WOMENS' RIGHTS IN ISLAM -MODERNISING OR OUTDATED? – PART 2

The text contains the words of Dr. Zakir Naik, please go through the entire document if to know the true position and rights of woman in Islam and also the current degradation, exploitation and stripping of dignity of woman by the western media.

WOMENS' RIGHTS IN ISLAM -MODERNISING OR OUTDATED? – PART 2

(Back Ground Azaan, By Brother Yusuf Islam)

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(Azan Continued)…

(Dr. Mohammed) Bismillah. Now we would be having the Question and Answer session. We would like you to kindly understand and observe the rules, that have to be followed, during the Question and Answer ses­sion, so that we can derive the maximum benefit from it. 3 mikes have been provided for the questions from the audience, two down here, below for the gents, and one up in the centre, in the balcony for the ladies. One question at a time will be put on the mike - the first question being asked by the lady on the top, then we move down to the brother on my right hand side, then we move up again to the next lady in the balcony - We move down on my left hand side, to the next brother here, and similar fashion we move up and down in the centre, on the top, and on the two sides, below.  Written questions on slip papers, which are available from volunteers standing in the aisles, will be given a 2nd preference, after the questions on the mikes have been answered by Dr. Zakir. Questions asked, should be on the topic 'Women's Right in Islam - Modernising or Outdated?', only. Kindly state you question briefly and to the point, preferably in one to three sentences - This is a question and answer session, not a lecture or a debate session. Only one question at a time may be asked - If time permits us we may allow you a second chance after the others have completed their chance. In the interest of having a less time wasting, a more educative and an interesting Question and Answer session, our decision to allow or disallow irrelevant questions, or time wasting questions, will be final. In the interest of eliciting a proper and clear answer from our speaker, kindly state your name and designation, before putting forward your question - Your name and designation, before you put forward your question, so that we can give you a more appropriate answer - Thank you. We start our Question and Answer session - Dr. Zakir Naik ready at his mike, the questioners ready at theirs - May we have the first question, from the ladies in the balcony.

(Q) Salam Alaikum, my name is Saba, and I am a student - I would ask, I would like to ask you a question, Zakir Bhai. A man will have'Hoors', that is beautiful maidens when he enters Paradise - What will a woman get when she enters Paradise?

(Dr. Zakir) The sister has posed a question, that when a man entersParadise, he will get 'Hoor'… that is a beautiful maiden - What will the woman get, when she enters Paradise? The Qur'an has mentioned the word 'Hoor', in no less than 4 diffrent places.           It is mentioned in Surah Dukhan, Ch. No. 44, Verse No. 54, it is mentioned Surah Tur, in Ch. No.  52, Verse No. 20, it is mentioned in Surah Rehman, Ch. No. 55, Verse No. 72, as well as in Surah Waqia, Ch. No.56, Verse No. 22, and many of the translations, specially the Urdu translations have translated the word 'Hoor', as beautiful maiden. If the word 'Hoor', means a beautiful maiden… it means a beautiful maiden, then what will the woman get, in Paradise? Actually the word 'Hoor', is a plural for 'Ahwar', which is applicable to the man, and 'Hawar', which is applicable to the women. And it signifies the characteristic of'Hawar', which means 'big, white beautiful eye', and describes especially, the whiteness of the eye. The similar thing is mentioned as 'Azwajur Muthaharin' in many places in the Qur'an, in Surah Baqrah, Ch. No. 2, Verse No. 25, and in Surah Nisa, Ch. No. 4, Verse No. 57 - It says... 'Azwajur Muthaharin', which means companion, pair. So the word 'Hoor', is rightly translated by Mohammed Asad as…'Spouse' and also by Abdullah Yusuf Ali… Abdullah Yusuf Ali as…'Companion' - So 'Hoor' actually means a 'Companion' or a 'Spouse' - It has no gender. For the man, he will get a good lady with big beautiful eyes - and for a woman, she will get a good man with big beautiful eyes. I hope that answers the question.

(Dr. Mohammed) The brother on my right hand side, please.

(Q) As-Salam-Alaikum - Sultan Kazi, I am in service - I would like to pose a certain question to Dr Zakir Naik. For evidence… given to prove evidence, why are there two female witness, against one male witness?

( Dr. Zakir)   The brother asked a very important question, that why are 2 women witness, equal to one witness, in Islam. 2 women witnesses are not equal to one man witness - 2 women witness are not equal to one man witness, in all the cases - only in certain cases. There are at least 5 Verses in the Qur'an, which speak about the witnesses, without specifying male or female - In one place there is an indication, in which two women witnesses is equal to one witness of man, and that is in Surah Baqarah, Ch. No. 2, Verse No. 282, which happens to be the longest Verse of the Qur'an. It says that... 'When you involve in financial transaction, in which future obligations are there, reduce them in writing, and take 2 witnesses among the men'. If can not… sorry… if you can not find 2 men witnesses, take one man, and 2 women, so that if one of them gets confused, the other will remind her - This Verse of the Qur'an, Surah Baqrah, Ch. No. 2, Verse No. 282, only deals with finan­cial aspects. Only in financial aspects, it is said that take 2 men as witnesses, preferable - only if you can not find 2 men as witnesses, take one man, and 2 women. Let me give you an example, for a better understanding - Suppose a person wants to undergo a surgery, he wants to go under an operation… but natural he would prefer taking the advice of 2 qualified surgeons. If he cannot find 2 qualified surgeons, he would take the advice of one qualified surgeon, at least backed with 2 normal general practitioners, who have got a normal M.B.B.S. degree, because a surgeon is more qualified in the filed of surgery, as compared to a plain M.B.B.S. doctor. In the same fashion, since the responsibility of the financial aspects, has been laid on the shoulders of the man, in Islam… he is more well Versed in finance, as com­pared to the women - That is why the best option for witnesses in financial transactions, is 2 men. If you can not find 2 men, then one woman… sorry, one man and 2 women.           Again, if you read in Surah Maidah, Ch. No. 5, Verse No. 106, it says that... 'Anyone writes a will of inheritance, take two men as witnesses' - Again dealing with financial transactions, men are pre­ferred. Some of the Jurists say that… 'Even while giving witnesses in cases of murder, the feminine nature may obstruct her, and she may get scared in cases of murder - That is why even in cases of murders, 2 women witness are equal to one witness of man. Only under these 2 conditions… of finance and cases of murder, are two women witness, equal to one. Some of the scholars say, "No, Islam says, one place in Surah Baqrah, Ch. No. 2, Verse No. 282, that…'Two women equal to one man' - Therefore under all circum­stances 2 women is always equal to one man". Let us analyse… as I said let us analyse the Qur'an as a whole. If you read the Qur'an, in Surah Nur, Ch. No. 24, Verse No. 6, it states that… 'If any of you put a charge against your spouse, and if they have no evidence, if they have no evidence, their solitary evidence is sufficient'. Means, if a husband wants to put a charge against the wife, the wife has to put a charge against the husband - if they have got no witnesses, their solitary evidence is sufficient. This Verse clearly indi­cates that one woman witness, is equal to one witness of man. There are several cases, which the Jurists agree that even in cases of sighting of moon, one woman witness is sufficient. Some Jurists say that… 'In the beginning of Ramzan, one witness is required - At the end of Ramzan, two witnesses are required - It does not make a difference, whether they are man or woman. There are certain cases in which man's witness cannot be accepted… only woman's witness is accepted. All are waiting for the answer, I be­lieve. Suppose you want to give a witness for the burial bath of a woman - After a woman dies, the witness for a burial bath, can only be given by a woman. And only in extreme cases, when you cannot find women, then can the husband give, the witness - so here the woman witness is preferable - Hope that clarifies your doubt, brother.

(Dr. Mohammed)  One… those who are interested in writing questions on the slip, you may kindly raise your hands, so that we have assistants standing around.

(Q). They could come and help you out with a slip of paper, or a pen, or whatever is required, so that… and it can be passed on down the stage side, to me - So we can carry on as a secondary preference, later on. May we have the next question, from the sister on the top, please.

(Q). As-salaam Alaikum, my name is Shaila - I would like… I would like to ask, why is Polygamy permitted in Islam - and that is why, a man is allowed to marry more than one wife?

