Unveiling the Truth about Women's Oppression in Islam

(Video Transcript)

Let me clarify one thing from the get-go. When we stand up for women’s rights against any issue, that essentially means one thing – We stand up for a woman’s right to choose for herself – without any male supremacy, social pressures, traditions or religious standards. A woman should be able to choose to wear a hijab or a bikini, without being attacked or frowned upon either way. A woman should be able to choose how-when-and-who she wants to have sex with, for as long as it is consensual between two adults. Whether she chooses to cover up or reveal, have sex or remain celibate, in marriage or without – should not in anyway affect her rights or status in society. That is basic human rights for women. Now, if you agree with the above, you must have a problem with religious standards concerning women. If you ever heard the claim that “Islam elevated the status of women”, you must have a problem with that claim. Did Islam really elevate the status of women? Let’s have a look at the Islamic sources.

When we talked about Mahsa Amini, the Hijab being forced on women and the brutal events happening in Iran today – Muslim apologists immediately rose to defend Islam. They said:” why are you criticizing Islam? These are corrupt governments. Don’t blame Islam for the mistakes of a corrupt government”

When we talk about widespread women rights issues in the Islamic world – such as honor killing, marital rape, female genital mutilation and male supremacy – we get told by Muslim apologists that Islam condemns these crimes. Islam elevated the status of women. Don’t blame Islam for the mistakes of the individuals.

But is that really true? Is it true that these horrible acts against women only stem from corrupt governments and cruel individuals? Or is Islam, as a religion, to be blamed? In other words, does Islam as per the Quran, the hadith, the tafsir and the Sunna – does it teach and encourage these atrocities against women? The answer is yes!

Surat Al Nisaa, Surah 4 – verse 34 says:

"الرِّجَالُ قَوَّامُونَ عَلَى النِّسَاءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ وَبِمَا أَنفَقُوا مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ ۚ فَالصَّالِحَاتُ قَانِتَاتٌ حَافِظَاتٌ لِّلْغَيْبِ بِمَا حَفِظَ اللَّهُ ۚ وَاللَّاتِي تَخَافُونَ نُشُوزَهُنَّ فَعِظُوهُنَّ وَاهْجُرُوهُنَّ فِي الْمَضَاجِعِ وَاضْرِبُوهُنَّ ۖ فَإِنْ أَطَعْنَكُمْ فَلَا تَبْغُوا عَلَيْهِنَّ سَبِيلًا ۗ

The official translation of Sahih International of the Quran translates as follows:

Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband's] absence what Allah would have them guard. But those [wives] from whom you fear arrogance - [first] advise them; [then if they persist], forsake them in bed; and [finally], strike them. But if they obey you [once more], seek no means against them.

This particular verse in the Quran is loaded with many problems concerning women’s rights.

Problem no. 1: Men are in charge of women. These are the literal words of Allah. The male supremacy you see in Muslim countries is not an act of error by bad individuals. It’s a Godly message. Men are in charge of women. Why are men in charge of women, you may ask? The Arabic word (Bema Faddal Allah) literally means for God has favored one over the other AND also because men spend from their wealth to spoil their women – so that’s why God saw it fair for men to be in charge of women. As for the woman – here comes the second problem - in order for the woman to be a good woman, she has to be devoutly obedient… Wow – True male supremacy here!

It fascinates me in today’s world when some people claim that they can be Muslim and Feminist at the same time… Fascinating!

So 1, Men are in charge of women.

And no. 2, Women must be devoutly obedient. You may wonder, what if a woman doesn’t agree with her man’s decisions and she has a different opinion. Well, the Quran calls these non-obedient women arrogant! In the rest of the verse, God or Allah, tells us how to deal with these arrogant women. And here comes problem #3 - Those [wives] from whom you fear arrogance - [first] advise them; [then if they persist], forsake them in bed; depriving them of sexual intimacy is God’ advice for discipline… and [finally], if they still don’t want to obey you - strike them… Yup. Hit them, God says… But if they obey you [once more], seek no more aggression against them.

Ladies and Gentlemen – God of the Quran endorses domestic violence. Not only endorses, but rather promotes aggression as a means to resolve conflict. This is what you believe to be God’s words and the highest words of wisdom!

Muslim apologists who claim that Islam elevated the status of women, never tell you about this verse. They only talk about women’s inheritance and a man’s obligation to provide for his wife – but they never tell you at what cost to the woman that comes down to. Devout obedience or face domestic violence for your arrogance!

And I am not going to get into the radicicolous tasfir of early Muslim scholars, who found this verse to be problematic as it is – so they said ضرب غير مبرح – meaning hitting her but not hard... hitting her in a way that doesn’t coz much pain or bruising… Radicicolous, or rather stupid argument – for hitting someone, hard or not, is humiliating and is not acceptable. Just because women were brutally beaten to death before Islam, and now Islam came to say hit them without bruising – that does not freggin mean Islam elevated the status of women!

Now, when a husband or a male government official (aka religious police) demand a woman to wear a Hijab – according to the Quran – she should. For Men are in charge of women and they have to be obedient or face the consequences. Don’t tell me those are cruel individuals, and those are corrupt governments – because your scriptures, your Quran, gave them that authority.

