Koranic and Islamic Statements about women
The position of woman in Islamic Community
PREFACE
In the present study, the attention was focused on the position of woman in terms of Islamic law, rather than on the customs.
Customs may vary from country to country; who grew up in a Muslim society will feel more or less obliged to marry in accordance with the Islamic law.
This study, very summarized, cannot be considered exhaustive.
In the proper study (from page 3 to page 10) I introduced some skimpy elements of Islamic scriptures (1-3).
It would be grave mistake assume that these laws would be automatically forsaken by the growing Islam in Europe.
For reason of conscience, I could not exclude the Evangelistic message in the informative section (second section).
It is necessary to be informed in order to go to the step of witnessing Gospel. Theory and practice are closely related.
Therefore the second section provides relational solutions in the testimony with Muslim women, solutions experienced on field by our staff. Use wisely and with prayers this information.
Women, as seen in the holy Islamic scriptures (Quran and Hadith)
For Muslims the Quran is the maximum authority that Allah sent to Muhammad.
It teaches that it is the last revelation of the sole religion accepted by Allah.
The Muslims claim that the Quran is 'uncreated' everlasting word of Allah.
As we are told by the Muslims, the Quran coexists with Allah ‘ab eterno’- forever.
The Quran does not contain only theological or moral standards, but precepts of common living and rules relating to marriage, divorce, prayers, fasts, food prohibitions (including the prohibition to drink alcohol and eat pork meat), the punishments for thieves and criminals; therefore, besides being a holy book for Muslims, it is also the fundamental law that governs the life of the believer, both male and female.
The Foundation of Quran is based on a god who is almighty, so superior to men that it would be ungodly and absurd to try to understand his plans; in fact, God is totally free to act upon the world and at his free will can change and replace what before he had revealed. (Sure 28:59; 16:101)
The Hadiths (Reports)
The Quran does not prescribe only one way of living or how many times actually to pray in a day, so it does not satisfies more detailed needs because it does not always indicate cultural features or other aspects of religious life of Muslims.
That's why ' hadith ' are empirical (called 'Sunna' or 'tradition'). [ps. Sunna: attachment to the cultural traditions of ancestors.
Muslims behave in accordance to the deeds, gestures and words of Muhammad; We consider Sunna everything that could be referred to as practiced by their Prophet].
So, the Hadith, meet the moral requirements of every Muslim and complete the task of Qur’anic preaching by formulating religious life, which will have to emulate the life of the Prophet of Islam.
The hadiths are traditions that record the acts and words of Muhammad on how to adjust lives and daily choices regarding the Islamic way of praying and the frequency of prayer, as well as those related to precepts, fast, rules on divorce, rules on religious rites and those concerning holy war, works of mercy do and how to do them , details for prostration, instruction on a pure life, rules for the pilgrimage, those on halal foods and even intimate personal hygiene standards, for instance how to cross the door in a W.C. and what 'spirit chaser' formulas recite before getting in.
The hadiths, additional to the Quran, include the oral teachings of the Prophet of Islam and of his first followers.
In addition to the speeches of their prophet (hadith), there are also commentaries on some obscure passages of the Quran and a collection of recommendations related to the cult, as well as examples of everyday morality.
In order to calm the world’s opinion around the credibility of the hadith, we are told that each portion collected was proved to be in harmony with the Quran, including the veracity of the testimonies which were tested thoroughly.
The collection of the authentic hadiths Bukhari (870 a.D.), is widely recognized in the Islamic world as the most authoritative and trustworthy source of Sunnah, although it should be noted that it is not the only one.
Our Muslim friends have no doubts about so late collections, so we find inconsistent their concerns on Holy Bible whose content is absolutely inerrant!
According to Islamic schools of thought, there are other ancient authors who, like Bukhari, have completed entire collections of Hadith.
Many Muslims believe that 'Hadith Bukhari' and ‘Hadith Muslim' have been able to distinguish only the "indisputable" hadiths.