(Dr.Zakir) Sister has asked the question, that why is Polygamypermitted in Islam, that is why… is a man is allowed to marry more than one wife, in Islam. The Polygamy actually means that… 'A person who has more than one Spouse'. It is divided into two categories – 'Polygeny'… in which, a man has more than one wife, and 'Polyendry'… in which, a woman has got more than one husband. People normally, think Polygamy means… 'A man can only… man can marry more than one wife' - Polygamy means both… 'A person having more than one spouse'. If a man has more than one wife, it's called 'Polygeny'… and if a woman has more than one husband, it is called 'Polyendry'. But since the sister has mainly asked the question… 'Why is a man allowed to marry more than one wife?' I will answer, why is Polygenyal­lowed in Islam. Qur'an happens to be the only Religious book on the face of the earth, which says… 'Marry only one'. There is no Religious book on the face of the earth, which says… 'Marry only one'.
You read the Geeta, you read the Veda, you read the Ramayana, you read the Mahabharta, you read the Bible - No where it is mentioned… 'Marry only one' - Its only mentioned in the Qur'an. In fact if you read the Hindu Scriptures, most of the kings… most of the kings had several wives - King Dashrat had more than one wife, Lord Krishna had several wives. If you read the Jewish Scriptures, the Jewish law allowed 'Polygeny' in the 11th century. It was only when Rabi Gurdshom Benjahuda, he passed a Signord and said… 'Polygenyshould not be allowed'. Still, it was practiced by the Septranic Jewish community, in the Muslim countries… until in 1950,  the chief Rabainite of  Israel, put a ban on it. The Christian Bible allowsPolygeny - only a couple of centuries ago, the Church put a ban on it. Even if you analyse the legal aspect of India, the Indian law allowed a Hindu man to have more than one wife. It was only in 1954, when the Hindu Marriage Act was passed, and if I am wrong Justice Kazi can correct me - When the Hindu marriage Act was passed in 1954, which put a ban, and prohibited the Hindu man to marry more than one wife. If you see the statistics, according to a committee report on 'The status of women in Islam', which was published in 1975, on page No. 66 and 67, it states the percentage of Polygamous marriages. And it said that… 'The percentage in which the Hindus did Polygenousmarriages, it was 5.06, and the percentage of Muslim Polygenousmarriages, was only 4.31'. Let us leave the statistics, aside… let us come to the main point - why did Islam allow Polygeny? As I mentioned earlier, Qur'an is the only Religious book on the face of the earth which says... 'Marry only one'. It is mentioned in Surah Nisa, Ch. No. 4, Verse No. 3, that... 'You can marry women of your choice, in twos, threes or fours, but if you can not do justice, marry only one'. This statement… 'Marry only one', is only given in the Qur'an - it is not there in any other Religious books. In pre-Islamic Arabia, men had several wives… Some people had hundreds of wives. Islam put an upper limit to Polygamy - Maximum four. And if you can have more than one wife, only on the condition, that you can do equal justice between the two, or bet­ween the three, or four - otherwise only one. And the same Surah… Surah Nisa, Ch. No. 4, Verse No. 129, says that..., 'It is very difficult for a man to be just, between his wives'. 

So Polygamy is an exception… it is not the rule - Many people think that Islam says..., you should compulsory marry more than one wife. There are five categories of do's and don'ts, in Islam. 1st category is compulsory, which is 'Farz', the 2nd category is 'Recommended' or 'Encouraged', the 3rd category is the 'Permissible' category, the 4th category is the 'Discouraged' category, and the last is prohibited or 'Forbidden' – Polygeny, falls in the middle category of,'Permissible'. There is no statement in any Hadith, or in the Qur'anwhich says that... 'If a man marries more than one wife, he is a better Muslim than a person who marries only one wife'. Let us analyse logically, why does Islam allow a man, to marry more than one wife? By nature, men and women are born…  male and females are born, in equal proportion. But medical science tells us that… 'The fetus…  if it's a female, it is more stronger than the male fetus.' Pediatric knowledge tells us, that... a female child has got more resistance, than the male child - A female child can fight germs and disease, much more stronger and a better way, than the male child. *** Medical science tells us, that the female is health wise a stronger sex, than the male - so in the Pediatric stage itself, the female ratio is higher than the male ratio. Wars take place in the world, and during wars, more males are killed than the female. Even the recent war which took place… in the recent war which took place in Afghanistan, approximately more than one and a half million people were martyred, out of which most of them were men. Statistics tells us that accidents take place - More of the men die in accidents, than female - More male death takes place due to cigarette smoking, than female death.

Therefore, we have more females in the world, as compared to the male. India is one of the country, besides the few of the Asian countries, and Africa, in which the female population is more than the male population. And the reason I have given you … because more than one million fetuses are… female fetuses are being aborted, every year. And because of the high rate of infanticide… female infanticide - that is the reason, that females are less than the male. Otherwise, you stop this evil practice, and within a few decade, you'll have that the male population is… will become much less than the female population. In New York alone, there are 1 million females more than male - In US, alone there are 7.8 million females more than males, and out of the male population of New York, 1/3 are Gay. They are Sodomites - That means, they can not find female partners - And there are more than 25 million Gays in America. In Britain alone, there are more than 4 million females, more than males - In Germany alone there are 5 million females more, than males - In Russia alone, there are 7 million females, more than males - And God knows, how many million females are there more than the males, in this whole world.

If suppose my sister happens to live in America, and suppose the market is saturated, every man has found a female partner for himself - Still there will be more than 30 million females in USA alone, who will not be able to find husbands. And suppose my sister who is living in America, happens to be amongst the unfortunate ladies, who has not found a partner yet - The only option remaining for her is, that she either marries a husband… she marries a man who already has a wife, or she becomes public prop­erty - There is no third option. And believe me I have posed this question to hundreds of Non-Muslims, and every one opted for the first - No one so far, has opted for the second. But there are some people who are smart, and he said that... 'I would prefer my sister remaining a virgin'. Believe me, medical science tells us, that a man or woman cannot remain a virgin, throughout her life. She cannot remain a virgin, throughout her life, without indulging in illicit sex or sexual perversion, because daily, sex hormones are being liberated in the body. And those great men, who claim to have renounced the world, for example the Sages and theSants, who go to mountains and Himalayas… behind them, you find the devadasis going - for what? According to a report… according to a report… 'Out of the Priests and the Nuns of the Church of England, the majority indulge in fornication and homosexuality' - there is no option… there no third option.

The only option is, that you marry a husband who already has a wife, or you become a public property.

(Dr. Mohammed) In continuation… in continuation of that question, we have got a question on the slip.

(Q)     Can you enumerate the various conditions in which, 'Polygamy' is permitted? -
This is from sister Samina Can you enumerate the various conditions in which, 'Polygamy' is permitted?      

(Dr. Zakir) The sister has asked… the sister has asked the question that - can you enumerate the vari­ous conditions, in which Polygeny is permitted. The only condition which allows a man to marry more than one wife is that, he should do justice between the two wives. If he can do justice between the two or three or four wives that he has, he is allowed to take more than one wife - If he can not do justice he should suffice with only one wife. But there are several conditions, in which it is more advis­able for a man to take more than one wife. One of the examples I gave is - because of the surplus women which can not find husbands, Islam has allowed Polygeny… to protect the modesty of the women. There are several other conditions - For example, suppose a young lady, she gets married, and within may be… or approximately a few months of her marriage, she has an accident, and she gets handicapped and she cannot satisfy the husband. The only option for the husband is, that he either keeps his first wife, who is handicapped and takes another wife, or divorces the first wife, and marries a new wife. I am telling you, suppose your sister happens to be that unfortunate lady, who gets handicapped - which would you prefer? Would you prefer your brother-in-law to divorce her, and to marry a new wife, or would you prefer your brother-in-law to keep that first wife, and to take another wife? There are situa­tions in which the wife can become seriously ill - She can have a disease in which she will not be able to look after the children, or look after the husband. Under such conditions, it is more advis­able that, that wife shares the husband with another lady, who will not only look after the husband… will also look after her, as well as the children. Many people may argue that... 'Why can not you keep a maid servant or a nurse, who will look after the children?' I do agree with you - You can very well keep a maidservant, who will look after your children and your wife - But who will look after you then? Very soon, that maidservant will start looking after you also. So the best option is, that you keep your first wife, and take another wife, and treat both of them equally. There can be conditions such as… after several years of marriage, you have got no children, and may be both the husband and wife, they yearn for the child. The wife can very well give permission to the husband, to marry another wife, and they can have more children. Some people may argue that... 'Why do not you adopt a child?' Islam does not allow adoption, for which there are several reasons, I will not go into. The only option remaining here is, that he either divorces the first wife, and takes another wife, if he wants children - or he keeps the first, and takes another wife, and treats them both of them equally - I hope these are sufficient reasons.

