Afghanistan: a few steps into the right direction
by Irfan Ahmed
Afghanistan, a country which has entangled itself in many controversies, ranging from the rise of a political stronghold known as the Taliban to being the breeding ground for famous terrorists such as Osama Bin Laden and Ayman Zawari. It is currently situated with a great task, which would drastically change the fates of it’s inhabitants as they encroach upon the new millennium. Most of us are familiar with the Taliban as they are presented through the media, as misogynistic, violent, irrational, war-mongering tribesmen: “several instances reported in which Taliban fighters stopped women on Kabul streets and beat them, in one instance with a radio antenna ripped from a car, accusing them of not covering their entire bodies.” [1] and seeing them is both vile and repugnant to the eyes of faithful Muslim, for the Taliban represented the opposite of the revered Islamic code, which pertains to modesty, non-violence, and understanding . But ever since the U.S led invasion for the perpetrators of the terrorists attacks, came the issue of whether pushing Afghanistan to a Democracy or allowing it to thrive in a new constitution upheld by Islamic doctrine. By introducing a few steps forward using the Islamic doctrine, we can create a general direction.
Under such an Islamic doctrine, a Western would view it as a backwards approach, especially if it’s initial purpose is to liberate the Afghani people, although such an assumption is ubiquitous, it is however far from it. Women in particular, have been the most victimized by the Taliban:”Girls’ schools have been closed while the clerics, known as mullahs, study the ”issue” of education for females…ordered when venturing out to wear a full chaderi, a gown that covers a woman from head to toe, allowing her to see only through a tightly woven face mask.” [2]. These laws the Mullahs have enjoined upon to encumber on to their fellow sisters is Un-Islamic. In the Sunnah, the sayings and ways of Prophet Muhammed (PBUH), he advocated that women should adhere not to the days of ignorance, which was during the Pre-Islamic era, but rather do the exact opposite: “I heard the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) say: If anyone travels on a road in search of knowledge, Allah will cause him to travel on one of the roads of Paradise. The angels will lower their wings in their great pleasure with one who seeks knowledge, the inhabitants of the heavens and the Earth and the fish in the deep waters will ask forgiveness for the learned man.” [Abu Dawud, Book 25, Number 3634] [3]. In light of the Qu’ran it is clear that both gender’s duties are to seek knowledge, so therefore ignorance doesn’t lead them astray: “They will further say: “Had we but listened or used our intelligence, we should not (now) be among the Companions of the Blazing Fire!”[67:10] [4]. Therefore, both male and female must be erudite, in order to eschew from anything that may denote them as pious Muslims. Another great Hadith that explains how to utilize knowledge for the sake of humanitarian purposes goes: “The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: If anyone acquires knowledge of things by which Allah’s good pleasure is sought, but acquires it only to get some worldly advantage, he will not experience the arf, i.e. the odour, of Paradise.”[Abu Dawud, Book 25, Number 3656] [5]. With these clauses established we see that the Taliban fall short of such interpretations and do the exact opposite of which was desired by Allah and his prophet, thus it leads the Afghani people back to the time of “Jahiliyyah” [6], or otherwise known as the time of ignorance.
The woman in Afghanistan, whom are forced to sport the burqa, usually creates uneasiness amongst feminists, for it display’s an oppression which is institutionalized not by the verbatim of God, but by the insecurity of man. The Islamic verdict on this is far liberal than what the Taliban has decided on: “The code’s first article says that if a woman leaves home with her face unveiled, ‘her home will be marked, and her husband punished.”[7]. From the Qu’ran it states clearly: “ O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is Oft- Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [33:59] [8]. However, one must be meticulous in finding the actual meaning of the verse, rather than just sticking to the interpretation. Therefore in order to truly understand the meaning of this verse, especially the part about the garments, we must confine our thinking and judging on the language ordained in the Qur;an, Arabic: “ Ya ayyuha alnnabiyyu qul li-azwajika wabanatika wanisa-i almu/mineena yudneena AAalayhinna min jalabeebihinna thalika adna an yuAArafna fala yu/thayna wakana Allahu ghafooran raheeman” [9] The word “Jalbab“, the loose garment Muslim women wear to cover their entire body except their faces, is derived from the word “jalabeebihinna”. But wait, how is that different from the oppressive burqa? Well thats where our noble and humble Prophet (PBUH) arrives where he explains: “Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu’minin: Asma, daughter of AbuBakr, entered upon the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) wearing thin clothes. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) turned his attention from her. He said: O Asma’, when a woman reaches the age of menstruation, it does not suit her that she displays her parts of body except this and this, and he pointed to her face and hands.” [ Abu Dawud, Book 32, Number 4092,] [10]. It is clear that the transmission of such a hadith is congruent with the above Quranic sura, making both compatible and just.
