A Forward-looking Ijtihad in the Modern Era: fighting for women’s rights in Muslim society on the basis of Allah’s compassion and justice in the Quran

Ijtihad, Rethinking Islam

A Forward-looking Ijtihad in the Modern Era: fighting for women’s rights in Muslim society on the basis of Allah’s compassion and justice in the Quran

By: Farzana Hassan-Shahid

There are at present in my opinion, three distinct discourses within Islam on women's rights. The first is the one vigorously promoted by Dr. Farhat Hashmi which attempts to render women invisible and anonymous by enshrouding them in Burkas, endorsing polygamous marriages and upholding the uncontested leadership of the husband over the wife. Ironically such a discourse claims to be progressive, once again based on the "complementarity" argument, this time applied to the letter. The second, a slightly more progressive discourse does not intend to subjugate women to the extent of compartmentalizing them in gender specific roles entirely, but nonetheless emphasizes the need for reclaiming the "rights Muslim women enjoyed under Islam many centuries ago". This is dangerous in my opinion, because it will not lead towards progress, it will lead towards seventh-century norms and applications of those norms which are by no means desirable in this day and age, given our vastly transformed societies. This is by far the prevalent discourse among Muslim women who are self-proclaimed "feminists" out to reclaim their rights. In my opinion it is no longer enough to simply reclaim these rights. While such reclamation will certainly improve conditions for a segment of Muslim women in some societies, it will fall hopelessly short of modern standards of gender equality under the law.

http://newageislam.com/a-forward-looking-ijtihad-in-the-modern-era--fighting-for-women%E2%80%99s-rights-in-muslim-society-on-the-basis-of-allah%E2%80%99s-compassion-and-justice-in-the-quran--/ijtihad,-rethinking-islam/d/864

Singapore University honours Abdul Kalam, Islamic Personalities, NewAgeIslam.com

Islamic Personalities

Singapore University honours Abdul Kalam

By P. S. Suryanarayana

Mr. Kalam, in his acceptance speech, outlined a “21st century university vision.” The universities “have to prepare citizens of the future with a global outlook” in an ambience in which “science and technology and public policy are interrelated.”

Calling for “innovative content generation in virtual classrooms” in a world where good teachers could be found anywhere, he suggested “technological connectivity among universities” to tap this global “resource.” Noting that “a new paradigm for science and technology” was needed in this milieu, he identified tasks such as the “evolution of a clean atmosphere” by “replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy from sun, wind, and nuclear systems”; “gene-characterisation through the proteomics project for developing gene-based drugs”; multi-media applications through the mobile phone; sustainable rural development; and the understanding of natural phenomena like earthquakes and tsunamis.

http://newageislam.com/singapore-university-honours-abdul-kalam/islamic-personalities/d/634