(Dr. Mohammed)  Next question from the brother on the left.

(Q). My name is Iliyas, and I am a student - The question is… the question… the is the question is - Can a woman become the head of the State?

(Dr. Mohammed) A bit louder please.

(Q) Can a woman become the head of the State?

(Dr. Zakir) The brother has asked the question - can a woman become the head of a State? There is no text in the Qur'an, which I know, which states that... a woman cannot become a head of the State. But there are several 'Hadiths' - for example, one Hadith says that... 'The people who have their leader as a woman, will not succeed'. Some of the scholars say that… 'This only refers to particular time, in which this Hadith was related, especially at the time when Persia had their leader as a queen'. The other scholars say... 'No if refers to all the times'. Let us analyse, whether it is advisable for a woman, to be a head of a State, or not. If a woman is head of a State, in an Islamic Country, she may have to lead the congregational prayers. And if a woman leads the congregational prayers… in Islam we adopt several postures, like Kayam, Rukhu, Sujud - standing, bowing and prostra­tion - If a lady is doing that in front of a gents congregation, I am sure it will cause disturbances in the prayers. If she happens to be head of a State, of a modern society like the one we have today -
Many a time, the head of a State has to have meetings, with other heads of State… which are usually gents. Many a times, they have closed door meetings, in which no one else is allowed, and if a woman has a closed door meeting with another gent… Islam does not permit her to do that. Islam does not permit a woman to be alone with a 'Na-Mehram', with 'a foreign male'… in closed doors - Islam does not permit intermingling of sexes. The head of the State, many a times receives over publicity by video shoot­ing, and by photography, and many a times, it involves in close proximity with the other heads of State, and with other gentlemen - There­fore, you can keep photographs of the head of States. If it is the lady… may it be Margret Thacher, or any one else, you find her photographs… shaking her hands with many men - Islam does not allow such free, intermingling of sexes. The heads of the State requires, that it should meet the common man. A lady, if she is head of the State, it will be difficult for her to meet the common man, and try and solve her problems. And science tells us that… 'A woman during her menstrual period, she undergoes certain behavioral, mental and psychological changes, due to the release of the sex hormonestogene'. And these changes, will surely disturb her in making decisions, if she is the head of the State. Science also tells us that the women have more verbal and… verbal, and vocal skills as compared to the man. And a man has got more… 'Spacialability'. 'Spacialability' means, 'The Ability to imagine things, to imagine the future, to imagine the future project'. And'Spacialability', is very important for the head of the State. A woman has be given an edge over the men, in verbal and vocal skills, which are required for her motherhood. A woman… she may get pregnant, and surely she may require a rest, for a few months. Who will look after the State, for those few months - She may have children … Her duty as a mother, is very important. And it is more practicable, for a man who can do both the duties … of a father, as well as head of a State, as compared to a woman … if she has to do the duty of a mother, as well as of head of the States. So I am more inclined to those scholars, who say that… 'Women should not be made the head of State'. But that does not mean, that women cannot take part in making decisions. As I mentioned in my speech, they have a right to vote, they have a right to take part in law making. During the treaty of Hudaibia, Ume-Salma (May Allah be pleased with her), she supported and guided the Prophet, at a time when the whole Muslim community was disturbed - She guided him, and she supported him. As you know, that though the Prime Minister or the President may be the head of the State - but many a times, the PA and the secretary… they are the ones who make the decisions. So surely, a woman can help the man, in making decisions of the States. I hope that answers the question.

(Dr. Mohammed) The next question.

(Q).    I am Vimla Dalal, Advocate - I would like to ask… that Islam preaches women's rights, are equal to men. Why women should be in'Pardah', and why there should be a segregation of men and women, in this sort of meeting also?

(Dr. Zakir) Sister has asked a very good question, that when Islam believes in 'Women's Rights', that men and women should be equal… then why does Islam believe in 'Pardah'- and why should there be segregation of sexes, like the one we are having just now? As I mentioned earlier, Islam does not believe in intermingling of the sexes.           Why Islam specifies 'Pardah'?… I will answer in a short time. And I would like to thank the sister, because I did not have time to speak on the 'Hijab' of the women. If you read the Qur'an - before the mentioning of the 'Hijab' for the women, the Qur'an mentioned the'Hijab', for the man. It is mentioned in Surah Nur, Ch. No. 24, Verse No. 30, it says to the believing man, that… 'He should lower his gaze and guard his modesty'. The next Verse… Surah Nur, Ch. 24, Verse No. 31, says... 'Say to the believing woman, that she should lower her gaze and guard her modesty and display not her beauty, except what is that necessary of, and to draw a head covering over her bosom, except in front of her father, her son, her husband', and a big list of 'Na-Mahram', the close relatives which she can marry is given, and but natural, in front of the chaste women - Besides these, she should maintain the Hijab. The criteria forHijab in Islam, can be found in the Qur'an, and the Sahih Hadith. There are six criteria - 1st is extent, which is the only difference between a man and a woman. For the man, he has to be covered from the naval to the knee. For the woman, her complete body should be covered - the only part that can be seen, should not be seen, is the face and the hands up to the wrist.

 If she wishes to cover them, she is most welcome, but it is not compulsory that she should cover it - Otherwise the full body should be covered. The only part that can been seen… not should not be seen, is the wrist, face and the hands, up to the wrist. This is the only criteria which differs, between the man and the woman. The second criteria is that, the clothes she wears, should not be so tight, that it reveals the figure. The clothes she wears… third point - it should not be so transparent, so that you can see through. And the fourth point - she should not wear glamorous clothes, or he should not wear glamorous clothes, which attracts the opposite sex. The fifth point is that a person should not wear cloth, which resembles that of the opposite sex - like you find men wearing earnings. If you wear one earring, it signifies something else - if you wear two earrings, it signifies something else. It is prohibited in Islam. And the last criteria is, you should not wear clothes which… that resemble of an unbeliever.

These are the six basic criteria of Hijab, in Islam. Now coming to the question - why then Islam believe in 'Pardah', and why are there segregation of sexes?  If let us analyse the society in which there is 'Pardah ', and society in which there is, 'No Pardah '. The maximum number of crime that takes place in any country… it is in America. According to a report by the FBI in 1990, in the year 1990… 'One thousand, two hundred & fifty five women were raped'. These are only the reported cases - And the report says… 'Only 16% of the cases were reported'. If you want those exact figure, multiply 1,02,555 with 6.25, and you get the answer - more than 6,40,000 ladies were raped in America only in 1990. And if you divide this… by the number of days, divide by 365, you get a figure of One thousand, seven hundred and fifty six women are raped every day, in America, in the year 1990. And the report says... 'Every day… One thousand, nine hundred ladies are raped' - May be it is the report of 1991… the Americans got more bold.

 And the last report which came in Autumn, in 1993, it says... 'Every 1.3 minute, one woman is raped' - you know why? America has given the women, more rights, and more women are being raped.         Only 10 were arrested, 16% are reported - Only 10% are arrested - means only 1.6% of the cases, are arrested. Out of that, 50% are let free before the trial – Means, only 0.8% of the rape cases, are held. Means, if a man rapes One hundred & twenty five ladies, the chances of his being caught, is one. Who would not like to try - One hundred & twenty five ladies you rape, and you get caught only once. Out of that, 50% time you get a punishment of less than 1 year… though the USA law tells you that… 'For rape, you have got a punishment of life imprisonment'. But they say… 'It is happened only the first time… he is caught the first time - Let him give him a chance, and a punishment of less than 1year'. Even in India, according to the National Crime Bureau report, which was… which had come in the papers, in the 1 of December 1992, it said that… 'Every 54 minutes, one case of rape is reported in India… reported ha. Every 26 minutes, one case of molestation - every 1 hour 43 minutes, one case of dowry death. If you analyse the total number of cases of rape that are taking in our country, it will be… every couple of minutes, one case of rape. I am asking a simple question - if you ask every lady to do Hijab, will the rape case in USA remain the same, will it decrease, or will it increase?. If you apply the Hijab for every lady in India, will the rate of rape decrease, will it remain the same, or will it increase? You should understand Islam, as a whole. Even suppose, after that even, after a lady does Hijab, irrespective a lady does Hijab, or not, a man is commanded… 'He should lower his gaze' - and if suppose after that, if a man commits rape… in Islam, he receives capital punishment - you call it a barbaric law? I have asked this question to several people – Suppose… I have asked this question to many of the gents. Suppose your sister is raped, and if you are made the judge - leave aside what Islam tells you, leave aside what Indian law tells you, leave aside what American law tells you - If you are made the judge, what punishment will you give to the rapist of your sister? And all have said… 'Death sentence' - Few went to the extreme of saying… 'I will torture him to death'. Want to ask you a question… 'If you apply the Islamic Shariah law in America, will the rape case decrease, will it remain the same, or will it in­crease? If you apply the Shariah law in India, will the rape case decrease, will it remain the same, or will it increase? So but natural, let us analyse practically. You say you have given women rights theoretically… but practically, you are degrading her to a status of a concubine and a mistress.

