The Sun Herald April 24, 2005,

“Religion is against women’s rights and women’s freedom. In all societies women are oppressed by all religions.” Taslima Nasrin