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Islam, Women and Feminism ( 24 Sept 2021, NewAgeIslam.Com)

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A Revolution That Saudi Arabian Women Are Now Free To Participate in Sports

Transform the Medieval Saudi Civilization Stereotype into a Modern Society

Main Points

1.    Saudi Arabian women are now driving, speaking with the breezes, and participating in sports when earlier no one could see a woman's shadow.

2.    Muhammad bin Salman is attempting to change the stereotype of Medieval Saudi civilization into a modern society

3.    It's worth noting that Arabia was the first country to bring the concept of women's rights to the rest of the world.

4.    Women and men can pray together in the Prophet's Mosque and the Kaaba until today.

5.    The concept is that in the seventh century AD, Islam was the world's most modern way of life. Only then did Islam spread like lightning to every corner of the earth.

6.    If moms of believers can go to the battlefield, why can't today's Muslim woman work as a doctor or nurse in a hospital?

7.    There was a time when Europe embraced modernity and progressed, but prejudices and backwardness plagued Muslim civilization, and as a result, Muslim society has become the world's most backward society.

8.    Saudi Arabian women can now get a driver's license, participate in sports, and learn self-defence skills like karate, judo, and taekwondo, which is a huge step forward.

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By New Age Islam Staff Writer

24 September 2021

 

Representative Image Photo: Gulf News

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Saudi Arabia has progressed as well. Where once no one could see a woman's shadow, Saudi Arabian ladies are now driving, conversing with the breezes, and participating in sports. Yes, today's woman can drive a car, participate in sports as well as ride a camel. This is nothing short of a revolution in a Bedouin civilization. Saudi women can now compete with men in every field, from sports to entertainment, including driving, karate, judo, and taekwondo. It's described as a revolution, and Prince Muhammad bin Salman, who is set to become Saudi Arabia's future ruler, is at the helm.

In Saudi Arabia, Muhammad bin Salman is the architect of a revolution. He is attempting to change the stereotype of Medieval Saudi civilization into a modern society. This isn't just his want; it's also his mission. The Saudi prince, who is only 32 years old, wants to break centuries of tradition and usher Saudi Arabia into a new era in which it is on par with any other country on the planet. However, this effort cannot be finished in any civilization unless the woman is as free as the man, because women account for approximately half of the population in any culture. What a development it can make if half of a society's inhabitants are confined to the four walls of their home!

However, in Muslim society, discussing such topics is considered disrespectful. Then there's Saudi Arabia, where women have grown accustomed to being confined to their houses. The capacity of a woman to drive a car and participate in sports can’t be taken lightly from the perspective of Saudi society. In and of itself, the fact that this movement for Muslim women's liberation originated in Saudi Arabia is important. It's worth noting that Arabia was the first country to bring the concept of women's rights to the rest of the world. Yes, the Arabian Prophet Muhammad [peace be upon him] played a significant role in the establishment of these rights.

For example, the Prophet (peace be upon him) opened the doors of mosques for women in the same way as he opened them for men. Women and men can pray together in the Prophet's Mosque and the Kaaba until today. If someone has any doubts, they should attend the Hajj prayers in the Kaaba and see for themselves. In other words, Islam has the honour of treating men and women equally in Allah's domain. How can a woman be less than a man in this world and in her own home if she is equal to a man in Allah's house?

Sarah Attar of Saudi Arabia competes in the women's 800-meter Round 1 heats on Day 12 of the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 8, 2012, in London, England. (Streeter Lecka / Getty Images)

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Women in our society have been granted a variety of rights as a result of Islam. If a man is granted the right to divorce, a woman is granted the right to khula’. Women in Islam have the right to pick their husbands. That is to say, marital life cannot be established without the woman's agreement. Wasn't this a ground-breaking concept in the seventh century AD? Regrettably, a woman's consent is still not deemed necessary for marriage. The process was undoubtedly a revolution in women's rights at the time. Similarly, Hazrat Khadija, the Holy Prophet's first wife, was Makka’s most prosperous merchant.

To put it another way, Islam has made it a Shari'ah practice for a woman to stand on her own two feet by earning a living through self-employment. Similarly, Islam enhanced women's economic freedom by making them sharers in the wealth of their parents and husbands. Women were so free in Madinah during the Prophet’s lifetime that when the Prophet went to war, women from all around Madinah, including believers’ mothers, joined the Islamic army on the battlefield and worked there to bandage the wounded.

Unfortunately, in the same Muslim community, it is currently claimed that Islam is the only religion in which a woman is restricted to her home's four walls. Why can't today's Muslim lady work as a doctor or nurse in a hospital, if mothers of believers can go to battle? If a woman in the Prophet's day could drive a camel, why can't she drive a car? Why can't today's Muslim lady be a businesswoman or any other type of professional if the Prophet's wife was a businesswoman? If Allah mentions Iqra [read] in the Qur'an, it means He is imparting this order to both men and women. Even now, boys are frequently taught, while girls are kept at home. But why is that?

The concept is that in the seventh century AD, Islam was the world's most modern way of life. Only then did Islam spread like lightning to every corner of the earth. It was not Islam, but rather a Muslim culture, which, like other communities at the time, became enslaved to conventions rather than Islamic values. Then there was a period when Europe embraced modernity and progressed, but Muslim society was victimized by stereotypes and backwardness. As a result, Muslim society has become the world's most backward society.

Prince Muhammad bin Salman

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Prince Muhammad bin Salman is working hard to bring Muslim society into the twenty-first century and put an end to its backwardness. And none of this would be possible without a woman. In this day and age, if a woman does not drive naturally, she will be left behind in other areas of life. As a result, women in Saudi Arabia are now permitted to obtain a driver's license, participate in sports, and train self-defence techniques such as karate, judo, and taekwondo. This is a true revolution, and Prince Muhammad bin Salman, the revolution's architect, deserves credit.

URL:     https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/saudi-arabian-women-sports/d/125428


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