Does Islam Oppress Women? by Abdur Raheem Green lecture notes

Oppression- denying something its rights
Right- something part of its nature/natural to it

Example 1
Killer whales/dolphins that are put on display in a closed, narrow space are oppressed! It is taken away from its natural environment where it swims in 1000s of miles of ocean water.

Example 2
It is the right of a worker/employee to get paid for their work. If someone is deprived of this pay, they are depressed!

1. Narrated Ibn 'Umar: The Prophet said, "Zulm (oppression) will be darkness on the Day of Resurrection." (Sahih Bukhari book #43, hadith #627)
2. “Allah does not love the zalimoon (oppressors).” (Quran)
• Islam condemns oppression!
• A Muslim’s duty is to fight against oppression ex. jihad to relieve people of tyranny.

Islam is from Allah (God), the Creator. He knows us better than we know ourselves. “And indeed We have created man, and We know what his ownself whispers to him. We are nearer to him than his jugular vein (by Our knowledge). (Quran chapter 50, verse 16)

In Israel (occupied Palestine) an experiment took place where children where separated from their parents at the earliest age possible so parents don’t influence their children in their habits and behavior. They thought children wouldn’t care what toys they played with ex. dolls, cars, makeup etc. But, the boys took mechanical toys and the girls took “girly” toys. It is scientifically proven that boys and girls are different from a young age. Thus, men and women are different in our biology and human “makeup.”

• The nature of women is to be a mother and care for children.
• The society that takes women away from their nature is the society that oppresses women!
• Society makes women who are wives, mothers, and homemakers feel inferior.
• Women are desperate to have kids at 30+ because of the pressure from society.

Women are honored in Islam!

1. “Reverence Allah and the wombs that bore you.” (Quran)
• One of the worst sins in Islam is disobeying one’s parents, especially mothers.
2. Narrated Abu Huraira: A man came to Allah's Apostle and said, "O Allah's Apostle! Who is more entitled to be treated with the best companionship by me?" The Prophet said, "Your mother." The man said. "Who is next?" The Prophet said, "Your mother." The man further said, "Who is next?" The Prophet said, "Your mother." The man asked for the fourth time, "Who is next?" The Prophet said, "Your father." (Sahih Bukhari book #73, hadith #2)
3. “Paradise is at the feet of your mothers…” (Hadith)
4. A man came with his mother on his back to Umar ibn al-Khattab and said, “I have taken my mother on my back through the whole of Hajj. Did I pay her back?” Umar replied, “You didn’t pay her back for one tear she shed when giving birth to you!” (Hadith)
5. “The best of you are those who are best to their wives, and I am the best to my wives.” (Hadith)
6. “Women are created from the bent rib and the most bent part is the top most part (the mind).” (Hadith)
• Enjoy women the way they are. Straightening them = divorce!
7. “…the most precious thing in this world is a righteous woman!” (Hadith)

• Islam teaches us to respect women ex. mothers, wives, etc.
• It is the responsibility of men to maintain and protect women.
• Allah requires women to be obedient to their husbands if he tells her to do something WITHIN HER CAPABILITY.
• If a man oppresses his wife, Allah will put a tyrannical ruler to oppress him!