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| national women development policy '11 |
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| war against Allah's law |
Once again,the government unnecessarily strode a path of confrontation with majority of people of the country when it approved the national women develop policy 2011 which contains some clauses that are extremely in contrast with Qur'anic ruling and prophetic traditions in respect to women. According to the Islamic scholars, there are at least,13 clauses which must be rectified as they go against the obvious teachings of Islam.
The status of women, in Islam, is unprecedented high and realistically suitable to her nature. Her rights and duties are equal to those of man but not necessarily or absolutely identical with them. Man and women are equal but not same. Equality is desirable, fair; but while sameness is not. Woman is as vital to life as man. Her contribution to society, civilization and other human achievements is and was not less important than that of man. It is a fact, not a matter of argument that can be denied. If man is father, she is mother. Woman, in Islam, enjoys rights that modern woman obtained them by a divine decree. So, there is no room to deny them, take away, or even change them.
Human rights:- since man and woman came from the same essence, they are equal human beings who equal human rights. They are equally accountable to god. Allah says: o mankind! Be careful of your duty to your lord who created you from a single soul and from it created its mate and from them twain has spread abroad a multitude of men and women.
Civil rights:- in Islam, a women has the basic freedom of choice and expression based on acknowledgment of her personality. Their opinions concerning religion, economics, politics and other social issues are as important as those of men.
Social rights:- woman in Islam must acquire knowledge in accordance with her talent, interests and roles required of her to play in life. There some types of work more suitable for her and other types for him. This in no way belittles either's effort in life. Their roles can be different but carry equal value and significance.
Political rights:- woman can express what she think, tells her views, voices her opinions concerning public matters. It is narrated that abdur rahman ibn auf consulted with many Muslim women before he recommended uthman ibn affan to be the caliph.
Economic rights:- the Muslim women has the right to own property, to earn money, to enter into legal contracts, to run her own business, to manage her funds or assets in a way she likes. But, we should keep in mind that Islam encourages women to pay attention to, to give focus on nurturing roles.
We firmly believe that women must be respected, developed so that she can efficiently play roles assigned to her. But it should be done within the framework laid down by the creator himself who, out of his infinite wisdom, created man and women to be different with unique roles, functions and skills. Any effort or steps that go against the natural and biological differences will create more anarchy, chaos in social fabric. There will be, then, no option except to wait painfully for endless agony that modern women in the west suffering from.
Obaidullah hamzah.
Islamic scholar in Bangladesh.
