In male dominated society, gender bias and suppression of opposite sex has been a hot debate. Women in Western countries or Islamic countries are no exception. These are two different cultures. In west, women expose as much she can and in east, she hides as much she can. Hence, a veil is not essential a subjugation of women or an oppressive measure but a cultural expression of modesty.
The book, is the collection of papers, presented in a couple of seminars on Muslim women, their problems, rights and empowerment, held in different places in India. The seminars were conducted to discuss the nature of their problems -- legal, social, economic and educational - and to bring awareness among Muslim women.
It was felt that they are doubly persecuted by their own community and because of communal violence. They suffer due to lack of reforms and codification of Muslim personal law. Triple divorce in one sitting, polygamy, poverty, illiteracy and ignorance of their rights are few basic problems. The book talks elaborately on her rights and provisions given to her by the Holy Qur'an.
Islam is the first religion in the world to recognize woman as legal entity and gave her all the rights that man enjoys. The book is the treasure trove of Islamic laws and unqur'nic ways of feudal society. It disputes the various restrictions imposed on the name of Islam by orthodox Muslim leaders. It throws light on concrete problems and what could be done to solve them. |
