In response to 2 fatwas:
The fatwas concerning a Muslim woman
marrying a non-Muslim man remind me of the reading involving women in Islam. The
original interpretations regarding this issue were all given from the male
perspective in a male-dominated society at the time they were given. If you
take that context into consideration, it is of no surprise that men would be
allowed to marry a non-Muslim Christian or Jew, but not the other way around.
New religions have to compete against
the others in the area. Islam was believed to have been sent to correct the
corruption of the Jewish and Christian beliefs and replace the polytheistic beliefs
of the pagans. In a male dominated society, it would have been crucial for the
children to belong to this new religion and not have the chance of losing them
to the others. Ideology grows and spreads with the children the easiest, as
they can be indoctrinated from their very first day. They grow up learning from
the parent and most often follow in the parent’s choice of faith. As such, a
man in ancient Arabia and ancient Islam would have been able to guide his
children’s choices, as the culture was already such that his wife was subservient
to him. But, if the father in the family was not Muslim, then his children
would likely become non-Muslims.
I can see why Khaled Abou El Fadl
had trouble answering the letter sent about the Muslim woman who was married to
a Christian man that was allowing his wife to raise the children Muslim. That
letter dealt with the context of western society in a time when women often
have an equal footing in the family. The intent of the previous fatwas, and of
the jurisprudence from the four schools of thought was to protect the growth of
Islam. Here El Fadl was dealing with a situation where the growth of Islam was
not at risk, but he was still somewhat unwilling to break from the contest of
old. I agree with his final statement that the woman mentioned in the letter should pray and ask for guidance and follow her conscience and that God is merciful.
Written on 3/13/12 for my Modern Muslim Thought class
I keep seeing posts on FB about The Elephant in the Room... I didn't realize it was your blog!!
ReplyDeleteIndeed, but now you know! :)
DeleteAssalamu Alaykum :)
ReplyDeleteWalaykum salaam :)
DeleteWow you have a lot of really interesting posts on here, inshallah i can find time to go through them soon! I think your view as a convert is especially interesting because it provides a opinion that is developed diferently from those who were born into a Muslim culture...Jazakallah kheir and keep up the good work :)
ReplyDeletemuslimahonthemoon.blogspot.com
Thank you so much, sister! I look forward to reading your comments as you have time to read through my posts. I'll have more coming too. :)
DeleteHi thanks so much for this! It really hits close to home for me. I'm a Muslim convert who despite having the requisite religiosity, looks, education, status...blah blah blah have given up on the prospect of marrying Muslim (I'm now 32, started looking at 17!). Yet, I am magnetically drawn to Jewish men (and they to me!). I've even been hit on by Jewish moms! For me, this may be the most viable and satisfactory option. Allahu alam. But finding resources and support systems are not easy- as the WOMAN looking to marry out.
ReplyDeleteThanks again!
You are very welcome. Ass a fellow muslimah convert in a serious relationship with a non-Muslim man, I completely understand how hard it can be. Also, I am quite non-traditional in the current understanding of what traditional is, so it is doubly hard for me to find a Muslim man that understands and accepts me. Thankfully, my man does and respects my faith, even if he doesn't accept it for his own. And I am the same with him. I wrote a few blogs about interfaith relationships; I hope you have had a chance to read them. The best advice I can give from my experience of having been married is this: make sure that the fundamental things that are important to you will not be an issue between you. Don't give up who you are for anyone. You are wonderful enough to be accepted as you are. If you do feel you need to change things, do it for you, not for someone else. It is one of the secrets to happiness... Best of luck and may God be with you.
DeleteOkay I'm a Muslim, and this article is seriously insulting.
Delete"The original interpretations regarding this issue were all given from the male perspective in a male-dominated society at the time they were given".
That is a really screwed up statement to make. Not a single Muslim would accept what you just said.
If you want me to help you understand how interfaith marriage actually works, I'd be glad to, but don't go and blaspheme our relgion like that.
Well, Ali, you are certainly entitled to your opinion, as much as I am entitled to mine. Whether you realize it or not, I am also Muslim, and as this article's author, I don't believe it is insulting or blasphemous. The statement you quote is not only my own, but also paraphrased from another Muslim writer/scholar. Also, I know many other Muslims that happen to agree with my statement.
DeleteI would like to ask you how many of the ancient Muslim scholars were female? Please give me their names? As for interfaith marriage, I would like to know how you are an expert? Is your spouse anything other than Muslim? Of course... that is allowed by the traditional, male dominated "rules". As a Muslimah in an interfaith relation with a Chaldean, and as the ex-wife of an American Protestant, I think I know my way around interfaith marriage. It's not something that is simple, and is certainly dependent on mutual respect within the relationship.
Again, you are entitled to your opinion and me to mine. I will agree to disagree with you without calling your faith into question. Salaam