Adeeb Rehman: a product for Hindu Extremists

The dismal showing of Islam from the case of Afreen Rehman who moved to Supreme Court against Islam’s ‘triple Talaq’ provision after being divorced remotely is just a part of religious destruction. She harshly alleged her husband in terms mental harassment, demand over dowry, beatings and eviction from home et cetera. The critical thinkers of Islam deemed to use the opportunity to explore against the ethical concept of Islam. Even the Sha’abanu case in 1986 got contemporary relevance in Media.

‘The fatal point in Islam is the degradation of Women’ is one of the core statements in the preface of the book ‘An Anthology of Quran’ written by the eminent English orientalist Edward William Lane[1]. There are myriad texts asserting the Men dominance in Islam. The chief justice of Indian Supreme Court similarly quoted the words of William lane in the final verdict of Sha’abanu case.

“some questions which arise under the ordinary, civil and criminal law are of a far reaching significance to large segments of society which have been traditionally subjected to unjust treatment. ‘na Stree Swathanthrayam Arhatee’ ( The women does not deserve Independence) said Manu, the law giver. And it is alleged that ‘The fatal point in Islam is the degradation of Islam’. To the prophet ascribed the statement-hopefully wrongly, that “women was made from a crooked rib, and if you try to hand it straightly, it will break; therefore treat your wives kindly”[2].

These allegations are emerged from the interpretation to have equality amidst the Men and Women in every bubble of life. The ideology of gender equality which explores such allegations was sprouted in 18th century at Britain. Then it was widely spreaded throughout the Europe and America. ‘A vindication of the rights of women’ of Mary Wallstonecraft was the first and pertinent text that expounded these beliefs. The book vividly elucidates to have gender equality in every sphere of life even in education, job and politics. But Islamic jurisprudence concentrates on a law built under the natural installations on human body. It is explicitly defined in Islamic creed to care women in an attention which the human gave to eye. We may cut and polish our nails. It is a part of body treatment. But the eye cannot be treated in such a manner. Even though eye and nail are parts of a same body, its treatment is distinguished. That’s why Islam doesn’t care the inequality between Men and Women in some segment of life.

Recently, some orientalists and Islamic feminists argued that the conventional reading on Islamic ethics creates more brutality, while the modern reading ensures gender equality. The feminine reading of Amina Vadood interprets the arrival of Quran as a heavenly notion against the men dominance in the land of Arabia.

[1] Edward William Lane, selections from Kuran, (London 1982),p-xc

[2] Criminal Appeal No.103-1981-dated April 23 1985