Islam Opresses Women!?! (AstaghfirAllah)

[Samira]

Asalamu Alaykum wa rahmat Allah wa barakatuh,
This is my first day to post here and I hope inshAllah to get some help from you brothers and sisters.
I'm 20 years old living in the Arabic Gulf. I previously lived in America (glad those days are long gone). I've been constantly moving back and forth between the two countries so I see and know that women in islam are NOT opressed. The problem is how do I get it through the thick brains (if any) of these people who say that muslim women are opressed?
I'm part of this forum for anime. (I used to love anime, still do, but dont spend much time anymore looking them up). There is a serious section there and the title of the thread is "Women equality in Islam" and since I'm pretty much the only muslim there, they were totally able to give me opinions way over my head about their strong negative feelings of islam. I know an acceptable amount about islam, but not enough to face all these accusations.
They were so totally able to twist everything I say to enforce their point. I wasn't able to face them, but sill I post there almost repeating a lot of what I already said. I would post the link, but it only would say "you must have a registered account to view or post (protected)"

I'll copy and paste next time, but for now the arguement is about that I as a muslim sister has protection forced upon me. Likewise, all muslim sisters and that they say is opression because I need male company. I say it is for protection, but first it is Allah's command before anything else. They say why dont males need female company?
They say why women cover from head to toe? I say because Allah commanded us to in Chapter Al Ahzab. They say why not men cover up like women? I say because women are attractive and must cover. A sheikh once said a women shouldnt wear attractive clothing. We must not cover a 'zeena' with a 'zeena'. Zeena meaning adornment (I think). They say, oh then males are ugly creatures, why shouldnt they be covered? Why does Allah make what's beautiful meant to be covered?

AstaghfirAllah, they accused my religion, my faith. May Allah conquer the enemies of Islam. I sometimes regret ever posting there, but then I think of the seven destructive sins. One of them is backing out of a battle after the enemy appears. I see the debate between us like a battle, a battle of words and strong will and then I keep posting. But, I feel I dont know enough. Not enough to meet their standards.

Any help gazakum Allah khayr will be greatly appreciated. May Allah reward you all. I was given this link by a really good friend I met online who said I can ask people of knowledge here in multaqa ahl al hadeeth if I need any help or good arguements.

[Haitham Hamdan]

Waalykum Assalam warahmatullahi wabarakaatuh sister.

Welcome to the Multaqa.

Great post. I wish voices like yours’ are heard all over the world.

Enemies of Islam only use this as a way to attack Islam. They do not care about Muslim women. If they did then why do they stand silently as Muslim women are being killed all over the Muslim world?!

Islam is the fastest growing religion in the West. Half of Muslim reverts are women. Had Islam been oppressive to women the percentage would not have been this high.

Wallahu A’lam.

[Bint Nail]

Bismillah,

Assalaamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh dearest sister,

May Allah reward you for defending this deen and may He make you steadfast and firm.
I looked at your words and I felt what you are feeling, as most sisters I know go through this at least once in a while.
I used to debate so much with the kuffar that it stressed me out, made me feel like no matter what I say or do they will twist my words to fit their poor understanding. And then I remembered that Allah does not want us to debate with them, and I now I can see why.
My beloved sister, know that no matter what we say or do, Allah is the One who guides or misguides, ours is only to convey the message.
I do not claim to have knowledge, but I would like to give you sisterly advice if you do not mind.
If you feel that your presence at that forum can bring about some good, then sure, continue. Try not to delve into the matters of hijaab, womens' rights, etc, try to focus on tawheed first and foremost. Because ultimately, someone who may be interested in Islam is not going to accept it simply because they see and accept the wisdom of hijaab. We want them to accept Islam because they believe that Allah is the Lord and that He has no partner, we want them to worship Him as such and we want them to believe that Muhammad ibn Abdullah sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam is His slave and final Messenger. So if you can do that and not show irritation with their responses, then Alhamdulillah. But if it causes you grief, I would advise you to spend your time doing that which will be more beneficial for you and your deen.
If I said anything good it is only from Allah and anything bad is from me and shaytaan.

[Hamzah ibn Ali]

Bismillah walhamdulillah

Just elaborating on what our sister Bint Nail's has said.
The issue is not that they don't like the idea of hijaab or any other issues regarding women in Islam. The real issue is that they don't believe in Allah and His Messenger (saw). Why would they listen to you regarding these 'small' issues when they don't see the 'bigger' picture?

This is similar to when the enemies of Islam start talking about our mother A'ishah (ra) being so young when she married our Prophet Muhammad (saw). They won't accept this marriage, because they don't accept him (saw) as a Messenger of Allah.

May Allah keep you steadfast and be an example to many.

Jzk kheir.

[Samira]

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم و الحمدلله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله وعلى آله وصحبه و من ولاه
Gazakum Allah kul khayr for your replies.
Akhi Haitham, you make a great point. Problems with my posts there is because I post long posts without getting a point across and they're able to post short quick posts that get their points across loud and clear.

