Islam and the Feminist Movement

Islam and the feminist movement: Confrontation or Cooperation?
by Abdul Hamid Lachporia hajee@sympatico.ca

Whether living in the Middle East or Africa, Central Asia, Pakistan, Southeast Asia, Europe or the Americas, Muslim women tend to view the feminist movement with some apprehension. Although there are some features of the feminist cause with which we as Muslims would wish to join hands, other features generate our disappointment and even opposition. There is therefore no simple or "pat" answer to the question of the future cooperation or competition which feminism may meet in an Islamic environment.

The goals of feminism as conceived in Western society are not necessarily relevant or exportable across cultural boundaries. Feminism as a Western movement originated in England during the 18th century. It had as one of its main goals the eradication of legal disabilities imposed upon women by English common law. These laws were especially discriminatory of married women. They were derived in part from Biblical sources e.g., the idea of man and woman becoming "one flesh," and the attribution of an inferior and even evil nature to Eve and all her female descendants. The Industrial Revolution and its need for women's contribution to the work force brought strength to the feminist movement and helped its advocates gradually break down most of those discriminatory laws.

Since the history and heritage of Muslim peoples have been radically different from that of Western Europe and America, the feminism which would appeal to Muslim women and to the society in generally must be correspondingly different. Those legal rights which Western women sought in reform of English common law were already granted to Muslim women in the 7th century. Such a struggle therefore holds little interest for the Muslim woman. In addition, it would be useless to try to interest Muslim women in ideas or reforms that run diametrically in opposition to those traditions which form an important part of our cultural and religious heritage. If feminism is to succeed in an Islamic environment, it must be an indigenous form of feminism, rather than one conceived and nurtured in an alien environment with different problems and different solutions and goals.

If the goals of Western feminism are not viable for Muslim women, what form should an Islamic feminist movement take to ensure success? Above all, the movement must recognize that; whereas in the West, the mainstream of the women's movement has viewed religion as one of the chief enemies of its progress and well being, Muslim women view the teachings of Islam as their best friend and supporter. The prescriptions that are found in the Quran and in the example of the Prophet Muhammad, are regarded as the ideal to which contemporary women wish to return. As far as Muslim societies are concerned, the source of any difficulties experienced by women today is not Islam and its traditions, but certain alien ideological intrusions on our societies, ignorance, and distortion of true Islam, or exploitation by individuals within the society.

Second, any feminism, which is to succeed in an Islamic environment, must be one, which does not work chauvinistically for women's interest alone. Islamic traditions would dictate that women's progress be achieved in tandem with the wider struggle to benefit all members of the society. The good of the group or totality is always more crucial than the good of any one sector of the society. In fact, the society is seen as an organic whole in which the welfare of each member or organ is necessary for the health and well being of every other part. Disadvantageous circumstances of women therefore should always be countered in conjunction with an attempt to alleviate those factors, which adversely affect men and other segments of the society.

Islam and Islamic traditions therefore are seen today by many Muslims as the main source of cohesiveness for nurturing an identity and stability to confront intruding alien influences and the cooperation needed to solve their numerous contemporary problems. To fail to note this fact, or to fail to be fully appreciative of its importance for the average Muslim - whether male or female - would be to commit any movement advocating improvement of women's position in Islamic lands to certain failure. It is only through establishing that identity and stability that self-respect can be achieved and a healthier climate for both Muslim men and Muslim women will emerge. We pray to Almighty Allah Jallah Wa'ala to bring us from darkness into light, to bless uswith knowledge of His Revelations, to teach us wisdom and to help us togrow morally, intellectually and spiritually.

Ameen Ya Rabbul Ala'meen!