The Muslim Woman

You and me will definitely tag it as ‘speed dating’ when a boy and girl meet up for a seven minute chit-chat, but for the growing American Muslim community, they prefer to label it in a more respectable term called ‘Matrimonial Banquet’. This particular term came up at the recently organized Muslim conference in North America. With the offshoot of an emerging trend among the Muslim community in America, more and more boys and girls are getting to know each other through a short session meeting called as the speed dating. However, the elders give it a more dignified term. Several seminars were held in this occasion. Primarily one of them titled ‘Dating’ had the crowd rocking in their chairs when the Imam said this: Don’t talk to the Muslim girls, ever, but you are going to marry them. As for the non- Muslim girls, talk to them, but don’t ever bring one home. There were many other brainstorming discussion that were highlighted during the seminar, mainly the problem of young generation of Muslim boys and girls who are trying to get assimilated along with the American way of life. Via:IHT

Just a few days back, a survey was made among the ethnic minorities in UK, which states that the Muslim women from Pakistan and Bangladesh are suffering from job discrimination because of their religious attire. A lot of outcry was heard from many outgoing young Muslim women who feel quite differently. However, coming back to the issue on the recent report published by Minister for Women Ruth Kelly, she says that ‘Women in Hijab’ should get more job opportunities in the front-line media irrespective of their headscarves. Now what pointed Mrs. Kelly to point this thing? Well, as everyone knows, according to survey, employment rate among ethnic minorities from Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin is just about 24% and this precisely had pushed the minister to come up with refreshing idea to help the Muslim women. Via: THE TELEGRAPH

The statements of an international women’s rights group seem true; the condition of Afghani women is not satisfactory even after the fall of Taliban. In 2001 when Taliban trembled, the women were hoping of an independent and pleasant life, but it is still a dream for them. The Afghani women is still hiding their terror filled eyes behind veil, there is not much change in there lives. For them Taliban is still there in the form of discrimination, violence and harassment. The reports clear that laws are only on the papers, but in real life there rights does not mean anything for them. Still the Afghani women are not safe, there is no feeling of safety, self respect and dignity, therefore the issue like political rights and equality are too far. Since two years, the graph of self-immolation and suicides had increased. Child marriages are common amongst them. About 60% of girls are forced to get married before the legal age of 16. In Afghanistan’s assembly, women are � in number, though they have to face harassment even in parliament. The originations or individual standing to safeguard the rights of women are not even safe. To overcome the critical condition of Afghani women, the basic changes have to be made, the stiffness have to be provided, especially in the field of education. Secondly, the extremists should not be allowed to harass woman on the basis of Islam. The rights mentioned by the Constitution of Afghanistan should be applied. It is definite that, there should be change in society; otherwise it is difficult to upgrade the condition of women. The religious leaders have to understand the real meaning of Islam. They should try to understand that Islam teaches mercy and forgiveness and not violence. Via: BBC

Finding stylish yet decent garments for Muslim women in US is indeed a challenging job. They don’t have much of a choice in the clothing department. If they go for body-hugging and little bit revealing designs, that will be a religious fiasco, so most of the times they prefer to stay covered. Brooke Samad, the 27-year-old lass wishes to fill the wardrobe of the Muslim women with some chic apparel that she has created at her magical working place at Atlantic Highlands. Having graduated from Fashion Institute of Technology, 2004 batch, she thought that it is time indeed to make her world simple and stylish. A creative desire to do something great was driving her mad and then she came up with the idea of her exclusive clothing line to cater to the needs of Muslim women like her. Check out her exclusive designs at MARABO: Via: APP

According to a recent analysis made by the Central Statistics Bureau data, in the year 2005 the fertility rate in Israel witnessed a significant fall. The data report states that the number of newborn babies was 143,913 in 2005, out of which nearly 70% were born to Jewish women and only a handful of 24% were that of Muslim women. Another important fact is that the overall figure of newborns dropped dramatically and this was due to the fertility ratio of the Muslim women, who were giving birth to fewer babies. Via: YNETNEWS

