FAISLA AAP KA EXCLUSIVE with VEENA MALIK

"She cannot have sexual relations with her slave.  The Qur'an has allowed man to have sexual relations with his slave-girl, but the woman has not been given any such permission.  During the time of Caliph Omar, a woman misinterpreted the verse, 'whatever your right hands possess...', and has sexual relations with her slave when the caliph got the report, he put the case before the advisory council of the Companions.  They all gave the unanimous verdict: 'She misinterpreted the Book of Allah'.  Another woman asked Omar for permission to indulge in a similar act.  He punished her severely and remarked: 'Arabia is secure till such time that her women are secure'". (Kashf-al-Ghamma by Sh'erani also see page 193, Purdah and the Status of Woman in Islam by Sayyid Abul A'la Maududi, Ishaat-e-Islam Trust Publication No.576)

Ladies and gentlemen: you might think why I am bringing the above quote on a thread where comments  are related to Asma Shirazi's interview with Veena Malik. I had listen to her previous interview in which she had forcefully knocked-down a Mufti sahib, but I was of the opinion that she was little bit confused while defending herself. This time around, firstly, Asma as usual a great positive interviewer and comprehensive in her questioning styles impressed me a lot but Veena Malik was so effective and intelligent in her replies that I would call her  "Poti of Aristotle".

The above quote is to prove my point in relation to women rights, Islamic history and present day women in Pakistan. You have noticed from the subject quote that a women had stood-up for equal rights during the time of Hazrat Omar. We call every one else Hazrat but know her "a woman" at the time of Hazrat Omar! Why we don't know her name even?  And why Islamic history don't tell us full story? After all a Muslim woman at the time of Omar certainly was a Shabiya. All Muftees are telling us to be respectful to all Shaba but no one is telling us about her. Why?  When they says that "she misinterpreted the book of Allah" means she was aware, what is written in Qur'an! Omar disagree with her interpretation and put the question before a committee of shaba who were all men. Is it not correct to suggest that she was the first woman in Islamic history who had challenged the rulers for equal rights?  Certainly it is the case.

The controversy arises on the issue of "whatever your right hands possess".  This term was used in Qur'an for slaves, both male and female in relation to the sexual relationship. The traditions in Mecca and Medina prior to Islam was that both sexes male and female can keep slaves but male can have sex in addition to his legal wife or wives but female was not allowed to have sex with her male slaves. After Islam, in Medina, the Qur'an amended the old tradition and gave female masters the equal rights to male masters. This amended practice had continued till the time when Hazrat Omar put the case before committee of men. One of the equal right that was given by Islam to women and had reversed at the time of Hazrat Omar;  may be because the society was not ready to go along with the high ideals of Islam or the society was started moving away from Prophetic ideals and towards Tribalism/ primitive Arab nationalist conscious dictated by the need of Empire building. If we believe the remarks of Hazrat Omar "Arabia is secure till such time that her women are secure" is very nationalistic rather then close to high Prophetic ideals.

One might question, what were the Prophetic ideals we are talking? To read the following verse we might be able to interpret the historical event correctly:

" Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so - for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward". [33:35]

This verse came when women at the time of Prophet started complaining that every thing is for men which mean discrimination against women. Then the Qur'an had started addressing both genders together in all possible terms. This prove the point that women struggle in Islam had started as early as at the time of Hazrat Omar and the Hero and Torch Bearer of women struggle was the same women who had confronted Hazrat Omar. There fore from Hazrat Omar onward the women rights gradually taken-away by tribal societies and the irony of history is that the very tribal societies used the same religion to deny the women rights. Veena Malik today forcefully high lighted not only woman rights but very bravely and positively spoken against all kinds of discrimination.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjtibarbwkQ