Qur'an 4:34: "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."
No matter how apologists attempt to spin the beatings as a last resort (as if it would be acceptable then), the bottom line is that Allah says a man can hit the women under his control. These are the consequences of the letter and spirit of the law.
"Report: 77% of Gaza women face violence," by Rachel Kliger for The Media Line, December 29 (thanks to Don):
The vast majority of women in Gaza face violence of varying types, a new survey has found.
The study, by the Gaza-based Palestinian Women's Information and Media Center, found that violence against women in Gaza has increased since Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in the June 2007 coup and Israel subsequently imposed restrictions on the coastal enclave.
The study found that 77.1% of Gazan women have experienced violence of various sorts, with almost half experiencing violence of more than one type.
A quarter of the women said they do not feel safe in their own homes because of violence and more than a third said they were unable to fight back as they had more urgent priorities to deal with.
7% of the women surveyed said they had encountered verbal violence, 71% mental violence, 52% physical violence and more than 14% sexual violence.
"I think the levels [of violence] are higher than they were in the Gaza Strip in previous years and compared to other countries, the rates are certainly higher," Huda Hamouda, Director of the PWIC told The Media Line. "It's hard to imagine a family living in dignity when seven family members are living on less than three dollars a day."
"Many say they suffer from disrespect and deprecation," Hamouda said. "There's also domestic violence, which is committed by relatives such as the father, the brother or the husband."
Even this, Hamouda tries to pin on Israel. But it wasn't Israel who put verse 4:34 in the Qur'an; there are also similar statistics for domestic abuse elsewhere in the Muslim world. Did Israel do that, too?
The study, by the Gaza-based Palestinian Women's Information and Media Center, found that violence against women in Gaza has increased since Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in the June 2007 coup...
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And why is this? Because Hamas is more Islamic than the "Palestinian Authority". As other Shari'ah strictures have been initiated, violence and other forms of abuse against women have necessarily increased.
it's truly a shame that all our socialist inspired college elites who support (through the various MB fronts) the Palestinian cause see this as just a part of normal family life.
the Koranic citation (4:34) - used and abused - is a disgusting guide for inspiring healthy relationships. the mental abuse figure is disturbing. no love from the men ... heartless men: true ISLAM;no peace inside.
They face these problems because they're oppressed by men. Men dominate the world and do not respect women.
Here's an article for you to read (I'd really like your opinion on it, Mr. Spencer):
http://www.ourislamic.com/forums/7-general-chat/1283-why-men-dont-respect-women.html#1283
dave742, what's the figure for the US again? Anywhere close to 77%? I thought not.
I'd hazard a guess that the figure is significantly higher in any islamic hell-hole but because it is so institutionalized and common most women don't register it as abuse.
It's just the way moslem men show their love.
In my discourse with Muslims over the years, I've heard some rather pathetic intellectual gymnastics regarding 4.34...for example, that it implies men SHOULDN'T beat their wives because "beat them" is recommended only 3rd, AFTER admonishment and denying the bed.
4.34 should and must be coupled with 2.228, 2.282, & 4.11...to quantify the extent of the Quran's anti-woman exegesis, as well as the two-dozen or so Hadith that denigrate and demonize women (e.g., "women are deficient in intelligence").
They face these problems because they're oppressed by men. Men dominate the world and do not respect women.
Here's an article for you to read (I'd really like your opinion on it, Mr. Spencer):
http://www.ourislamic.com/forums/7-general-chat/1283-why-men-dont-respect-women.html#1283
LOL, Hesp! That's the first thing I thought of. Maybe he'll accept an Islamic source, maybe not, because after all, it's a women's rights organization, and therefore must be highly suspect. Probably made data up and it isn't a real poll, etc. etc.
From the Hadith (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1052):
It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Abbaas said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I was shown Hell and I have never seen anything more terrifying than it. And I saw that the majority of its people are women.” They said, “Why, O Messenger of Allaah?” He said, “Because of their ingratitude (kufr).” It was said, “Are they ungrateful to Allaah?” He said, “They are ungrateful to their companions (husbands) and ungrateful for good treatment. If you are kind to one of them for a lifetime then she sees one (undesirable) thing in you, she will say, ‘I have never had anything good from you.’”
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Two interesting things here: firstly, that "ingratitude" is here translated as "kufr"—usually considered "unbelief". In other words, ingratitude towards one's husband is considered analagaous to apostasy—a capital offense in Islam.
