WHEN THE LIGHT TOUCHES

                   “My name is Amina and I am not lower than boys”, says the voice of a ten year old girl, who longs for school, who longs for freedom. Many voices like these have been gone unheard for centuries together. All of them asking for the same thing, that they be treated as equals to men, that women and men are equal. Ill treatment of women is a infamous issue since time immemorial yet it has not been solved. Ill treatment of Muslim women is an issue that is a sensitive yet widely discussed issue. The question is not when these issues will get sorted; it is why they exist in the first place?

                In the history of the Islamic culture it is a little known fact that till 14^th century AD women and men were considered equals. The existence of Islamic communities which advocated equality and interpreted the religion and propagated non violence protected women’s rights. After 15^th century AD these communities dissolved, the cards turned against the women. Interpretations of the Islamic writings then changed from country to country. The hopes of these women to make a place in the working society were shattered. Then came the dark ages were women in Islam were considered to be lower than men. This exists in every religion, in every society but in Islam it has taken new heights.

              Many practices in different countries are so heart wrenchingly cruel that it is hard to believe they exist. For instance, in a conservative Muslim country, it is said that there are a group of local extremists who beat or abuse any woman who associates with a non related man. Such extreme practices in local cultures all over the world should serve as a driving force for people to see the light. Practices like domestic abuse, marital rape, polygamy, violence against sisters and daughters are all examples of the harsh cruelty of the religion. Restrictions on interactions with men, on clothing, on their stance in the working society are all pre ordained. In other words there is no freedom in the life of a Muslim woman, it is like when there are binds on your legs but they still tell you to run. ‘The hijab,’ a scarf covering the hair is underlined upon in the Quran. But the Quran does not thrust it upon the women; it is the people who do that. In Iran the law dictates that if a woman is seen unveiled, without her hijab, she can be jailed or fined. In most of the Islamic countries it is not even an option. People can view this as following the Quran but for women it is sign of oppression, it is curtailing their freedom to dress as they please. Women can wear the hijab if they want, and that is how it should be – a want; an option. In a few conservative countries, a group of local extremists exist, who take matters in their own hands and issue punishments to women who do not follow the Islamic law of the land.

                  In all reality, it does not say that women are the weaker race in the Quran.  It rather states that men and women are equals. It does not demean women in any way. It is the work of the Islamic leaders’ world over who have interpreted the Quran incorrectly. Most of the practices followed are not even stated in the Quran and are a result of local practices and beliefs. Interpreting the Quran incorrectly and thereby disrupting the lives of women belonging to the religion is wrong on many levels. At the end of the day it is not the Quran that oppresses women; it is the people who interpret them. The deeds of these people have drawn a dark picture of Islam, when in all truth it is just like any other religion. Yes, it does have its flaws, but they are a part of life, it is up to the people to see the good in every thing and follow that rather than focusing on the wrongs. It is true that ‘Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder’ but what can the beholder do when they told to picture something with their eyes closed? It is not the religion that we should point hands at, it is the Islamic leaders that should be blamed.

                    There is hope always, no matter what the circumstance is, but it is up to the oppressed to stand up against the oppressors. Women who have their hands tied by this must break the binds and speak their minds. “The most common way a person gives up their freedom is by thinking they do not have any” is a quote that every woman must realize. Islam does not teach to demean women rather it teaches to honour them. It is time for the unheard voices to echo through time’s ears, it is time for the women to stand up and fight for themselves than waiting for a ray of light to come save them. To reach the destination of freedom, they themselves need to become the light. It is the minds of the leaders that has this darkness, it might take time but they will see it too, when the light touches.