To rebuild such a country, it must be done at the hands of fellow Muslims. Whether it be from teachers, engineers, environmentalists, lawyers, theologians, etc. they are inevitably the ones who can help the Afghani life thrive once again. First objective in rebuilding such an eroded community, must be a strict adherence to patience, as stated in the Qur’an: “O ye who believe! seek help with patient perseverance and prayer; for Allah is with those who patiently persevere.” [ 2:153] [11]. Next, Muslims should begin to donating on a larger scale for the victims under Taliban rule and post U.S led invasion, for it is suggested in the Qur’an: “It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces Towards east or West; but it is righteousness- to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity; to fulfil the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the Allah.fearing.” [2:177] [12]. Next Muslims should enshrine the law of protecting woman’s right’s by assuring that they are not inherited against their will: “O ye who believe! Ye are forbidden to inherit women against their will. Nor should ye treat them with harshness, that ye may Take away part of the dower ye have given them,-except where they have been guilty of open lewdness; on the contrary live with them on a footing of kindness and equity. If ye take a dislike to them it may be that ye dislike a thing, and Allah brings about through it a great deal of good.”[4:19] [13]. A woman shall also have the right to ensure that she chooses her spouse because it is exactly the rules that the Prophet had laid out: ” The Prophet said, “A matron should not be given in marriage except after consulting her; and a virgin should not be given in marriage except after her permission.” The people asked, “O Allah’s Apostle! How can we know her permission?” He said, “Her silence (indicates her permission).”[ Sahih Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 62, Number 67] [14]. Another Hadith suggest that even if the parents choose a spouse for their child it can be invalid if the child is against it: ” that her father gave her in marriage when she was a matron and she disliked that marriage. So she went to Allah’s Apostle and he declared that marriage invalid.” [ Sahih Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 85, Number 78,] [15]. These are small examples of how Muslim values and traditions can create a better society if they are to be followed thoroughly. Muslim’s should seek to expostulate more on matters such as the interpretations of certain verses as well as having an open forum for any differences that may arise. It would be an involution to allow non-Muslims to decide on matters Muslims feel culturally sensitive about, therefore non-Muslims should play the role of extolling such inwardness by Muslims as long as positive outcomes are being produced. In other word’s, leave the business of rebuilding and reestablishing the community to the Muslims.
The Taliban, in their malign and utterly dispicable treatment of women are inconsistent with the teachings of the Qu’ran and Sunnah, thus their attempt to combine church and state was a complete failure. However our outlook on the issue of whether Islam and politics can be combined, should not be judged according to the events in Afghanistan. A Muslim’s soul duty is to provide aid for the people of Afghanistan, either by donations or volunteer work, an action which is congruent with the pillars of Islam. Muslims must remember that their lineage lies with their brothers and sisters, whether it be in Africa or in Alaska, whenever danger is afoot, they must be the first to respond. The prophet outlined it best in one of his hadith: ” Allah’s Apostle said, “Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or he is an oppressed one. People asked, “O Allah’s Apostle! It is all right to help him if he is oppressed, but how should we help him if he is an oppressor?” The Prophet said, “By preventing him from oppressing others.” [Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 43, Number 624] [16]. It is in the hands of Muslims to change the abhorrent behaviors of other so-called Muslims by showing them the path of wisdom, understanding, modesty and by eschewing any false notions by seeking truth through a thorough analysis of the Qur’an and Hadiths. ” The Prophet said, “A believer to another believer is like a building whose different parts enforce each other.” The Prophet then clasped his hands with the fingers interlaced (while saying that).” [Sahih Bukhari Volume 3, Book 43, Number 626] [17].
References:
[1] http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9807E2D81E3CF932A35753C1A960958260&scp=7&sq=taliban+afghanistan+law
[2] Ibid
[3] http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/abudawud/025.sat.html#025.3634
[4] http://www.islam101.com/quran/yusufAli/QURAN/67.htm
[5] http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/abudawud/025.sat.html
[6] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jahiliyyah
[7] http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9501E5DE143AF931A15752C1A9679C8B63&scp=15&sq=woman+afghanistan+law
[8] http://www.islam101.com/quran/yusufAli/QURAN/33.htm
[9] http://www.sacred-texts.com/isl/quran/03308.htm
[10] http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/abudawud/032.sat.html#032.4092
[11] http://www.islam101.com/quran/yusufAli/QURAN/2.htm
[12] Ibid
[13] http://www.islam101.com/quran/yusufAli/QURAN/4.htm
[14] http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/062.sbt.html
[15] http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/085.sbt.html
[16] http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/043.sbt.html#003.043.623
[17] http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/043.sbt.html#003.043.626
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