Secondly, that it doesn't do any good for a husband to show his wife "good treatment"—because she will be ungrateful in any case. it would be difficult to imagine a creed that would result in more abuse of women.
And of course, the idea of considering a woman anything like an equal partner is not even on the table.
"It's just the way moslem men show their love."
They can only show what they have. It seems obvious, to me at least, that there is no true love in Islam, and anything that resembles it is in defiance of Islam. Love is hate, hate is love.
Makes one wonder what Naomi Wolf would have to say about this. Does she still think that there is a 'vibrant muslim sexuality' going on here?
dsh
Correction: 100%
I wonder how Dalia Mogahed, Obama's faith advisor, would explain this. If the Gaza is more islamic and has greater enforcement of sharia how is this possible? Could it be that it was worse before Hamas took over or is it getting more dangerous for women. Somehow I think it is the latter.
In an effort to confront absurdity through humor, please enjoy these foundlings:
"Mohammed heard one of his wives was leaving him, so he rushed home where he found her on the carpet in front of the tent with her belongings; he sat beside her and said, I heard you were planning to leave me? She replied, Yes, I heard your other wives saying you were a pedophile! Mohammed thinks for a minute or so and then responds, that's a mighty big word for a 6 year old" [that's a keeper... worth repeating]
"Q. What's the hardest part about a Muslim killing his own daughter?
A. Suppressing the erection." [too harsh... or too true?]
After all, they do call it The Religion for a Piece (of Ass)
What a surprise.
They needed a study to learn this? And who funds the Gaza-based Palestinian Womens Information and Media Center, anyway? Probably us.
"...violence against women in Gaza has increased since Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in the June 2007 coup and Israel subsequently imposed restrictions on the coastal enclave."
The article is trying to pin this on Israel too, as though Israeli restrictions have anything to do with how good Muslims treat their women. And this is from the Jerusalem Post, not a good sign.
Off topic maybe but I wish people would use words in the right way - otherwise they mean nothing - violence is physical . Ir's like 'fascist ' - everyone throws
that around .
On the topic of violence - I'd hate to be a muslim in gaza or any muslim place
Your site is a waste of time, and derivative. The article you link is off topic and wishywashy, at that. Soooo many Muslim sites/forums that start and then just fade away. Once the hard questions start getting asked, no one answers. Since there's no legit give and take, they just fail.
Good job disabling public comment. That'll stop 'em.
How do we explain high percentages of abuse in non-muslim communities then? if everything is to be pinned on the evil Koran and Hadith then there wouldnt be high rates of abuse in places like Russia.
Stop reducing everything to Islam, Islam and more Islam and you'll be taken more seriously.
97 % of men in Gaza experience abuse-AT THE HANDS OF THEIR WIVES. The Niqba just makes those hairy Arab women EVEN MORE NAGGING AND TERRORISTIC....
"They face these problems because they're oppressed by men. Men dominate the world and do not respect women..."
I AM SURE ALL THE INDIAN MALES CASTRATED BY FORMER PM INDIRA GANDHI IN THE 1970S WOULD CONCUR, AS WOULD ALL THE
MEN SUFFOCATED BY THE INCESSANT NAGGING OF FORMER PM BENAZIR BHUTTO AND THE ODIOUS AND ODIFEROUS 'DYNAMIC DUO' OF BANGALADESH-HASINA WAJED AND KHALEDA ZIA..WHEN YOU LET MUSLIMS WOMEN RULE, YOU GET A DOUBLE WHAMMY !!
Through a variety of other reasons, of course.
But none of them are codified in a political-religious ideology, and excused as such.
Have you ever taken logic? Sheesh.
"...if everything is to be pinned on the evil Koran and Hadith..."
Well, at least you acknowledge that the Koran and Hadith are evil. That's a good first step. Muhammad was evil, so it stands to reason ...
In some ways the beating question is a red-herring. What that verse unquestionably says is that men are superior to women and should control them. That's the root of the problem. The precise means available for oppressing women are secondary.
The irony of the claim that Israel is responsible for the mistreatment of women in Gaza is enormous, but typical of Islamist apologetics. I wonder what these people make of the fact that the first Middle Eastern country to give the vote to Arab women was Israel?
"But none of them are codified in a political-religious ideology, and excused as such."
That does nothing to establish causality, according to this reductionist "logic" every abuse of females by palestinian males is islamic inspired.
"every abuse of females by palestinian males is islamic inspired."