The other four compilers were less stringent and their collections contain Hadith defined "authentic" and others in some ways "doubtful". However, the hadith were edited 200-250 years after Muhammad's death, who lived up to 632 a.d.
There are at least six collections of Hadith; here they are in order of importance, the first two on the list: Hadith Hadith Bukhari and Hadith Muslim are the most cited and influential in the Islamic world. These include:
• Sahih Al-Bukhari 870 a.d.
Bukhari lived about 150 years after the occurred historical facts and he worked strenuously to accomplish this Islamic “encyclical”. It’s told that Bukhari deemed ' credible ' just 7,500 Hadith among 600,000 collected (so far considered fakes).
• Sahih Muslim 875 a.d.
• Sahih Abu Da'ud 888 a.d.
• Sahih Al-Tirmidhi 892 a.d.
• Sahih Al Nas'I 915 a.d.
• Sahih Ibn Majah 896 a.d.
In this study at times I have intersected the quotes of the Quran with quotes of the Hadiths in order to rebuild the scenery of time and life of Muhammad for the reader.
In compiling this text I took into account mainly the collection of Hadith Bukhari and occasionally other hadiths deemed 'credible'.
Too belated sources
It’s very important to point out that the Islamic historical oral reconstruction (which took place almost 200-250 years after Muhammad's death) done by the Islamic commentators and exegetes is inaccurate and cannot guarantee the reality of facts actually happened in the nascent Islamic community , as well as in Muhammad's life.
The idea of the possibility to reconstruct the life of a person named Muhammad in the Quran is an utopia, because the Hadith were collected starting from 200 to 250 years after his death. Hadiths are not regarded as unfailing, the Islamic exegetes themselves consider them until today to be contradictory to each other.
Most experienced and conservative Muslims, in an attempt to reconstruct the whole picture of the life of Muhammad, consider the Quran only ‘a piece of the puzzle’, although in some verses it can give a vague biographical illumination. However, even if the Quran is managed with the Sira ( the chronicles of the life of Muhammad in the Hadith collections) or with any other resource preserved by their fathers, none of these can be trusted 100% even by Muslims.
The resources available to Muslims were developed in time: first the Qur’an then Sira and at last Hadith (for about 200-250 years after the Muhammad’s death). What is reported above is the view of many experts of Islam as Goldziher, Lammens, Casanova, and several others.
The body of ' Hadith ' is interdependent with the Quran, so far that it is a serious exegetic mistake presume to interpret certain passages of the Quran without consulting Hadith, according to Islamic theology. Therefore, the study of this subject: "The position of woman in Islam" will be extended by quotations from Quran as well as from the Hadiths.
The collections of Hadith are thousands of thousands. For this reason, as mentioned above, the most classic Islamic theology acknowledges the authority only of some (mentioned in the study) that bear the names of its ancient compilers.
The collections of Hadith report not only Muhammad’s words, decisions and actions in different circumstances, but are taken as an example.
In the Hadith not only the first eyewitnesses narrate but also those who lived later, who did not know him, but relied solely on the oral testimonies heard by other Muslims (long chain of witnesses: isnad), who in turn reported to the compilers.
Here we do not enter into the internal deficiencies of the Hadiths (a separate study must be devoted to this topic) where the opinions of Muslims split when a division line is drawn between canonical Hadiths and the Hadiths fruit of true inventions.
In the field of Hadith, Islamic theology has discovered three quality of transmission: 1. weak Hadith, 2. fabricated or 3. authentic/good.
So, in the final analysis, the scientific interpretation of the Quran and the Hadith (ijma, qiyas) is jurisdiction of Islamic jurists who will produce as result the hard path of the Perfect way, who is known as the “Islamic Law”(Sharia).
Having made this short assumptions, let us move now to the content of the Quran and the Hadith regarding Islamic position of woman. In the course of this brief study, I will use the most authoritative sources of Hadith with isnad recognized by Sunni Muslim jurists (fiqh).
