To what extent have Muslim men taken advantage of religion to abuse women?
Islam is a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion articulated by the Qur'an. This one claims to be the only true religion. Muslims base their lives on the Five Pillars and these five principles, which are the framework of obedience for Muslims, are taken seriously and literally. Nowadays, the Muslim harsh limitations and controlled lives restrict women to such a turning point in which it started to create certain controversies as regards to what extent the manipulation of men towards women will last. Prohibitions and tremendous punishments are constantly applied to women who do not obey such terrible and unreasonable rules around the Muslim countries, and as a result the interpretation of these religious imperatives and whether they are fair or not, began to develop.
To begin with, women must follow and make sure they accomplish each rule. If they do not do what they are told and ignore the mandates enforced not just by the Qur'an but by the Muslim society, a series of penalties and tortures are implemented without hesitations and without the slightest drop of pity. Some prohibitions call the attention of most of the people who do not take part in the Muslim community, they realise the magnitude of the restrictions women got when compared with their own style of lives, the way of living totally differs from each other. Some constraints cause great impact in people’s minds as it makes them become aware of the hard lives some women in Muslim nations have. There are many bewildering requirements, for example, women must wear a long veil (Burqa), which covers them from head to toe, if they show or “exhibit” their skin it is thought to be a way to seduce other men which is completely seen as an immorality and an offense towards husband's pride and reputation. Their burqas cannot display "sexually attracting colors" at all.
In addition, other insane rule that seems fully awkward is the one that forbids women to drive cars, motorcycles etc.: they must be accompanied by a masculine relative (mahram). Moreover, there are bans on women working outside their homes, and as a consequence, this command leads to the lack of professional and experienced women. To a certain point, men take advantage of the handicaps and the absence of liberty women got, all these hindrances which are adjusted to women’s routines are justified by religious aspects though in fact it's a clear method of control and repression.
What’s more, the most shocking and unbearable reactions appear when the prejudice and the inferiority of women are portrayed as punishments arise. Severe penalties, which involve public humiliation, physical abuse and bad treatment clarifies the vulnerability of Muslim women. This is perfectly known as a fact that occurs regularly and without any kind of impediment as it is considered a deserved, religious and accurate retribution. It is often seen how Muslim men prepare each step that leads to the most dismal and miserable disciplinary action towards females. Muslim men show their dignity and a kind of satisfaction as they embarrass and hit their wives widely, or pay their debts by bestowing their daughters to rough predators’ hands. Furthermore, and what it is a completely mad thing to do is killing the victim of a violation as it is a stain on the family honor that can only be cleaned with the murder of this one. The 75% of women in prison in Pakistan are behind bars for the “crime” of being raped. Men just point with their accusable fingers to women, and assure the “sins” they produce are absolutely punishable and merit the worst trials.
As regards the religious facet, Aisha, the most beloved of the many wives of the Prophet Muhammad, led women to plunge into uncertain terms behind men. She said, "If you knew all the rights your husband got over you, each of you would clean the dust from the feet of your husbands with your own faces." Women are submitted to men’s strength and superiority, and this is advocated by the devotional and clerical feature. Public stoning, decapitations, hammerings and murders are some of the approved attempts towards women, men explain their actions as it is affirmed explicitly in the Quran: “And as for those women whose ill-will you have reason to fear, admonish them [first]; then leave them alone in bed; then beat them” (Qur'an Surah 4:34)
However, it is a difficult challenge to put ourselves in the shoes of a Muslim woman. Some might think what men do so determinedly and firmly is just proper because religion makes reference to it, because culture must remain as it is. Muslim women got different points of view about their same reality, some might wonder why other people believe what men generate with great confidence is wrong, (associated to what doctrines indicate) while others wish to escape from their frequent nightmares. In countries such as Afghanistan, Tunisia and Malaysia, women really believe and agree that each of them is men’s property. However, the stunning stories of Muslim women like Sair Liaquat, Khalil Atiyu, Sabir Sultan, among others are symbols of braveness and courage which stand in the middle of the fear and oppression other women feel.
From my point of view, no woman in the world, regardless their religion, nationality or culture, must be treated that way which is abominable and just extreme; men put divine arguments to support their actions but that is not enough and anything will be able to back men’s dishearten ways of “justice” against women's sins.
