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WHY ISLAM DOES NOT NEED FEMINISM

Feminism: the movement to support womens rights on the foundation of equality

between both genders - men and women. It is inevitable that one will get a glimpse of this
ceaseless issue at least once in their lifetime, especially now, in the 21st century, it has
regained the attention of many citizens. The subject of feminism has focused itself on the rights
of women in Islam and managed to alter the definitions of their honor and integrity in the religion
- provoking inner vexation to those affected, the Muslims. The biased western implementation of
feminism which speculates that Muslims are treated with extreme oppression has not only
grieved the Muslims, but also caused world wide misunderstandings of the religion due to poor
interpretations and connotations that led to major Islamophobia.

As a Muslim myself, the need to untangle any convoluted misunderstandings of the

position and rights of women in Islam is something I ought to do.

The basic factors as to why Islam does not need a third party such as feminism to
elucidate and reinforce the rights of women is because Islam has delineated precisely the rights
of BOTH men and women. The fact that feminism enforces the objective of making both
genders have equal rights is in itself can be classified as injustice.

Why?

In Islam, the two genders have their own rules and rights due to the obvious fact that
male and female are created differently and the word equal means that there should be no
difference between the two - which we know is untrue! Islam does not speak for equality for both
genders but Islam speaks of justice for both genders. This means that both genders should be
given the rights they are entitled to, not given the same rights as it would be unjust. The natural
tendency of the role of men is to protect, support their families and the role of women is to care,
nurture, comfort and support their lawful spouses and Islam encourages such natural
inclinations. Given the natural inclination of women, women in Islam are also given the right to
also financially support.

The statement coming from so called feminists that Islam does not respect women is
incredulous! In Islam, women do not need to take on their husbands last name, they have rights
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to own property, land and could contribute to voting for the government before any western
countries allowed women to do so! Islam honors and respects woman that even Muslims say
that paradise in under your mothers foot meaning to respect your mothers! To respect
women! Even more so when the Prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessings be upon him)
was asked who should be the most respected and loved after God, Muhammad answered Your
mother three times before he said father!

As further evidence, more than 1400 years ago, Islam lifted the status of female from
being viewed as objects to freedom and liberation. Baby girls used to be buried as they are
viewed as useless and weak in Arabia but when Islam came, it demolished such belligerent
practice. When it comes to marriage, men are obliged to give a mahr which is a gift to the wife
as part of the contract and legality of their marriage. When married, women have the right to be
provided with physiological needs such as food, shelter, clothing from their husbands. Not only
that, women in Islam have the right to be treated kindly as the Prophet Muhammad says; The
most perfect believers are the best in conduct. And the best of you are those who are best to
their wives. To conclude the my point, Islam does not need feminism as Islam has already
clearly stated the respect and rights all women are entitled to.

Arguments regarding the oppression of women in certain Islamic countries has risen. To
make clear of this issue, it is not Islam that oppresses people but the government of those
certain countries that uses Islam as a reason to control their people. A solid evidence is
Indonesia, striving with 90% of its population as Muslims and we could see clearly that its
female citizens are not oppressed. So to conclude, Islam does not need feminism as it already
encompass womens rights as the Islamic law is equal, fair and just.