Is there equality between man and woman?
It has been declared that a verse in the Quran preaches without a doubt the gender equality, which would correspond to the surah 4:1:
" O mankind! reverence your Guardian-Lord, who created you from a single person, created, of like nature, His mate, and from them twain scattered (like seeds) countless men and women;- reverence Allah, through whom ye demand your mutual (rights), and (reverence) the wombs (That bore you): for Allah ever watches over you. "
With the surah 17:70, Muslims reaffirm that Allah declares gender equality, the surah states:
" We have honoured the sons of Adam...."
This statement (the sons of Adam) should imply the presence of women in the family of Adam with consequence to bear the same honour and to preclude any discrimination.
In Quran, the surah 4:34, is evidenced that Allah has placed in preference man who is superior to woman. There are many Islamic women (feminists), Wadud-Muhsin for example, who complain about misogynist reading according to which women have been ascribed characteristics that don't respect them: for instance weakness, inferiority, limits to exercise influence in various spheres of society , bearers of evil and of sin, harmful for men, intellectually unable, religiously scant and other prejudices that limit the versatility of woman in Islamic society.
In fact, these misogynistic preconceptions degrade, humiliate and assign an inferior position to women in the society (Wahud-Muhsin).
In the Arabic language today, as far as I know, there is no term to mean misogyny. This shows that Arab society has not evolved.
In the Quran there may be other verses that shrewd Muslims could indicate as a prove of equal rights and social status for women.
For Muslim men and women,- for believing men and women, for devout men and women, for true men and women, for men and women who are patient and constant, for men and women who humble themselves, for men and women who give in Charity, for men and women who fast (and deny themselves), for men and women who guard their chastity, and for men and women who engage much in Allah’s praise,- for them has Allah prepared forgiveness and great reward. (33:35)
However, what Islamic feminists denounce, as matter of fact, is the disconnection of practice from theory or when, very often, the Quran is interpreted and applied in accordance with the misogynistic reading. Therefore, the Quran would simple be interpreted by misguided conception, like exclusively chauvinist revelation sealed by Allah!
Many Muslim women, although offended and outraged by the misogynistic conception of the Quran, in their passion to witness to Western women deny that Islam is a chauvinistic religion, instead it is Quran interpreted with this misleading reading. Distant from the theological system of the Quran, how a Western woman can trust such statements?
VARIOUS HADITHS:
Hadith are quoted by leading theologians and Islamic judges (qadi) in Islamic theology.
Some other Hadith that follow, convey what Muhammad said about who deserves hell and who deserves heaven, for example, hell is peopled by a majority of its inhabitants by women.
Sahih Muslim Hadith 142 Narrated by Abdullah bin Umar:
The Messenger of Allah observed: O womenfolk, you should give charity and ask much forgiveness for I saw you in bulk amongst the dwellers of Hell. A wise lady among them said: Why is it, Messenger of Allah, that our folk is in bulk in Hell? Upon this the Holy Prophet observed: You curse too much and are ungrateful to your spouses. I have seen none lacking in common sense and failing in religion but (at the same time) robbing the wisdom of the wise, besides you. Upon this the woman remarked: What is wrong with our common sense and with religion? He (the Holy Prophet) observed: Your lack of common sense (can be well judged from the fact) that the evidence of two women is equal to one man, that is a proof of the lack of common sense, and you spend some nights (and days) in which you do not offer prayer and in the month of Ramadan (during the days) you do not observe fast, that is a failing in religion."
The crucial question: a Muslim woman how then will be saved?
In order to get in heaven, on the Earth, the Muslim woman, as we shall see, is commanded the maximum obedience to her husband and all the disposition in the bedroom.
She cannot refuse the husband whenever he wants intimacy, although she is indisposed.
If a woman decides to cause him some issue or to reject the absolute sexual submission, then, following the Hadith and Quran, she does not respect the husband so deserves the Hellfire.