I would like to… I mean only speak­ing on 'Pardah '… you can talk for days - Just I would like to… and my answer, by giving a small example. Suppose two ladies… two twin sisters were equally beautiful - if they are walking down the street, and if round the corner there is a hooligan, who is waiting for a catch… who is waiting to tease a girl. Both twin sisters are walking, both are equally beautiful - one is in the Hijab… Islamic Hijab - one is wearing a mini or a skirt. Which girl will that hooligan tease? … Which girl will he tease? But natural, the one in the short or the mini girl. If a girl is wearing a normal salwar kameez, with her head open… may be the salwar kameez tight, and the other girl is wearing a IslamicHijab - Which girl will he tease? But natural, the girl who is not inHijab. It is practical proof, that Hijab is been ordained in Islam… not to degrade the woman, but to protect her modesty.

(Clapping)…

(Dr. Mohammed) There is an announcement for Aruna Bhurte… your hus­band is calling you at the entrance - Miss… Mrs. Aruna Bhurte, could you please contact your husband, outside the auditorium - Please, the next question.

(Q). As-salaam Alaikum - My name is Bilal Lala, and I am a revert - By profession, I happen to be a lecturer in computers. There is one question which has baffled me over the years, and that question is - Why does Islam permit a Muslim man, to marry woman of his choice, from Ahle Kitab… may be Jews or Christians, and the vice-versa is not permitted. Are the Muslim ladies, not Mushriks - Can you clarify?

(Dr. Zakir) Brother Bilal has asked the question, that Qur'an permits a Muslim man to marry a lady from the Ahle Kitab, but the vice-versa is not true - and he is correct. It is mentioned in Surah Mahida, Ch. No. 5, Verse No. 5, that... 'On this day, it has been made lawful for you, all that is good and pure'. 'The food of the people of the Book, has been made lawful for you - and your food has been made lawful for them'. And also besides… the women who are believers, even the women of the Ahlekitab, who are chaste, have been made lawful for you. Islam gives permission for a Muslim man, to marry a woman from the Ahle Kitab - why? Because, when a Christian or a Jewish lady, when she marries a Muslim man - after she marries… the family of the husband, will not abuse or insult any of her Proph­ets - because in Islam, we believe in all the Prophets of the Jews and the Christians - what Prophets they believe in, we believe in. We both believe in Adam, in Noah, in David, in Moosa, in Isaa (May peace be upon them all). Because we believe in all of their Prophets… the lady, when she enters a Muslim family, she will not be ridiculed. But the vice-versa - if a Muslim lady goes to a family of a Christian or a Jew… but natural, they do not believe in Prophet Muhammed (May peace be upon him), and she will be ridiculed. That is why, Islam gives permission for a Muslim man, to marry a girl from the Ahle Kitab, but the vice-versa is not true. Coming to the second part of the question that - are not these Muslim women,
Mushriks?' Brother is referring to an Ayat of the Qur'an Shareef, of Surah Baqrah, Ch. No.2, Verse No. 221, which say that... 'Do not marry unbelieving women until they believe - even a slave woman who is a believer, is better than a unbelieving woman, even if she allures you'. 

Means, even if the Queen of England… let her be the wealthiest lady, let the lady be the most beautiful in the world, still… a Zhaduwali, a slave woman, who is a believer, is much better than the best lady of the world… if she is an unbeliever. And the Verse continues… 'Do not marry your daughters to the unbelieving man, until he believes, for a slave man who is a believer, is better than an unbeliever, even if he allures you'. Another Verse in the Qur'an tells you from Surah Maidah… (Arabic)… Ch. No. 5, Verse No. 72, it says that... 'They are blaspheming, they are doing Kufr, those who say Jesus is, Christ the son of Mary, those who say Allah is Christ the son of Mary'. (Arabic)... But said Christ… (Arabic)… O children of Israel… (Arabic)… Worship Allah. (Arabic)… Who is my Lord, and your Lord… (Arabic.)… And any one who associates partners with Allah… (Arabic)… Allah will make Jannat, haram for him (Arabic)… And for him, he shall have no helpers, and fire shall be his dwelling place. From this Verse, we come to know, that all those who say… 'Allah is Christ', those who are saying… 'Jesus Christ (peace be upon him), is God'…they are doing 'Kufar'. And one Verse of the Qur'an,says... 'You are allowed to marry these Kafirs.' You will think, theQur'an is contradicting itself - but as I told you, analyse the Qur'an,as a whole. There is one more Verse in the Qur'an, in Surah Imran, Ch. No. 3, Verse No. 110, which says... (Arabic)… 'O ye are the best of the people evolved for mankind' (Arabic)… 'Evolved for mankind, and enjoining what is good, and forbidding what is bad'. (Arabic)… And believing in Allah… (Arabic)… It would have been better if the people of the book had faith… (Arabic)… Among them there are some who are 'Momin'. Among the Ahle Kitab there some who are believers but the majority are perverted transgressors. So Qur'an says... 'You are allowed to marry the women from the Ahle Kitab, who are believers, who are Momins - who do not believe that… Jesus Christ (May peace be upon him), is God, or son of God - but who believe, that Jesus (May peace be upon him), is a messenger of God, and they be­lieve in only one God. Hope that answers the question.

(Dr. Mohammed). The next question, please.

(Q).    As-salam-Alaikum… main Akila Faterpekar Hoon. Government of Maharashtra mein under secretary Hoon. Mera question, hai ki a a Islam mein, Aurat Ko… Chahe wo Shadi Shuda ho, ya gair Shadi Shuda, Usko will karne Ka permission nahin hai. Ye Kyun hai? - Agar hai, to iske details deJiye.

(Dr. Zakir) Sister has posed a question that why in Islam that the women is married or unmarried, she is not allowed to make a will - it is completely wrong. It is, as I mentioned in my lecture, Islam gave economical rights to women, 1,300 years before the West - and I said very clearly in my talk, that… 'Any adult woman who is matured'. But natural, if she is a… if she is not an adult, she cannot practice… because she cannot there practice her rights, arrives because she will not be matured. Any adult woman, irrespective whether she is married or unmarried… has the right to own or dispose any of her property, without consultation - if she wants, she take consultation. If she wants, she need not - She has the right to even make a will - Islam does not prohibit her that. I hope that answers the question.

(Dr. Mohammed)  Excuse me, Sir… we will allow questions only from the mike, and in turn please - We have to keep the decorum, by the people who have stood for sometime - The next question please.      

(Q).    My name is Roshan Rangwala - a businessman. Question is, Dr. Naik, as you said that… 'Islam gives equal right, to both ladies and gents' - then why man is allowed to keep 4 wives, and ladies are kept away from this privilege. As men can think of another woman… at the same time after marrying one wife, man can think for another woman - why ladies cannot think for another?

