To What Extent Can Islman Be Held Responible for Violence Against Women

To what extent can Islam be held responsible for violence against women

Violence is an important issue for any religion. Violence against women is an extremely controversial and much debated issue. In this essay I aim to explore one aspect of this and examine to what extent can Islam be held responsible for violence against women. In order to achieve this aim and answer this question several factors need to be taken into consideration. The meaning of the word Islam and its main message, the pride and ignorance of so called “Muslims”, how the “Islamic-laws” (man-made laws based on sharia) in a developing country may be at fault e.g. men granted immunity and why is there so much controversy over the surah 4:34.

An important area that will help in exploring the extent to which Islam can be held responsible for violence against women is the actual meaning of the word Islam. The word Islam comes from the Arabic word salaam, which means “peace”. Salaam is also used as a way of saying “hello” to another Muslim. The full meaning of Islam is “peace through surrender to the will of Allah.” It would cause huge problems for Islam if Islam was spreading the message of peace and equality of all humans in the sight of Allah and then at the same time allegedly favours one gender compared to anther. It does not fit well with the message of the Quran. Muslims must believe in three things in life. To believe in one God and to believe in the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) (This is the Shahada. One of the five pillars of Islam) the third thing Muslims must believe in is Judgement Day. Now any Muslim who wants to follow the right path would be fearful of that day and would try to do anything possible that they enter paradise. Harming, killing or just putting fear into another Muslim whether male or female is condemned by Islam.

Some hadiths show that any form of abuse is not allowed in Islam against other Muslims. These hadiths are some of “The Virtues of Forty Ahadith.” “It is unlawful for a Muslim to frighten another”. (Abu Dawood). From this hadith it is obvious it is wrong to scare another Muslim never mind physically abusing them. “Whosoever raises a weapon on any of us is not one of us.”