In this climate, a woman who emancipates is a woman who opposes and that openly declares its disagreement. But this is not allowed. The woman should behave as a being who thinks not.
Hadith Sahih 8,456 Imran bin Husain-
The Prophet said, "I looked into Paradise, and found that the majority of its dwellers were the poor people, and I looked into the (Hell) Fire and found that the majority of its dwellers were women."
Sahih Al-Bukhar Hadith 1,301 narrated by Abu Said Al Khudri.
" Once Allah's Apostle went out to the Musalla (to offer the prayer) on 'Id-al-Adha or Al-Fitr 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 anyone 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 in her intelligence. Isn't it 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 her religion."
It seems that Muhammad, addressing those women, declared or better loaded on them misogynistic burden whose elements are sufficient, on his opinion, to count them among the majority of dwellers of the hell.
The woman presented as harmful for men (accused to be misleading), is an interesting detail because it would release men even from their part of responsibility and of sin.
In another brilliant Hadith Muhammad, again declaring the status of inferiority of women, indicate to wives to bow down before their husbands:
Sunan of Abu Dawood Hadith 876 narrated by Qays bin Sa'd-
" I went to al-Hirah and saw them (the people) prostrating themselves before a satrap of theirs, so I said: The Messenger of Allah has most right to have prostration made before him. When I came to the Prophet, I said: I went to al-Hirah and saw them prostrating themselves before a satrap of theirs, but you have most right, Messenger of Allah, to have (people) prostrating themselves before you. He said: Tell me , if you were to pass my grave, would you prostrate yourself before it? I said: No. He then said: Do not do so. If I were to command anyone to make prostration before another I would command women to prostrate themselves before their husbands, because of the special right over them given to husbands by Allah.”
The Quran deem wife as ‘an object of property’:
" Your wives are as a tilth unto you; so approach your tilth when or how ye will..." (Surah 2:223)
The pleasure is all about for the man. It is extremely unfair. The woman has been reduced from a being created in the image of God, in a cover of the magazine Playboy.
Tabari, comments on this verse by stating that man can take and enjoy the woman without even a Word.
If this is applied the woman may feel raped. In Morocco, some women begin to turn to associations to report marital rape. Women become aware of being often the place of realization of the craziest fantasies of their husbands, as they are in women-object. However in Arabic there is no term to designate the conjugal sturo.
Divorced women remain in waiting for three periods, and it is not lawful for them to conceal what Allah has created in their wombs if they believe in Allah and the Last Day. And their husbands have more right to take them back in this [period] if they want reconciliation. And due to the wives is similar to what is expected of them, according to what is reasonable. But the men have a degree over them [in responsibility and authority]. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.
Quran 2,228, this verse reveals the contempt that feeds the men. The woman is literally under someone. This body position indicates the domain. the woman may just be dominated and possessed.
Can an incomplete obedience of woman in sexual whims of her husband, cancel all obedience and loyalty shown to him formerly? Yes! The Quran prescribes to rebel wives:
“Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more 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).” (Quran 4:34)
WOMAN ACCORDING to the HADITH
Let us turn our attention to some brilliant assertions that Muhammad addressed to women.
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3,826 Narrated from Abu Said Al Khudri:
“ The Prophet said, "Isn’t a witness of a woman equal to half of a man?" The woman said, "Yes." He said, "This is because the deficiency of a woman's mind."
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.30 narrated by Abdullah bin Umar-
"Allah's Apostle said," Bad omen is the women in the house and in the horse. "
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.33 Narrated by Osama bin Zaid-
" The Prophet said, "After me I have not left any affliction more harmful to men than women.. "
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.72 Narrated by Sahl-
" A woman came to the Prophet, and presented herself to him (for marriage). He said, "I am not in need of women these days." Then a man said, "O Allah's Apostle! Marry her to me." The Prophet asked him, "What have you got?" He said, "I have got nothing." The Prophet said, "Give her something, even an iron ring." He said, "I have got nothing." The Prophet asked (him), "How much of the Quran do you know (by heart)?" He said, "So much and so much." The Prophet said, "I have married her to you for what you know of the Quran."