(Dr. Zakir)    The brother has asked the question, that since Islam allows 'Polygeny', then why does… why does not Islam allow'Polyandry' - A man is al­lowed to marry more than one wife… why is not a woman allowed to marry more than one husband? Firstly you should realise, that man is more sexual than the woman. Point number 2… Biologically, a man can perform his duty as a husband, even after he has more than one wife… which a woman, if she has more than one husband, she will not be able to perform her duty, as a wife, enough and satisfactorily. Medical Science tells us that… 'The lady… during her menstrual period, undergoes certain behavioral and psychological changes… in which she is mentally disturbed and therefore… the majority of the quar­rels, the majority of the quarrels that takes place… during the menstrual period. Accord­ing to a report of the criminal record of the women in USA, most of the ladies that committed the crime, was during the menstrual period. Therefore for a wife, if she has more than one husband, to mentally adjust will be more difficult. Medical science also tells us… 'If a lady has more than one husband, she has chances of acquiring sexually transmitted diseases, as well as venereal diseases - and she can transmit it back to the husband… which is not the case if a husband, has more than one wife. And suppose, a man who has more than one wife, if he marries and if he has children, the identification of both the parents is possible - The father can be identified, and as well as the mother can be identified. In the other case, if a wife has more than one husband, you will only identify the mother, not the father. Islam gives utmost importance, to identification of the parents. And Psychologists tell us that… 'If a child cannot identify his parents, he undergoes mental trauma'. No wonder the children of prostitutes, they have a very bad childhood. And if the child goes for admission in the school, and if he is asked… 'What is the name of the father?'…  You will have to give 2 names - and you know what the child is called. There are several reasons why Polyandry is not allowed. And for counter argument, if you tell me, that I will give you several rea­sons why Polygeny is allowed. For example, if a person does… if a couple does not have an issue, and if they marry - a man is allowed to take more than one wife. If suppose, the husband is sterile, can not the wife take more than one husband? No - because no doctor can give you the guarantee, that the husband is 100%
sterile. Even if you do 'Vasectomy', even if you do 'Nasbandi'…  no doctor can tell you, that the child cannot be a father - so still again the identity, the identification of that child, is yet in doubt. In the other case, suppose the husband, he undergoes an accident or he becomes very severely ill - can not the wife take another husband? Let us analyse… suppose the husband, if he undergoes an accident, or if he is severely ill… he cannot perform his duties very well. Firstly, of the financial aspects - he will not be able to look after the family, the children and the wife - and secondly, he may not be able to satisfy the wife. Regarding this first criteria where he cannot satisfy the children and the wife, Islam has an option. Islam allows such people to take Zakat - those people who cannot make both the ends meet, they can take Zakat. And the 2nd aspect… Medical Science tells us that… 'A wife requires less conditions to be satisfied, as compared to a husband'. But still… if the wife still wants to… still if she is not satisfied, she has all the reasons to take 'Kulah' from the husband, and marry another husband. Here a wife taking 'Kulah', is much more preferred - because here, when the wife is getting divorced, she is healthy. In the other case, if she is disabled… if she is handicapped - if she is divorced, who will marry her?  Hope that answers the question.

(Q) I am Sardari Hakim, I would like to ask the question. The first thing is, here you have a subject - 'Women's Rights in Islam'. There, I think more women should have asked more questions - and it could have been, better… 'Rights and duties of men'… that subject would have been better - But the question is, you said in your speech, it was really lucid and nice - that a girl can say… 'No', if she does not want to marry a particular person. But while saying… speaking in your lecture, you have said that… 'A woman cannot be economically independent - in the sense, she cannot earn'. And can these people - when a girl says... 'No' - look after the child, say nicely? She is always going to be under the mercy of the male folk, under this circumstances - I would like to know what is the answer?

(Dr. Mohammed)  Excuse me, can you put your question in just two or three lines… what answer you want. We would request all the questioners, to present your questions, the basic background. of problems in society. I believe Dr. Zakir would be having an idea about it… you kindly state your question - what is the question?

(Q).    My question is that, when you said that a girl can say… 'No', if she does not want to marry a particular person - but the male folk are feeding her, looking after her … she is dependent out on them - Can She exist safely after saying 'No'?

(Dr. Zakir)    Sister has asked the question, that I said in my lecture, that a woman has a right to say… 'No', for marriage - but will she be able to safely exist, after saying 'No'?  You did not pay attention to my full lecture, sister. In my lecture, I said… 'It is the duty of the man in the family - before marriage it is the duty of the father and the brother, to look after her lodging, clothing, boarding and financial aspects'. And after marriage, it is the duty of the husband and the son, to look after her financial aspects. If she says... 'No', yet it continues to be the duty of the father and the brother, to look after her - She can very well can say… 'No'. I do not know what is the problem.

(Dr. Mohammed)  The next question, please. 

(Q).    I am Prakash Lote - first of all, I thank organisation for calling people of faiths - and so I am asking another question. For all the Religions, whether it is Hinduism, Christian, or Islam… in books there are many good things. But for years… after thousands of years, the practices of all the Religions, have been discriminatory towards women, and no Religion  is a exception to this. So the question is… what is writ­ten in the books, whether it is  Bible, Qur'an or Gita or whatever it is, whether that is more important, or the practice of the society which is more important? And if practice is more important, then we should give very little importance to what is being written in all such Holy Books, including Qur'an, Gita, whatever it is. So on this, I will expect answer, where in practice, what could be done…instead of saying what is being written in this book, or that book.

(Dr. Mohammed)  Thank you.

(Dr. Zakir) The brother has asked a very good question - He says that... all the Scriptures speak about good things, but let us see what people practice. We have to pay more importance to the practice, than to theoretical things - and I do agree with him. What we are doing here is… that I have said in my lecture, that many Muslim societies have deviated away from the Qur'an and the Sunnah. What we are doing here is, we are calling the people to come closer to theQur'an and Sunnah. Regarding the first part of the question, that all the Religious Scriptures… all Religious Scriptures speak good, so it is useless talking about Religious Scriptures - I do not agree with you. I have given a lecture on 'Status of Women in Islam and other Religions', and I have compared the status of women in Islam, as compared to Hinduism, to Buddhism, to Christianity, and to Judaism - and there I have compared, and you yourself can be the judge, if you have opportunity to hear that lecture - you can hear that lecture, you yourself can judge, which Religion gives the maximum rights. Even if you agree, theoretically Islam gives a maximum rights - Now we have to practically follow it. There are people who are following certain aspects… certain aspects, people are not following it. For example, Islamic Law - where it comes to Criminal punishment and Civil rights, Saudi… Saudi Government is doing very good, Alhamdullillah - Even they are deviating, away from the Qur'an, in certain aspects. What we have to do is, we have to take the practical example of the Saudi Government, as a Islamic law of Criminal pun­ishment, and if it is practicable, apply it throughout the world. And check another society, which is practicing the Islamic law in the social aspect, and if it is the best, you apply to the other world. What we have gathered here, brother… is to make you realise, this law is the best law - If we are not putting in practice, we are to blame… not the Religion. So that is why, we have called the people… so that they will understand Qur'anand the Hadith, in the right practice - They will understand Qur'an andHadith in the right way, and put it into practice. I hope that answers the question.

(Dr. Mohammed)  Next question from the top please.

(Q) As-Salam Alaikum, I am Saima Kadri - and my question is that, why there are no women Prophets in Islam.

(Dr. Mohammed) No women Prophets.

(Dr. Zakir) Sister has posed a question - why are there no 'Women Prophets' in Islam? If by 'Prophets' you mean, that a person who receives the message and who acts like a leader to the people, then I can say for sure, that in Islam we have got no 'Women Prophets'.And I think it is right, because if a woman has to be a Prophet - TheQur'an clearly states, that man is the leader of the family. So if the man is the leader in the family… how can he lead the… how can a woman lead over the people? Come to the second part - a Prophet has to even lead the congregational prayers. And as I said earlier, that there are certain postures like Qayam, Ruku, Sujud, standing, bowing and doing the Sujud… prostration - and which, if a Woman Prophet does, the congrega­tion behind, will get disturbed. There are situations like… the Prophet has to meet with the common man, very regularly. If it is a Woman Prophet… Islam does not allow intermingling of sexes. If the Prophet is a lady… she… and if she gets pregnant - but natural, she will not be able to do her duties for a few months. If she has children, it will be difficult for her, to do the duty of the mother as well as the Prophet. And a man is more capable of doing the duty of the Prophet, and the father… as compared to a woman, who does the duty of a mother, as well as the Prophet. But if you mean that a Proph­et is a person who is chosen, and who is pure and holy, then there are several examples - and the best example I can quote is, of Bibi Mariyam (may Allah be pleased with her). It is mentioned in Surah Maryam, Ch. No. 3, Verse No. 42… (Arabic)…'And behold the angels said to Mary'. (Arabic)… 'That Allah has chosen thee, and purified thee, and purified above the women of all nations'. If you mean 'a Prophet' is a person who is chosen and purified, then we have the example of Bibi Mariyam (May Allah be pleased with her), who was the mother of Jesus( May peace be upon her). We have other examples - If you read in Surah Tahrim, Ch. No. 66, Verse No. 11, it says that...  'As an example for the believers, is the wife of the Pharoah'…  Bibi Asiya (May Allah be pleased with her), she prayed to Allah (SWT)…'Make for me, in nearness to Thee, a Mansion in the Garden, and save me from the Pharaoh, and its evil things'. Imag­ine… she was the wife, of the most powerful person of that time…Pharaoh - and she rejects all the luxuries, and asks for Allah (SWT), in exchange…a Mansion in the Garden. According to Islam, there are 4 Prophet women, besides BibiMariyam and Bibi Asiya (may Allah be pleased with them) - The other the examples are of Bibi Fatema and Bibi Khatija, (May Allah be pleased with them both). Hope that answers the question.