I don't think anyone is claiming that every abuse of palestinian women is inspired by Islam. The observation is that the rate of abuse is much higher than in societies, such as that of the US, in which the dominant ideology does not license abuse of women. There is no doubt that some abuse of women is the result of the psychopathology of individual men, and that there are other sources of ideological justification for abuse of women than Islam (e.g. the sick machismo prevalent in countries such a Guatemala). That does not mean, however, that Islam is not a significant contributor to the abuse of women.
"That does not mean, however, that Islam is not a significant contributor to the abuse of women."
It would be nice if these other contributors were sometimes listed, instead we get a few hadiths and a Koranic verse and that explains everything.
"It would be nice if these other contributors were sometimes listed, instead we get a few hadiths and a Koranic verse and that explains everything."
Well, if that's really true, sure. But I've just listed two other sources, individual pathology and machismo of non-Islamic varieties, and I'm hardly being original in this. So, yes, people who think that Islam is the exclusive source of abuse of women are wrong. On the other hand, the rate of abuse in Islamic cultures is unusually high, and Islam is by far the most oppressive of the widespread ideologies. There are subcultures in the US that are not respectful of women, but the law and the larger society, including the great majority of religious denominations, are not supportive of the abuse of women.
A nice example is the status of women among Sikhs. The culture is one that historically has assigned women an inferior position. The religion, on the other hand, treats men and women equally in (almost) every respect. The result is a degree of internal conflict. The fact that the religion is hostile to, rather than supportive of, the oppression of women, means that although women are to some degree oppressed and such horrors as "honor killing" occasionally occur, the position of Sikh women is overall a good deal better than that of Muslim women.
Assuming that many Muslims, you and us all strive for the same goals regarding proper treatment of women. Assuming that we all endeavour to get ever more reliable information about the prevalence or absence of domestic abuse of women in all or many countries/ communities of the world. And the influence or lack thereof of the religions/ culture of these countries/ communities.
Is all Muslims can say in response to accusations of bad influence of Koran and Hadith on behavior of Muslim males that "men from other religions or cultures do it too"?
Islam certainly did not prevent this result in the highly Islamic Gaza. And if Islam is not to blame for this result, who is to say what Islam is to be praised for? We can doubt any good influence of Islam as easily as Muslims doubt any bad influence of it.
What good is Islam to women then if all the good AND all the bad influences of Islam are taken into account? Islam appears not to be of much use, except that it promises a great afterlife. But already that is shown to be highly unlikely to be true.
There are many causes for abuse of women throughout the world, but no religion on earth is more contributory to such abuse than is Islam. Not even close. You know this or should know it. There is no third alternative. Quit trying to deflect attention away from Islam by criticizing those who are NOT saying that Islam is the cause of all abuse of women but who are nonetheless asserting that Islam is a major and regular contributor to such abuse. To do otherwise is to be an obfuscator of the truth, if not an enabler of evil. Wise up, if you can, which I rather doubt you'll ever be able to do.
So, the Koran and Hadiths are not valid sources for Islam? You are twisting yourself into knots, but persuade no one else in the process. The Palestinian Women's Information and Media Center is not an a Western source, but you refuse to even deal with it in any real way. Being purblind for the sake of Islam is not a virtue, but a vice.
He is just setting up a strawman saying that other claim that Islam is the only cause for the abuse of women. Also, he really does stay away from he survey in his remarks. Gaza is almost entirely Moslem socially, politically, and economically. So, what other influence would there be in such a place? Are the Free Masons sneaking into Ashod late at night?
On Topic: This isn't Gaza but remember to make a contribution to the Rifqa Bary Fund. Go to www.rifqabary.com where they have all the details including the correct name of the fund.
First, Happy New Year to all involved on this site.Historically, misogyny was rampant, and still is, among immigrants to the USA, but most males eventually realize that civilized law doesn't permit unprovoked violence toward women/girls simply because they are females. The key word here is "civilized". A prehistoric culture like islam has no reason to change its attitudes towards women for as long its survival is not dependent on thinking above a primal level. This doesn't explain why some of the more educated mooselimb males in the USA continue to do it other than that it feels good to them. Hey, why stop doing something even if it isn't PC in the culture you are living in. I think that male chauvinism can be bred out of oppressive males but they have to see the advantages to changing. If mooselimb women in the USA and internationally gained enough self-respect to mobilize against their oppressors, the males might change.