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 9,321 Narrated by Aisha (wife of Muhammad)-
" The Prophet used to take the Pledge of allegiance from the women by words only after reciting this Holy Verse: (60.12) "..that they will not associate anything in worship with Allah." (60.12) And the hand of Allah's Messenger did not touch any woman's hand except the hand of that woman his right hand possessed. (i.e. his captives or his lady slaves). "
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 171 Narrated by Abdullah bin Umar-
"the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said he: menstruating women and people in junub should not recite anything of the Quran " Narrated by Tirmidhi.
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 276 Narrated by Amr ibn al-Ahwas al-Jushami-
“Amr heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) say in his farewell address on the eve of his Last Pilgrimage, after he had glorified and praised Allah, he cautioned his followers: 'Listen! Treat women kindly; they are like prisoners in your hands. Beyond this you do not owe anything from them. Should they be guilty of flagrant misbehaviour, you may remove them from your beds, and beat them but do not inflict upon them any severe punishment. Then if they obey you, do not have recourse to anything else against them. Listen! You have your rights upon your wives and they have their rights upon you. Your right is that they shall not allow anyone you dislike, to trample your bed and do not permit those whom you dislike to enter your home. Their right is that you should treat them well in the matter of food and clothing." Transmitted by Tirmidhi.
At- Thirmidhi Hadith 1084
"Nothing was dearer to the Messenger of Allah (peace upon him) after women than horses."".
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 5145 Narrated from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri:
" The world is sweet and verdant and Allah is putting you as successors in it, so consider how you act. Be on your guard against the world, and be on your guard against women. " Transmitted By Tirmidhi.
Sahih Muslim Hadith 1273 Narrated by ' Usamah ibn Zayd ibn Harith and Sa'id ibn Zayd ibn Amr ibn Nawfal:
" Allah's Apostle (peace be upon him) said: I have not left after me turmoil for the people but the harm done to men by women. "
Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 1898 Narrated by Aisha, Ummul mu'minin-
“Ibn AbuMulaykah told that when someone remarked to Aisha that a woman was wearing sandals, she replied: The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) cursed mannish women.”
What we must consider is the oblivion of history. It is known in fact the participation of Algerian women in the struggles for independence of their Country. Yet we have not had the recognition they deserved. None of the women at the forefront of the 20th century (such as May Ziade, Huda Sha ' rà wi, and many others had an adequate substitute in the movement for the liberation of society. The woman remains more committed on the fringes and his lyrics are not handed down nor taught. Arabs and Muslims speak only of men, even when it comes to women. Yet there were writers, singers, actresses,. The East is full of great women. The Arabs have forgotten. It seems Arabs reject the ' intelligent and brave women '.
HADITH: on DIVORCE
According to the Quran, Hadith and Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), divorce is the exclusive prerogative of the husband, while the wife remain passive in this decision!
Divorce desired by the husband can be solved in a second, anytime he prefers.
Only husband can invoke the divorce; except some very rare cases in which the woman can resort to it without any punishment or other tribal consequences. This causes are impotence or change of religion – it means the crime of apostasy (murtad/apostate).
DIVORCE ...
" But if ye decide to take one wife in place of another..." (Surah 4:20)
With this verse the husband can divorce his wife and marry another woman for whatever reason or whim.
There are no particular legal procedures.
Islamic law affirm that the husband, in presence of eyewitnesses, can divorce by simply saying to his wife three times in sequence "I divorce you" (talaq, talaq, talaq), after these words the marriage bond is dissolved.
However, if within three months from the declaration of divorce the husband wants to take back his repudiated wife, the woman retrieves all the legal effects of the status of wife.
While, after three months from the pronouncement of talaq, marriage counts as dissolved forever; any children will be the husband's property. At this point, if the 'repudiated' remarries another man and would ask to visit and embrace her children, this position will cause her many difficulties.