(Dr. Mohammed) There are quite a few people asking ke, they would feel shy to come up to the mike, and we should start asking questions from the chits. InshaAllah, after the next three questions, it will be all right to start our 2nd due preference session too - the next question.

(Q).    My name is Sameer, I am a student – I would like to ask this question. You have put up an… there is an upper limit in Islam for women, for  man to marry four wives - But why did the Prophet Mohammed (Peace by upon him), have eleven wives - and there is an insinuation, that he was hyper sexual?

(Dr.Zakir) The brother has asked the question that, since Islam allows the maximum of four wives, how come Prophet Muhammed had eleven wives. I do agree with the brother, the Qur'an mentions in Surah Nisa, Chapter 4, Verse No. 3, that you can maximum have 4 wives. But there is another Verse in Surah Ahzab, Ch. 33, Verse 52, which says that... 'O Prophet you cannot marry more women, neither can you exchange any other women for the present one, even if their beauty attracts you, except what your right hand possesses. This Verse of the Qur'an, Surah Ahzab, Ch. 33, Verse No. 52, gives the permission to the Prophet, to keep all his wives, but at the same time, cannot marry any other women, except which your right hand possesses. If you analyse why Prophet Muhammed was not allowed to marry more wives - and besides that, he could not neither divorce them, because there is one more Verse in the Qur'an, which says that… 'As for the wives of the Prophet, whether they are divorced or whether they become widows, no person can marry them, because they are Um-ul Mominin… they are the Mothers of the believers'. So since no one could marry the wives of the Prophet, but natural …the Prophet could not divorce them also. And if you analyse, that all the eleven marriages which the Prophet did… all were either for social reform or for political reason - Were not to please his sex. The first marriage that he did, was with Bibi Khatija, (May Allah be pleased with her). She was at the age of 40,when he was only 25 - And she was a widow twice. Imagine, if he married for sex, why would he marry a woman who was fifteen years elder to him, and who was a widow twice. And if you analyse, till the time Bibi Khatija (May Allah be pleased with her)… till the time she was alive, Prophet Muhammed did not take any other wives. When he was the age of 50, Bibi Khatija (May Allah be pleased with her), she expired. Only between the age of 53 to 56, did Prophet take all the other wives.Imagine… if the Prophet was hyper sexu­al, he would have married at a young age.Science tells us… 'The older the man gets, the less sexual he gets'. It is an insinuation, on the Prophet. Only 2 of his marriages were normal - that with Bibi Khatija, and that with Bibi Ayesha, (May Allah be pleased with them both). All the other marriages were due to circumstances… either of a social reform, or a political gain. If you analyse all, only 2 wives were below the age of 36 - All the other wives were between the age of 36 and 50 - You can give instances… each marriage had some reason. For example Bibi Johariya, who was from the Banu-Mustalik tribe… which was very powerful tribe, and which was at logger heads with Islam - After a certain time, they were suppressed by the Islamic Army, and later on, the Prophet married her. And after he married her, the companions said…'How can we keep as captives, the relatives of the Prophet' - And they freed those people…and after that, both these tribes became friendly. There are examples, when he married Bibi Maimoona (May Allah be pleased with her), who was the sister of the wife of the chief of the tribe of Najad, which killed 70 Muslim, men of the Islamic deputation. After Mo­hammed (May peace be upon him)… when he married her, they accepted Medina as their leader­ship, and they accepted Prophet as their leader. All the… all the marriages which he did, had some political reason or social reform. He married Umme Habiba, who was the daughter of the Chief of Mecca, Abu-Sufiyan - but natural this marriage played a great importance in the conquest of Mecca. Other example like Bibi Safiya (May Al­lah be pleased with her), she was the daughter of a powerful Jewish leader - After this, the Jewish became very friendly to the Muslims. If you see, all the marriages had some social reforms - he married the daughter of Hazrat Ummer, Hafsa (May Allah be pleased with her), to get closer relationship between the companions. As a social reform, he married a lady who was divorced…the first cousin Zainab -  After she was divorced, he married her. All the marriages have some political reason or social reform - So all his marriages were based, to improve the community and to better rela­tionships - It was not for sex. Hope that answers the question.

(Dr. Mohammed) The next question, please.

(Q). I am Hasina Farawaze Miswa, and a Law student. I am asking you 2 questions, Mr. Zakir Naik – Okay, in what way is the practice ofPolygamy, determinate beneficial to women?

(Dr. Zakir)  Sister has asked the question, in what way is Polygamybeneficial to the women… correct?

(Q). Yes, and other question - Why do you think… Okay, why do you think women enter into polygamous marriag­es? 

(Dr.Zakir) First she asked that, why Polygamy is beneficial to a woman - Is why, if a man marries more than one husband … how is it benefiting the woman. It is helping her to keep herself modest… because if every man married one woman, there will be millions of women in the world, who will not find husbands - and the only option for them to be… the only option for them, is to become public property. So Polygamy is allowed in Islam… to protect the modesty of the female, to prevent them from becoming public properties. Hope that an­swers the question.

(Dr. Mohammed) Next question from the brother on the left.

(Q).    My name is Mohammed Ashraf - my question is - Is adoption allowed in Islam?

(Dr.Zakir) Brother has asked the question - Is adoption allowed in Islam. If by adoption, you mean that you take a young child… a poor child and give him lodging, boarding, clothing bringing into your house … Islam has always stressed in the Qu'ran that you should help the poor people, help the needy people - You can even get a child to your house, and give him your fatherly love. What Islam objects to is, you cannot legally adopt - you cannot give your name to the child - Legal adoption, is prohibited in Islam. Why? … because if a person adopts a child legally, there can be several complications. First, if that man… sorry… the child, whether it is a girl or boy, it will loose its identity. Point number 2… if suppose after you adopt a child, you may have your own children - No one can say, that you will never have children throughout your life. If you have your own children, you will be bias towards your own child, than the adopted child. Point number three… if the children born to you…  if they are of opposite sex of that of the adopted child, they cannot freely stay in the same house… because they are not blood sisters and brothers, to each other. If the adopted child, after he grows up -  If it is a girl…  after she grows up she will have to do Hijab  with the so called father, because he is not his original father. If the adopted child is a man… if it is a boy and he becomes elderly, he becomes a man, and then if he marries again - there has to be Hijab  between the daughter-in-law, and the so called father. And there are several other reasons… and besides that, if you the adopt a child, you will be depriving many of your relatives of theirrights. When after a person dies, whatever property he has, is divided according to whatever is mentioned in the Qur'an. If the person has children, and if he adopts a child, but natural he will be… he will be depriving a share of his own child. If the person… if he dies,  if he has a children… then the wife will get half the share as she should get , if she has no children, including the mother. If there are children, she gets one sixth… if there are no children, she gets one third. Again if you adopt a child, you are depriving the share of your mother. So to prevent these complications, legal adoption is prohibited in Islam.

(Dr. Mohammed)  Next question.

(Q).    Salam-Alaikum, I am Kamar Syed - Deputy Secretary, Home Depart­ment. In your elegant speech, you have mentioned that for a divorced woman… after the divorce, the husband looks after her during the period of 'iddat'… maintenance allowance is given to her - But after 'iddat', I presume that the parents are supposed to look after the girl - In case the parents do not have  the provisions to look after the girl, I would ask you… what is the girl suppose to do?

(Dr. Zakir) Sister has asked a very good question, that suppose a lady, she is  divorced - It is the duty of the husband, to provide support till the 'iddat' period, which lasts for may be 3 months, or till pregnancy. After that… as I mentioned in my lecture, it is the duty of the husband… sorry… the duty of the father or the brother, to look after her. If suppose, the father and the brother are unable to look after such ladies, it is the duty of the other close relatives, to look after her. If the other close relatives do not look after her, it is the duty of the Ummah, Muslim… Muslim Ummah… that we should set up organisations, and have Zakat funds, with which we can look after such ladies. Even if this does not work, it is the duty of the Islamic State, as the last resort, to look after such ladies. Hope that answers the question.

(Dr. Mohammed)  Now we would start with some questions from the slips, which have come. We will have one question from the slip, and one from the speaker, then again one from the slip, one from the speaker, one from the slip, one from the speaker, and so on.

