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Islam, Reproductive Health & Women's Rights Little attention has been given to the health status of women in Asia and the factors that prevent women from achieving a higher level of health and well-being. Like the other women in Asia, Muslim women suffer similar problems particularly in relation to their reproductive health.

Resources

Publications

Are Muslim Men Allowed to Beat Their Wives?

Are Women & Men Equal Before Allah?

Shari'a Law & the Modern Nation State

Islam, Gender & Women's Rights

Hudud in Malaysia

Muslim Women in the Family Society

Islam, Reproductive Health & Women's Rights

Letters to Editor

Memoranda

Press Briefing Notes

The rights of Muslim women to attain a high standard of sexual and reproductive health, and to make their own decisions regarding marriage, motherhood, contraception, abortion and sexuality free of coercion, discrimination and violence are articulated in the basic goals or principles of Shari'ah. Serious discussions on these rights, however are still lacking and rarely have problems been analysed within the context of the local situation.

This book comprises papers presented at a regional workshop organised by Sisters in Islam in 1998, reproduced in full to provide reference materials on an area in which minimal written material and documentation is available globally.

Opening Address by The Honourable Datin Seri Dr Siti Hasmah bt Mohd Ali

Part One : Issues Papers

Paper 1: Islam and Women's Reproductive Rights by Masdar Mas'udi

Paper 2: Reproductive Health and Rights: The Importance for Muslim Women by Rashidah Abdullah

Paper 3: Islamic Foundation for Women's Human Rights by Dr Abdullahi An-Naim

Paper 4: Family in Islam: Or Gender Relations by Any Other Name by Dr Amina Wadud

Paper 5: Sexuality and Gender Rights: A Sociological Perspective by Norani Othman

Paper 6: Equality in Marriage: A Shari'ah Perspective by Dr Fathi Osman

Paper 7: Contraception, Abortion and Reproductive Issues in the Legacy of Islam by Dr Abdel Rahim Omran

Paper 8: HIV/AIDS: Women's Rights and Gender Issues by Marina Mahathir

Part Two: Country Papers

Paper 9: Islam, Law and Reproductive Health in Egypt by Dr Amal Abdel E--Hadi

Paper 10: Islam, Reproductive Health and Women's Rights in Malaysia by Nik Noraini Nik Badli Shah

Paper 11: Reproductive Health and Women's Rights from and Islamic Perspective - The Experience of P3M Association by Lies Marcos-Natsir

Paper 12: An Analysis on Gender, Reproductive Health and Women's Rights in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) by Yasmin Busran-Lao

Group Sessions

Group 1 Reproductive Rights
Group 2 Sexuality, Woman's Body and Femininity
Group 3 Marriage and Family

Plenary Sessions

Appendices
-Programme
-List of Participants

Brief Biodata of Paper Writers

Glossary

Index

	Paperback: (2000) 274 pages. Price: RM40 / USD 20
	"In Islam, sexual desire, pleasure and satisfaction are legitimate rights for both spouses. The Qur'anic verse Al Baqarah, 2:223 is mistakenly interpreted as a support for the husband's absolute right of sexual contact with his wife whenever his wishes. In fact, the verse deals with 'how' this contact is practised, not 'when' (anna in Arabic not mata). It teaches that a husband ought to enjoy sex with his wife in whatever natural and productive way..." (in 'Equality in Marriage: A Shari'ah Perspective', Dr Fathi Osman)
	"From intensive studies and extensive consultations with contemporary 'Ulama no verse in the Qur'an (nass) can be found which forbids a husband or wife to space their pregnancies or limit the number according to their physical, economic or cultural abilities... In fact the Prophet warned against a woman getting pregnant during the period of breast-feeding calling it al-ghayl, ghaylah or gheyal (assault on the child) ...as al-azl (coitus interruptus or withdrawal) was permitted so by analogical reasoning (qiyas), other methods that can pregnancy are allowed." (in 'Contraception, Abortion and Reproductive Issues in the Legacy of Islam', Dr Abdel Rahim Omran).
	"Muslim women, like all women of the world, have the need for and the entitlement to good reproductive and sexual health, to be able to make independent decisions on their reproductive and sexual lives (as well as decisions made mutually in consultation or shared with their partners). Muslim reformists and feminists who value the principles of justice and equality, and believe that these principles are enshrined in the Qur'an, see a parallel, rather than a contradiction with the universal social justice values intrinsic to human rights. Individual choice as the core of sexual and reproductive rights and gender equality, is interpreted as compatible with Islamic values. ". (in 'Reproductive Health and Rights: The Importance for Muslim Women', Rashidah Abdullah)

Islam, Reproductive Health & Women's Rights

Table of Contents