Dress and Oppression

OK, so I know this post is a little late to the party but I feel it is quite necessary. The last of the presenters on Friday brought forth a traditional Muslim/Islamic garment and expressed her view that it was a form of oppression. While I do agree that it has the ability to oppress, I think it is often the American view that all Muslim women dress in that manner or that Islam is a religion of oppression.

One of the interesting things the presenter also spoke of was the "3rd Wave Feminism" movement in Medina. Medina is the city where Muhammad founded his religious society and was actually quite egalitarian. In fact women often had more rights then men. This is quite the radical thought or idea but it is actually something that is supported by the Quran. Though before addressing the Quranic quote a look at the language the Quran is written in is needed.

Within the English language, like others, words have the ability to mean a variety of things. Take for instance rape. If I were playing a video game and said that i "raped" somebody. Most would assume that I had not committed the actual act on a real individual. This theory holds especially true for Arabic. One word can have dozens of meanings within the Arabic language, this does not even include loose or rough translations into other languages. Though the Quran is only meant to be read in Arabic, translations do not play such a heavy role in the Muslim world.

Returning to the evidence at hand that will both show an egalitarian society but how a sound bite society could misinterpret it. This excerpt is from verse 4:34. The first one is a translation by Ahmed Ali and the second by Majid Fakry. Remember when reading this that it is just one phrase, try imagine an entire society founded upon misinterpretations.

Men are the support of women as god gives some more means than others, and because they spend of their wealth(to provide for them).. As for women you feel are averse, talk to them suasively; then leave them alone in bed (without molesting them) and go to bed with them (when they are willing).

Men are in charge of women, because Allah has made some of them excel the others, and because they spend some of their wealth... And for those {women} that you fear might rebel, admonish them and abandon them in their beds and beat them.
(These translations were drawn from Reza Azlan's book No God, But God: The Past, Present, and Future of Islam)

Within Islamic society the Quran is law not only religiously but politically. Like Christian Pastor or Pope, Islam has an Imam. These Imams are the ones who translate and tell the people what the Quran is trying to say. Unlike more liberal religions most often the Imam's word is the final word. Beyond the Imam are the Caliphs and they act on a level similar to the Pope. It is quite evident that Islam is going through a reformation, similar to that of the Christians, but they have to over come not only corrupt leaders but the language of their book. As for the movement in Medina it could be that these women are grasping the freedom they once had and trying to reinvent themselves.