(Q). Assalamo Alaikum,  I am Sayed Riaz speaking - I am in business. As you said and as I know, that in Islam, men and women are equal - So why is it that a woman in Islam, is not entitled to equal property Rights? - thank you.

(Dr. Zakir) Brother has posed a question, that I said that in my lecture, that economical rights of women and men, are equal. So how come she is not entitled to her equal rights, when it comes to inheritance - and normally people say that the woman gets 1/2 the share, as compared to that of the male. The answer to this question, is given in the Qur'an, in Surah Nisa, Ch. No. 4, Verse No. 11 and 12, which gives the guidelines, how the inheritance should be divided. It says... 'Allah has ordained for your as regarding your children… as regarding your children's inheritance - for a female, a share half that of the male, and if only daughters 2 or more, they share in a two third - if only one, they get half'.  The Verse continues…'And one sixth share for the parents, if the deceased have children. If you have no children… if the deceased has no children, the mother gets one third. If the deceased has brothers and sisters… mother gets one sixth'. And the Verse continues… Verse number 12 says... 'As in what your wife leaves your share is half, if there are no children, and your share is one fourth, if there are children. As in what you leave for your wife, your wife's share is one fourth, if there are no children, and one eight if there are children'. In short, most of the time, the female gets half the share of the male counter part, but not in all cases. For example, for a uterine brother and sister, both get one sixth, if the deceased has got no ascendant or descendent… both get equal share. If the deceased has got no children, both mother and father get equal share of one sixth. And in certain cases, if the person who has died, is a lady who has got no children, the husband gets half, the mother gets one third, and the father gets one sixth. That means, there are cases in which the woman even gets double than that of the male coun­ter part - that is, the mother gets double than that of the father.

But I agree with you, in most of the cases, the female gets 1/2 the share as compared to the man, when it is considered to daughter and a wife. But the answer to this, is that since man… since man is held responsible for the financial aspects of the family, and in order not to do injustice to the man, Allah has given a higher share to the man, as compared to the woman - Otherwise we will have to have a lecture on… 'The rightsof men'. I would like to give an example - Suppose a person dies, and after the properties have been distributed… the share of the children, remaining is one and a half lakh - and that person has two children, one son, one daughter. According to the Islamic Shariah, the son gets 1 lakh Rupees, and the daughter gets fifty thousand Rupees - but of the one lakh Rupees which the son receives, he has to spend, may be the majority of it, on looking after his family - may be eighty thousand  or… eighty thousand … or 1 lakh, he has to spend on looking after the family. But that lady when she receives 50,000 she does not have to spend a single pie on looking after her family.

(Clapping)…..

(Dr. Mohammed)  The next question, we will ask from the chit - We would request you to put brief questions, and I would request our speaker to give brief answers. We have only about 25 minutes left, for the Question - Answer session.

(Dr. Mohammed) This is from Bijay - from IIT, Powai, Bombay. He asks… 'Islam' does not allow intermingling of sex in work place - is this modernising or outdated ?- Please explain.

(Dr. Mohammed) Another connected question is… 'Can a woman work as an Airhostess, since it is a decent and highly paid job? - this is from Sujat'.

(Dr.Zakir)  Regarding the first question, that Islam does not allow intermingling of sexes - Is this modernising or outdated ? If you mean by modernising, that you keep your women for sale, that you intermingle with them, or you can even take the profession as modeling, then I feel that Islam is outdated. Because women … by the Western media, by the Western cul­ture - they have said that they have given more rights to the women … they are raising the status of the women - actually they are degrading it. According to statistics, it tells us that 50% of the women in America, who go to universities and work places, are raped - Do you know that? 50%, why? - Because most of the jobs in America, involve intermin­gling of sexes. If you think that a lady should be raped, it is modernising, then Islam isoutdated - if you think not, then Islam is the most modernising.

(Clapping )…

Regarding the 2nd part of the question - Why is not… does Islam allow a woman to work as an Airhostess, since it is a highly paid job, and a decent job. I do agree with the first part, I do agree it is very highly paid - But the second part, let us analyse. The Airhostesses are normally chosen… main criteria for selecting Airhostess, is beauty - you will never find an ugly Airhostess. They are selected because they are young, they are selected because they are attractive. They are made to wear clothes, which are against the Islamic ethics - they are made to wear cosmetics to attract the customers. They have to tend to certain needs of the passengers, which are mainly men, in which there is close proximity between the man and woman.

 And many a times the gents passeng­ers unnecessarily, they involve in conversation with the Airhostess, and even if the Airhostess wants to give fitting reply, she can not, because her job is at stake. Many a times, the passenger may say… 'Madam please tie my seat belt' - the Airhostess has no option, but she has to tie the seat belt. What is going to happen? - there is going to be close proximity between the opposite sex. Many Airlines also serve alcohol - Islam prohibits any man or woman to serve alcohol. That is the reason, all the Airhostesses are women. There are gents pursers… male pursers in the flight, but they rarely attend to the customers – they are in the kitchen. It is the opposite - In the plane it is the opposite… in the plane it is the opposite. And believe me, an Airlines cannot do without employing ladies. Even the Saudi Airlines, 'Supposed to be', in inverted commas … the most Islamic, 'Supposed to be', inverted commas … even they have ladies Airhostesses. But since they can not have Saudi girls … it will be difficult - they import the girls, they have foreign Air­hostess. Double standards … double standards - there is no option.

The Airline is a profession, which… in which you have to have ladies to attract the customers - and you will be shocked to know that certain rules of Airlines. For example, Indian Airlines as well as Air India… it states that… 'After you are selected, you cannot marry for 4 years' - Some Airlines tell you that… 'If you get pregnant, your job is terminated.' Imagine, some Airlines say that… 'You retire at the age of 35' – Why?… Because you are no longer attractive. Do you call it a decent job?

(Clapping)…

(Dr. Mohammed)  The next question please.

(Q).  In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Merciful, and Boun­tiful.As-Salam-Alaikum - I am Parveen Alaviya, a practicing lawyer, and a researcher in world Religions. My question to you Dr. Naik is - you mentioned the solitary illustration of woman, who told the body that she was forced into a marriage, and her marriage was allowed to be invalidated. This incident took place years ago around the year, if possible… the body.            

Qur'an… is the constitution of the rights of women and men - Is there a body? – If so, name… it which also enforc­es the breakage and rights- Thank you.

(Dr.Zakir)  Sister has asked a very good question. She has asked about the rights of the women - Is very well laid down in the Qur'anand the Hadith, and if a woman is forced into marriage, that marriage can be invalidated. Is there any body today existing, which can invalidate such marriages? There are many bodies - example, in Iran as well as in Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately, the Indian government does not allow the Muslim community to have such courts - Though there is a Muslim personal law, but all the rights are not given. If you request the Indian Government, to allow us to have such boards out here in India, and InshAllah even in India, we will have such 'bodies'. They have given only certain rights… not all the rights.

(Dr. Mohammed)  The next question from the chit. Is co-education allowed in Islam? - This is from Rashheed Shaikh - He is a student. Is co-education allowed in Islam?

(Dr.Zakir) Brother has asked a question … is co-education allowed in Islam?… Can meaning… males and females study in the same school, college or universities? First, let us analyse whether male and female, can study in the same school. Those reports which came last year in'The World this Week'… and it gave the survey of the schools, both Unisex schools as well as and Co-Ed. schools in the U.K - And the surveyor said that… 'The overall result of Unisex sex schools, was much better than a Co-Ed. Schools'. When interviews were taken of the teachers, they said that… 'Students in Unisex schools, concentrated more than the Co-Ed. schools.' When interviews of students were taken, they preferred studying in Co-Ed. schools, than Unisex schools … and you know the reason very well, why? And that survey continued - It said that…'People in Co-Ed. schools, spent more time in becoming popular with the opposite sex. And besides lack of concentration, they gave very smart answers to the teachers, and they spend more time in dating, than in gaining educa­tion in school. And the last point of that survey, was the UK government was thinking of setting up more Unisex schools, in the country. According to the American report, it said that… 'Girls in school, spent more time in picking up illicit sex techniques from the classmates, than acquiring knowledge from the teachers.' In India, the same thing is happening… to a greater or lesser extent. Let us analyse the males and females together, in the colleges and universities. All the points I mentioned for schools, they are magnified when it comes to college and universities. According to a report of 'News Week' which was published on 17th of March 1980, on page number 50, it said that… the sexual assault of the women in the universities are given. And it said - I will not repeat the full history of that report, because time is short, but the main point is, that… 'Lecturers and professors - they forced the lady into sexual harassment, in exchange for a better grade. Same thing is happening in India, in Bombay - and after your are sexually harassed, but natural, the concentration to education goes low. You had an incident last year, which… which made the headlines of the paper – I have forgotten the name of the college, in which a girl student was raped in the broad daylight, by 4 or 5 students, in the college premises. And according to a report which came day before yesterday, in the Times of India on the 26th of August, it repeated the report of New York Times - It said that… '25% of the ladies that go to schools and universities in America, are raped'. My basic question is… 'Do you want to send your child to a school to get educated, or do you want to send your child to the school, to pick up illicit techniques, or be sexually harassed?' If it is the first, I would advice you to put them in Unisex schools… and there are several of the kind in the city. Hope that answers the question.