It will be possible to see her children again but at the cost of many struggles.
She has acted cruelly when remarried so her ex-husband may adopt some strategies to revenge his pride.
If it happens that a husband, for several reasons, wishes to reunite with his ex-wife after three months-period, it will not be possible unless she remarries. Only then the wife has juridical right to remarry her former husband (but only if the latter husband divorces from her)
“ So if a husband divorces his wife (irrevocably), He cannot, after that, re-marry her until after she has married another husband and He has divorced her. In that case there is no blame on either of them if they re-unite, provided they feel that they can keep the limits ordained by Allah. Such are the limits ordained by Allah, which He makes plain to those who understand.” (Surah 2:230).
A woman cannot ask divorce even in cases of cruelty or beatings by her husband.
Islamic law, prescribes indeed beatings for those wives who are disobedient.
“Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more 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, beat them ( in Arabic: dà rba) ; but if they return to obedience, seek not against them Means (of annoyance): For Allah is Most High, great (above you all).” (Surah 4:34)
This Quranic verse exempt the wife from the right to appeal for divorce in occurrences of beatings by her husband.
BELIEVERS BEWARE:
The Bible teaches exactly the opposite:
“If a man divorces his wife and she goes from him and becomes another man's wife, will he return to her? Would not that land be greatly polluted? You have played the whore with many lovers; and would you return to me? declares the LORD.” (Jeremiah 3:1)
“But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” (Mt 5:32)
CHILD CUSTODY
The children become "ownership" of the husband, who can independently exercise the parental authority regardless to any opposition.
The children are considered property of the husbands.
For the Islamic Law it is not sufficient to be a Muslim wife, of the same religion, to have the right of custody.
The woman, when divorced, may have the right to take care of her sons until the seventh year of age, under maximum supervision of the husband. While for the daughters age rises up to nine years (the age of puberty).
But if the wife changes religion, besides the immediate repudiation, she loses the possibility to see her children.
CONCLUSIONS
Up to this point only some of the aspects of the position of women in Islam have been presented concisely and even all too briefly, leaving out for reasons of space, the interpretation of the law of inheritance for women (Quran 4:11), the legal validity of women in court (Quran 2:282 confirmed by Hadith) which reads:
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3,826. Narrated from Abu Said AlKhudri-
"The Prophet said, "Isn't the witness of a woman equal to half of that of a man?" The women said, "Yes." He said, "This is because of the deficiency of a woman's mind."
While, on the use of veil, the verse of the veil (Quran 24:31) do not teaches to cover women’s heads, as it is repeatedly interpret, it simply requires the covering of breasts:
"and say to the believing women that… they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty." (Surah 24:31)
Polygamy (Quran 4:3) when practiced, will cause annoyance and irritation among the wives and push them in embittered competitions for the husband.
Moreover, let me add briefly, polygamy is practiced in the Western Europe although those Muslim husbands that chose it, resort to unscrupulous schemas to circumvent our laws introducing hidden wives and so mocking of those Western wives who nothing suspect.
The word ‘Burqa’ does not indicate the coverage of the femininity of the woman but of his humanity because Burqa means 'sheep' or 'creeping animal' or 'beast of burden'.
Certain Muslims turn to Western women appeal to embrace Islam.
In support of their view, they claim "Christian" society to disfigure and offend the woman’s dignity.
To demonstrate what they say, Muslims refer to the fact that in Western society the woman is exploited in pornography and in advertising slogans where she is depicted naked or half naked.
Why are they silent, then, on Western high rank prostitutes who are 'exported' every weekend, from Europe to the Arab countries, for "Burlesque" etc. with rich rulers? What a hypocrisy!
I can only mention a few important facts.
Islamic law does not simply consider woman inferior to men; she is always subject to a male figure, whether it is father, brother (even younger than her) or husband. It's well known that for the Wahhabis the autonomy of women is the ultimate threat to humans.
An unbalanced Muslim man can reach up to four wives, get divorced, remarry, change them like dolls as he pleases.