Dr. Heba Kotb is a conservative Muslim, who has crossed the bounds of the chauvinistic Muslim society in her famous soap opera, Big Talk, where she candidly talks about the issues related to sex. Though its just been two months but the show on the independent Egyptian satellite channel El-Mehwar is really rocking the region. And out of the ordinary part is that she discusses about the matter in society where it has been forbidden by the community. However, she talks about sex in an Islamic light, postulating that the faith is in favor of pleasure for both men and women provided they are connubial. In an interview at Cairo University, Dr. Kotb said, ‘I’m very proud of my religion. My studies revealed to me more and more how Islam was ahead in all sexual matters . . . I discovered that Islam understood sex long before the rest of the world’. Her outspokenness is really hitting the streets of a community where male and female interaction is discouraged and where perpetual myths are allowed to cultivate profusely. Dr. Kotb, 39 and married with 3 daughters, she studied sexology with Maimonides University, a private school in Florida, and combined it with her own knowledge of her religion to produce a thesis on Sexuality in Islam. During her discussions, she lays down the biological facts regarding sexual positions, female orgasm, oral sex even masturbation (frowned upon but at least preferable to unmarried or adulterous sex, which is haram, meaning banned by religion). However, she personifies homosexuality as a disease. Disapproval among people: Some of the people are not in favor of Heba’s chat show. Somia, a housewife, says, ‘So now girls and boys have heard all about Heba’s talk about sex . . . that will let them know more than they should and will get them excited’. Mona Helmi, a feminist writer asserts, ‘After Islamic banks, Islamic fashion, Islamic TV channels, Islamic hairdressers, Islamic swimsuits, Islamic writers — now Islamic sex? This is too much’. Dr. Kotb rebuts the statements by saying that 80% divorce cases in the Arab world is due to sexual problems, which is the outcome of ignorance. Thus, the problem could only be averted by the power of knowledge. Image Read

There are hardly any recreation centers that the women in Islam can visit, so that they can unwind themselves and let their hair down for a few hours of fun and relaxation. However, to cater to the ever-growing demand of the women customers in Egypt, Walid Moustafa, one of the emerging entrepreneurs took the opportunity to unleash a new source of fun activity for the Egyptian women. In the year 2004, Moustafa launched his first venture by kicking off his much-speculated project of the first exclusive women beach, Yashmak and two others as well. They were an instant hit. La Femme Beach is another beach that he meticulously planned after the first venture. Now, it is La Femme, which is gaining huge popularity. Spread across the northern coast of Egypt, this beach is equipped with everything from bright women staff, stunning belly dancers, DJ’s, chef, and the cautious watchdogs, the women bouncers who stay guarded at the entry gate, so that no men can sneak in. The women get in all dressed in long sleeves and ankle-length designer skirts, but once they are inside the private space, they throw off their Hijab, and puts on sexy two piece dresses, I mean to say the colorful bikinis and dive to the beach. The beach is surrounded with beautiful women who swing their body to the sensuous Arabic beats that rocks the vicinity. With the changing pace of time, the young and wealthy generation of the hip-hop Egyptian women is realizing that it is time for them to indulge in some sports and where else but…LA FEMME BEACH. Via: CSMONITOR

Men in Islam are allowed to have more than one wife and this is prevalent not only in the Middle East countries but in India too – the land of Democracy. Paradoxically, despite the constitution of India bestowing the citizen to assert their right to freedom, women in the Muslim community still suffers from the biased laws of the Islamic religion. A recent case of a Muslim woman locked up in a room without any ventilation and toilet for long three years, should open up the eyes of the Indian government and it’s so called political leaders who are busy making big-time speech but no action at all. In a suburb area of Hyderabad, a man confined his wife in a room for three years and made her drink her own urine because she refused to grant him permission from getting married to another woman. The criminal in question is Mohammed Shadulla, who works as a foreman construction. He tied his wife Asha Begum in chain, forced her into a dark room, and ultimately carried on his wishes. However, by luck, one day he forgot to close the door and Asha escaped. The police have arrested the culprit. The point here is that the religious leaders instead of preaching should at least for once get into their senses and see what the cultural practices are doing to the Muslim women community. Via: IOL

Women in Saudi Arabia, off late, are creating a niche amidst the watchdogs, and trying their hands in different fields and have largely met with success in their endeavor. In the kingdom of Riyadh, Azah Al-Deghather has revolutionized the Engineering Industry by becoming the first Saudi woman architect, who has obtained her license for opening up an engineering firm on her own. Azah got the approval from the Saudi Engineering Association to launch her private firm and this has paved the way for the rest of her fellow sisters who are qualified as an architect and waiting for their chance. According to Adel Al-Moselli, who is the current head of Professional Affairs at the Association said, there are two women who have applied for the license, and in the coming days, he is expecting more numbers. Saudi women architects are as professional and competent as their male counterpart is and the Business Community of Saudi Arabia has full confidence in the women professionals as well. Via: ZAWYA

The year 2006 remained quite eventful for the Saudi women with women emancipation gaining momentum with the help of the liberal King Abdullah. Lot of talks were going on among the higher authority regarding creating more job opportunities for the Saudi women. The media was abuzz with the Saudi Arabian Airlines decision to recruit more female staff and replace the non-Saudi crew. However, the idea now faces a setback, because according to a statement made by Khaled Al Mulhim, the Saudi director general, no women will be appointed either in the airport or as flight attendants in the airlines. Via: TRADEARABIA