Maryam Amir – Women in Islam what we make normative

Many may tell you that a woman's voice is a aura, but what less may

be able to tell you is that the Mahar is a gift the husband owes a

wife that, if not given in completion, before or during the

marriage, remains a debt that he owes her, including after a

divorce. Many may tell you that a woman's most important act of

worship is wearing hijab. Few may be able to tell you is that in

Islamic history, there are court cases in which a woman who was the

victim of domestic violence would go to a judge, and the judge would

order that the husband, because of his abuse, be physically assaulted

in retaliation, and of course, she could have a fusque or a

dissolution of the marriage. Many may cite scholarly discussions on

whether or not women should give lectures in public settings, but

few could tell you about women's economic rights in Islam,

including an inheritance. She may inherit more than a man, the same

amount as a man, or if a man inherits double he's also required

to financially support different woman in his life. This list is

unending that speaks to what we've allowed to become our normative

cultural discourse when related to women's issues. Unfortunately,

because of this, we have a rise of zealous but completely untrained

Dawa influencers who cite a hadith related to women's issues with no

context, with no commentary from literally centuries of

scholarship. How are we even questioning why women wonder very

sincerely asking, but being worried to even ask what a woman's

rights and role even is. It is time right now for us as a

community to come to a reckoning before Allah holds us accountable.

Of course, there is personal responsibility, but there's also

community accountability for the women who are converts, who enter

our religion and then leave it. For the daughters who are sexually

assaulted and then live in fear and silence. For the women who

have anxiety attacks when praying or listening to the Quran because

of spiritual abuse, for the women who go to the Imam seeking support

because they are victims of domestic violence and who are told

to just pray and be patient, and when she prays for protection and

doesn't feel protected, she she wonders why Allah isn't answering

her. That's not Allah not listening. That's a community that

isn't trained to support men, women and children who go through

all of this. We have incredible Imams, sheikhas and community

organizations deeply invested. We simply need to streamline systems

of accountability. Hire women, resident scholars at every single

Masjid. Hire lawyers, social workers, therapists. To streamline

supporting members professionally, so that it doesn't all fall on an

imam who's trained in Islamic law, not mental health or relationship

crises. Islam is incredible, and we owe it to our religion to

reflect its beauty in our spaces.