It always makes me laugh when muslim women say that Islam respect women while their own Koran and Hadiths say otherwise. Muhammed did not give much respect to the women he was married to and he gave permission for women to be beaten by their husbands.
There is a story that Muhammed himself hit Aisha, his most "beloved" of all wives.
Here are some of the "rights" that women have under Islam.
Tabari IX:113 "Allah permits you to shut them in separate rooms and to beat them, but not severely. If they abstain, they have the right to food and clothing. Treat women well for they are like domestic animals and they possess nothing themselves. Allah has made the enjoyment of their bodies lawful in his Qur'an."
Bukhari:V1B22N28 "The Prophet said: 'I was shown the Hell Fire and the majority of its dwellers were women who are disbelievers or ungrateful.' When asked what they were ungrateful for, the Prophet answered, 'All the favors done for them by their husbands.'"
Qur'an 4:43 "Believers, approach not prayers with a mind befogged or intoxicated until you understand what you utter. Nor when you are polluted, until after you have bathed. If you are ill, or on a journey, or come from answering the call of nature, or you have touched a woman, and you find no water, then take for yourselves clean dirt, and rub your faces and hands. Lo! Allah is Benign, Forgiving." [The Qur'an claims women are unclean and polluted - worse than dirt.]
Here are some of just to show how "respected" women are in Islam:
Tabari I:280 "Allah said, 'It is My obligation to make Eve bleed once every month as she made this tree bleed. I must also make Eve stupid, although I created her intelligent.' Because Allah afflicted Eve, all of the women of this world menstruate and are stupid."
Qur'an 4:11 "Allah directs you in regard of your Children's (inheritance): to the male, a portion equal to that of two females..Bukhari:V3B48N826 "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.'"
Ishaq:584 "Tell the men with you who have wives: never trust a woman."
Ishaq:185 "In hell I saw women hanging by their breasts. They had fathered bastards."
.. These are settled portions ordained by Allah."
In Pakistan 75% of women are jailed for the "punishment" of being raped. Wives in Pakistan can be beaten for no more than cooking a bad meal. We know in Saudi Arabia it is rampant and women who are raped there can be killed.
Mohammed himself once deliberately struck ‘Aisha "on the chest which caused me pain", according to Sahih Muslim vol.2 book 4 ch.352 no.2127 p.462.
Let’s look at this again from another hadith. "Iyas b. ‘Abd Allah b. Abi Dhubab reported the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) as saying: Do not beat Allah’s handmaidens, but when ‘Umar came to the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) and said: Women have become emboldened towards their husbands, he (the Prophet) gave permission to beat them. Then many women came round the family of the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) complaining against their husbands. So the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) said : Many women have gone round Muhammad’s family complaining against their husbands. They are not the best among you.(1467)" Abu Dawud vol.2
If the women in Islam feel that Islam gives them equal rights and freedoms, why are so many abused? They are obviously "misunderstanders" of their own faith. Or, are they just scared to admit different?
As I have so meticously stated the sayings and verses from their own Koran showing that women are not equal to men and can be beaten.
It is estimated that over 5000 women each year in the Middle East are killed in "honour killings." The UN gave a watered down condemnation of it.
While the "misunderstanders" and apologists of Islam are trying to cover this up and deny it, the facts are the facts and they cannot be denied anymore.
While America fights this war on terrorism, people sleep at night, many who condemn the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and complain about innocent women and children being killed, while we continue to deny the existence of radical Islam, (while innocent people are being killed in the name of Islam by radical Islamists), muslim women in the Gaza Strip, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and the rest of the muslim world continue to be beaten and killed. Where is the outrage? Where are the protests by Women Rights Groups? Pink?
It is not a cultural or political thing, it is a religious obligation and duty of the men to "make their women obey." It is Islam, Muhammed did it, condoned it, and made it a part of Islamic teaching.
So regardless of it being Hamas or the Palestinian Authority, wife beatings, honour killings, and the mistreatment of women in Islam is a religious duty as that of jihad.
While domestic violence happens in America, it is not a religious obligation and it is not condoned in the civilized world.
When a muslim woman says that Islam respects women, she is either a patheological liar, "misunderstander"of Islam, or saying it out of fear.
"Blessed are the idiots, for even they can be forgiven."
http://www.terrorismawareness.org/videos/108/the-violent-oppression-of-women-in-islam/
Of course Israel is responsible in the minds of Muslims .
The fingers are always pointed outwards to blame others
for their misery,no matter how stupid and ridiculous the logic may seem to be.