Now, all that said – I have been talking only about Muslim women. That was the treatment for the best class of women – the believer’s wives! Now let’s see how Islam elevated the status of women when it comes to the non-believers!

Once again, in Surat Al Nisa Surah 4, verse 24 – Allah says:

وَٱلْمُحْصَنَـٰتُ مِنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ إِلَّا مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُكُمْ ۖ كِتَـٰبَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ ۚ وَأُحِلَّ لَكُم مَّا وَرَآءَ ذَٰلِكُمْ أَن تَبْتَغُوا۟ بِأَمْوَٰلِكُم

God is legitimizing sex for men: the verse says: It is forbidden for you to have sex with married women—except ˹female˺ captives in your possession.

When it comes to female captives, it doesn’t matter if she’s married or not… You can have sex with her! – It is important – when comes to such a verse – to understand the context.

According to the famous Early Muslim Scholar Imam Ahmed he says:

وقال الإمام أحمد عن عن : أصبنا نساء من سبي أوطاس ، ولهن أزواج ، فكرهنا أن نقع عليهن ولهن أزواج ، فسألنا النبي صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم ، فنزلت هذه الآية : ( والمحصنات من النساء إلا ما ملكت أيمانكم ) [ قال ] فاستحللنا فروجهن

We invaded a little village called Awtas and we captivated their women. They were married. We felt it was immoral to have sex with hem while they have husbands. So we asked the prophet – and in that moment this verse was revealed “Forbidden for you to have sex with married women—except ˹female˺ captives in your possession.” – so their vaginas became halal for us.

Yes – you heard right. فاستحللنا فروجهن means Their vaginas became halal.

Do I need to lay out for you how many issues are here in this verse and its context? Do I really need to point out that women are not merely vaginas and that female captives don’t have the same right as a Muslim wife? Do you see how Islam elevated the status of women and should not be blamed for the mistakes of the individuals?

So far, I have been talking purely from the Quran. I haven’t talked yet about Hadith or Sunnah. Do you really want to get there?

For instance, in the Islamic book “Al Jame3 le A7kam el Quran” by Imam al Qurtobi, he says:

قال ابن مسعود: فإذا بيعت الأمة ولها زوج فالمشتري أحق ببضعها وكذلك المسبية؛ كل ذلك موجب للفرقة بينها وبين زوجها.« وإذا كان كذلك فلا بد أن يكون بيع الأمة طلاقا لها ؛ لأن الفرج محرم على اثنين في حال واحدة بإجماع من المسلمين.»

According to Ibn Mas3ood: If a female captive or slave is sold to another owner, but she happened to have a husband, the buyer has more right to her body. Because of that, the bond between her and her husband is to be broken. Therefore, the selling of a female salve or captive is considered as a divorce for them, because one vagina is not allowed (not halal) for two men at the same time – Agreed upon by all Muslim scholars.

Do I really need to talk about Women’s rights in Islam here, when she’s constantly referred to as a vagina and all decisions are made by men on her behalf?

Another story from Annas ibn Malik: When Omar saw a slave wearing a head scarf (a hijab), he slapped her and told “don’t act like a free woman”

Another hadith sahih according to sahih Muslim – Three interrupts’ prayers, a woman, a donkey and dog! -Do you see the status of the woman among her equivalents?

Do you want me to give you a list of true hadith to prove my point? Hadith Bukhari #3241, 1052 and 304 and Hadith Muslim 2737 – they all collectively say that women are أكثر أهل النارthe biggest population of hell, ناقصات عقلٍ ودين incomplete in their brain يكثرون اللعن ويكفرن بالإحسان full of swearing and denying grace! Surely Islam looks highly of women

You’ve got also Hadith Bukhari 4425 Hadith sahih لَنْ يُفْلِحَ قَوْمٌ وَلَّوْا أَمْرَهُمْ امْرَأَةً Any nation that will be led by a woman is doomed to fail.

It is very important to mention that I am not using any disputed hadith – these are all TRUE Hadith SAHIH.

I can really keep going and provide plenty more evidence that women’s rights in Islam and the claim of equality is nearly non-existent in Islam. It is utter non-sense to say that Islam elevated the status of women. But not to make this video any longer, let me present you with a final hadith… Another Hadith Sahih. The prophet Muhammed said: If only I could command a human to kneel and bow for another human, I would have commended every woman to bow and kneel for her husband! I swear to God – the prophet said – even if her man has a skin disease from his head to his toes oozing out with puss and his wife meets and greets him, licking his puss from head to toe, she still hasn’t done him enough by him!

See the equality and the status of women? Do you still think that Islam is not to be blamed for the atrocities practiced against women?

Dear friend – Muslim believer or Muslim apologist. There is no denial that women in Islam are second-class citizens. Whether you agree or not, it is super clear to the naked eye that Islam puts women way below the level of any man. And you are coming today, trying to tell us that Islam elevated the status of women and is not to be blamed for what’s happening to them all around the Muslim world and even in some places in the west in Muslim households.

PLEASE wake up. Think of your mum next time you read your scriptures and check in within yourself. Do you feel okay that your mum is put among donkeys and dogs in disrupting prayers? Think of your mum and tell me, do you not see a problem considering women as mere vaginas? If you would not appreciate any human disrespecting your mum with such a derogatory language, how on earth can you respect a religion that calls her just that?