A Muslim man can marry a non-Muslim woman, provided they belong to the "people of the book" (that is: Christian or Jewish), but there is no permission for the Muslim woman to marry a non-Muslim man.
The children born in the marriage belong to the husband and have to be kept in the Muslim faith (that's why a Muslim woman cannot marry a non-Muslim).
This is one of the many central elements that, whoever will marry a Muslim, would better keep in mind.
Here are some concrete tips that may be useful to help the woman to shed light on her future marriage.
First of all, she should ask her suitor if he already has a concealed wife in his country or somewhere else.
In fact, sometimes Muslim wife is left in the home-country for various reasons.
A Christian woman must not marry a Muslim.
Who will become their children? Will they have to be kept in the Muslim faith? Will she be free to take them into church? Can they decide on their own by adults?
I love him!... Before you say "Yes"
Sister in Christ, if you are in love with a Muslim man and are considering to marry him, before you commit yourself and bond to a talented and beautiful Muslim boy, wouldn’t it be a good idea to examine yourself before the Lord?
While you might be inspired by love, somebody, might just want to get a residence permit, and who knows, maybe already has a wife in his home-country and wants to retrieve her after marrying and divorcing from you.
Frequently in various newspapers or on the TV we learn about the unpleasant episodes of this type. If there will rise a quarrel between you two, everything he will need to do in order to prevail over you is to embark your children on the first plane and entrust their custody to his relatives in his native country, where they will grow up Muslims.
Or you could convince yourself that the problem does not exist because your future husband is not an observing Muslim.
Of course, refrain from marrying an unbeliever in Christ does not imply only Muslims but everyone of any religion they may be.
We have testimonies of Italian believing women who has disobeyed the command of God by marrying infidels.
They have repented, but the consequence is that often husbands keep them engaged or after they gave birth to too many children, exhausted they decide not to go to church nor attend believers ... Moreover they lend themselves to give birth to children who will not be able to choose their faith in Christ, but the religion of the father, as Islamic law commands.
This is another way of Islamic invasion!
The Bible warns us solemnly on risks that are derived from weddings with the infidels.
Believer in Christ, biblically, is anyone who has placed his/her faith in the only true God, Jesus Christ, one Name and one Faith.
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? (II Corinthians 6:14)
In the case of a divorce, a believing woman should know that the husband's country, being an Islamic country, does not recognize her claims over a child, even if she becomes Muslim.
Often, not even certain institutions of our country, such a defenders of women's rights, in case of Muslim husbands, do not give favour to the poor mother deprived from own children, for fear of retaliations and accuses for racism, or as it is happening and will happen more and more often, for political reasons.
CHRIST, GENTLEMAN PROPHET
In the Bible we can discover how highly considered and valued are women.
in the Gospels, for instance, Jesus, the Messiah and son of God, left an evident example to the men of the world, of how women must be respected.
I will not mention here many examples of the beautiful parts of the Gospels where Jesus and his disciples in the various Epistles estimated the dignity of women and gave rules for husbands, etc.
At least I would like to make a reflection that Jesus, after his death on the cross, appeared resurrected first to the women, not to his eleven disciples.
Women were those who reported to the disciples the good news of his resurrection.
Although this choice of Jesus may seem normal in our times, where the women have got more social equality, by that time the choice of Jesus to appear to women, in particular to a woman from the law society layer with bad past (Magdalene). It was an outstanding example and admonition addressed both to his contemporaries, unbelievers and especially for us Christians husbands, we have the duty to highly estimate our women.
The women and one disciple followed Jesus to the cross, not his ten disciples, where boldly they assisted on Christ's sacrifice on that wood, at that time the disciples had taken some distance.
Islamic bibliography:
Hadith Al-Bukhari
Hadith Sahih Muslim
Hadith Abu Dawood
Hadith Al-Thirmidy
Quran (UCOII)
Extracts from Maggio’s book: Light on Islam (2008-CLC)