Ukhti Bint Nail, Wa alaykum asalam wa rahmat Allah wa barakatuh.
It does indeed stress me out because and I hate admitting it, but I do feel un-easy debating with them. It's just they seem so smart in being able to lay out their thoughts. I'm fluent in both arabic and english, but against them my english seems terrible. Let along their so called 'logical' points.
I didn't mean for a debate to feud about inequality of women in Islam. They brought it up during a calm religious discussion. So, all I had to do was defend. I did begin a thread titled "Islam", but spoke about Ramadan as a starter. Maybe I should have began with tawheed and aqeeda. Gazakee Allah khayr ukhti your words did positively impact on me. I'll take your advice and just quit going there.
I just fear Allah might punish me for leaving the religion un defended. That's what really really worries me.
Other than that, my knowledge doesnt qualify me to get into these heavy debates, but I tried.

Hamza,
They have accused Prophet Muhmammad in other forrums I dont go on anymore. This one only says that muslim women arent equal to muslim men because men are allowed to marry four women and women only one man. I gave them reasons, but their point is 'where is the equality in that'. I listed because women are more than men in population and they proved me otherwise with a wikipidea link titled 'sex ratio'.

Once again, gazakum Allah khayr. And any additional comments are welcomed. I'm glad to be here in an islamic forum. I never thought there were islamic forums. But, indeed these types of forums are ones that will benefit. So gazah Allah khayr to everyone behind it and part of it. We came together because our common belief.

[Nusaiba Bint Ka3b]

Dear Sis Sameera

Just browse through these links and you will have no execuse to say , I dont know

http://followers-of-the-message.com/site/

http://www.imanway1.com/horras/forumdisplay.php?f=8

http://www.rudood.com/modules.php?name=MySound

http://www.aljame3.net/ib/

[Samira]

In the name of Allah,
May the best peace and blessings be upon prophet Muhammad.
Nusaiba, Jazaki Allah Khayr. I just opened all four links. I'll go read them now. ma'salamah

[Um Abdullah M.]

I'm fluent in both arabic and english, but against them my english seems terrible

Masha Allah, ur English is much better than mine
and the other sisters' English too, I feel like my English is the worst !

[Bint Nail]

Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh dearest sister Samira,

You said you fear that Allah will punish you for leaving the religion undefended. My dearest sister, how can that be when we were ordered to call to Allah with wisdom and knowledge? How can that be when even the physical jihad is ordered for those who are able to do so, and in times when it will be of benefit to the Ummah? Moreso, how can Allah punish you for leaving debate and argumentation when he orders you to leave it in the first place? Also, this knowledge is not for everyone, so those who turn away, it is on them. Those who stubbornly attack this deen, it is on them. Make sure you do your part in the way that your Lord is pleased with you.And whoever turns away, they will get their judgement insha'allah from the One who is most Just.
No human being is safe from the whispers of shaytan, so the best you can do is look to that which will be beneficial and not harmful to you and your deen.
Allah knows best.

[Samira]

Wa Alaykum Asalam wa Rahmat Allah wa Barakatuh,
Gazkaky Allah khayr katheer. Your sweet words did bring happiness to my heart and safety within myself. You're so right. I never saw it that way.
I'll leave that place inshAllah leaving them few words to think about and will return if they go about not attacking, but trying to understand.

Note-Um Abdullah, your english is fine. Don't put yourself down like that. I won't let you! *smiles*

[Thaabit]

وإذا رأيت الذين يخوضون في آياتنا فأعرض عنهم حتى يخوضوا في حديث غيره وإما ينسينك الشيطان فلا تقعد بعد الذكرى مع القوم الظالمين
And when you see those who engage in [offensive] discourse concerning Our verses, then turn away from them until they enter into another conversion. And if Satan should cause you to forget, then do not remain after the reminder with the wrongdoing people. (6:68)

وقد نزل عليكم في الكتاب أن إذا سمعتم آيات الله يكفر بها ويستهزأ بها فلا تقعدوا معهم حتى يخوضوا في حديث غيره إنكم إذا مثلهم إن الله جامع المنافقين والكافرين في جهنم جميعا


And it has already come down to you in the Book that when you hear the signs of Allah being disbelieved and mocked at, then do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation. Indeed, you would then be like them. Indeed Allah will gather the hypocrites and disbelievers in Hell all together. (4:140)

Islam does not say to remain in the company of those who attack our religion and try to prove each little detail to them when they choose to disbelieve. In fact, always reading such falsehood can have a detrimental effect of one's eemaan. A person's job is only to convey what they know and if the other person doesn't want to listen, leave them.

If you want to read good quality responses to those arguments then all of them and more have been answered on the da'wah website islamreligion.com

[Bint Nail]

I'll leave that place inshAllah leaving them few words to think about and will return if they go about not attacking, but trying to understand.


masha'Allah I am happy to hear this okhti Samira and it is a very wise decision insha'Allah.