(Dr. Mohammed)  I have an announcement to make - I would just like to inform you regarding this session - We have outside available for sale, video tapes of Dr. Zakir Naik, which are available for sale at a discounted price of Rs. 150/- each. The topics covered are… this cassette of the Bombay Union of Journalist, debate on – 'Is Religious Fundamentalism, a Stumbling Block in the freedom of Expression?' when he spoke along with Dr. Vyas and Father Pereira, a Jezuit expert. Then, we have …'Religion in the right perspective', given at a place in Nariman Point - we have… 'Islam, the Universal Religion' at Mani Bhavan, organised by the Bombay Sarvodaya Mandal, and 'Al-Qur'an : Should it be read with meaning?', a lecture given at the SNDT University Hall, Juhu - there are available for sale outside. We also have the Holy Qur'an, which is available on a hadiya, a nominalhadiya of Rs. 150/- each - This is the English Qur'an… with the text and English transla­tion, by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, along with it's commentary. We know that we have quite a lot of questions coming up - there is lot of enthu… enthusiasms, but at the same time, I have to be pragmatic - We have our time limitations. We have with us next 10 to 15 minutes, in which we have to complete this session.

 I would request… we have… we will allow one question from this end, the next on the top, third here, and I think because Women's right session, we will end with the lady on the top. In between, it will be interspersed with brief questions from the chits that I have received. Those who are interested in having further questions, I would like to inform them on this subject, or on any subject of Islam and comparative Religion… you are most welcome to attend our lectures, followed by Question and Answers - may be, in a smaller setting on Fridays at 2:45 p.m. for ladies, every Friday that is, and every Saturday at 2:45 p.m. open for all, and on Sunday at 10:45 a.m. open for all.       Muslims, Non-Muslims all are welcome, and in a very cordial and open atmosphere…  you are allowed to criticize, cross examine and openly discuss Islam and it's values, without offending the speaker or yourself. If you feel, you can better educate that lecture or that talk is there, we would be happy to be corrected. And we hope in the same spirit, you would be able to discuss with a very open mind, the problems we face in socie­ty and the world in general - The next question please.

(Q). Dr. Naik, my question… is for last fourteen hundred years, one thousand and four hundred years, only main Ulemas have interpretedQur'an and Hadith. Of course I was enlightened by your speech in the beginning, that Aaisha Ji was a Religious scholar, and she used to interpret. My question is… how many women, female Ulemas or Religious scholars are today to interpret Qur'an and Hadith,  today - how many, what is the percentage? - and another thing… another thing, I am… just…  just finishing - this question arises from 'the Taslima of Bengal'…that when she made a sentence… I mean, Moulvistarted shouting - there was not a lady Ulema to, I mean to reply to these Moulvis or take the side of Taslima, or anything. We have not read what Taslima has said, because we cannot get all the literature here in India, either from Pakistan or from Bengal, or anywhere - so we would like you to read…

(Dr. Mohammed)  Excuse me, Excuse me, I would like you to ask directly … Excuse me gentleman, I would like you to ask directly the question, regarding Taslima Nasreen - what you would like to know? Ask  the question directly. 

(Q). I know, please I will make it short - How many lady Ulemas are there today, to interpret Qur'an and Hadith, and what is their percentage in comparison to men - thank you very much. 

(Dr. Zakir)  Uncle has asked a question, that he agrees that at the time of the Prophet, there were many ladies, who not only interpreted the Hadiths, they memorized… memorized. And Hazrat Aaisha (May Allah be pleased with her),  she herself has narrated… narrated, on her authority itself… only 2210 Hadiths are based, only on her authority. The basic question is, how many Ulema  women, do you have today? - he wants to know the percentage. There are several lady Ulemas, and there are many Muslim organizations, in Bombay as well as in Darr-ul-ulm, in Nadwa etc., in several places as Islah-ul-Banaat in Bombay - Several Muslim organizations which produce ladyUlema – Percentage, I do not know of …do not know - but there are hundreds… hundreds. Why did not any… regarding my second part of the question – Why did not any lady support the cause for Taslima Nasreen? - The first question arises… Should she be supported? Regarding the answer for the question on Taslima Nasreen, this cassette is available outside in the foyer. This cassette - we had a debate in the Bombay Union of Journalist - Bombay Union of Journalists had a debate between myself and Dr. Vyas and Father Peirera as well as Ashok Shahani, who translated into Marathi 'Lajja'. And many people objected… many people guided me, that do not go to that debate - It will be a problem, they will misquote you - And believe me, I had two minds. And finally my father guided me…'Take the name of Allah, and go'-
And I went…  Al-hamdulillah. Al-hamdulillah, it was only because of Allah's, support that the debate was successful – It was so successful, that not a single paper reported it - You know that? - Not a single paper. There was the Times of India, there was the Indian Express, there was Mahanagar, Nikhil Waghle himself  was there, there was UTI, there were PTIs also there - No one reported… Why? - because I did not say what they wanted. If I would have said… If I would have said what they wanted, it would have been headlines - 'Islamic Scholar, Dr. Zakir Naik… and so and so' - Because I did not say what they wanted, no report. As the full answer, the cassette is available outside.

(Dr. Mohammed) The last 3 questions.

(Q). Is it only the husband… this is from Jennifer - It says... - Is it only the husband who can say 'Triple Talaq' and get one… and get one? - What has a woman to do, if she wants to get divorce or 'Talaq'?

(Dr. Zakir) The sister has asked a question, that a husband can divorce a woman - She has not asked about Triple 'Talaq', that is another answer. But the main question is -  A husband can divorce… Can a woman also divorce, or can she give 'Talaq'? A woman cannot give 'Talaq' - because 'Talaq' is a Arabic word used for divorce, when a man gives to a woman - husband gives to a wife - but a woman can divorce. There are 5 types of divorce, in Islam - The first type is by unilateral… by unilateral agreement, between the husband and wife - Both may say… 'Okay, we are not compatible… let us part'.  The second type, is by the unilateral will of the husband, that is called a 'Talaq', in which, he has to forgo his 'Meher'. If he has not paid it, he has to pay it to her… and including the gifts, he has given to her. Third type, is by the unilateral will of the wife - I repeat, by the unilateral will of the wife… if she mentions it in her marriage contract. If she mentions it in her Nikah-Nama… in her marriage contract, that she has the right to give unilateral divorce, she can give it - It is call as 'Isma'. I have never heard of anyone speaking of an 'Isma' - It is called as 'Isma' - Even a woman can give divorce, 'Isma'.  

Third category is, if the husband ill-treats her, or not give her equal rights, she has the right to go to a Kazi, and nullify the marriage - It is called as 'Nikah-e-Fask'. In this, according to the Kazi, he may ask the husband to give the full 'Meher', or part of the 'Meher', depending upon the Kazi. And the last is 'Kulah'- that even though the husband may be a very good husband, the wife has got no complaints against the husband, but for personal reasons, she does not like the husband - she has… she can request the husband, to divorce her - and that is called as 'Kulah'. But very few people talk about women giving divorce, to the men. Some of the Ulemas have categorized these 5 types of divorce, into 2 or 3 different categories, but broadly there are 5 types of divorce, in Islam. Hope that answers the question.

(Dr. Mohammed)  We would now ask 2 very short questions, again from the slips - then we  will allow a last question, to Zakir… to give in very brief, the answer to the question.

(Q).    Why are women, not allowed in the Mosque?

(Dr. Zakir)  The question asked is, why are not women, allowed in the Mosque - And in brief, it is difficult. There is no statement in theQur'an or the Sahih Hadith, which prevents women from entering the Mosque. Some people quote a particular Hadith, and say that the Prophet said… 'It is better for the women to pray in the house, than the Mosque - It is better for her to pray in the house, in her inner room, than in her house'. They are taking hold only of one source, and neglecting all the other souls.