McKinnon

If you love anything about Jurisprudence, you know who Katherine McKinnon is.

(This statement, is nevertheless, is subject to the scholarly arguments, some say Feminism is just a social movement, whilst another look at it as a tool of law; interpreting/understanding the law through the perspective of the women, as  law itself is  "patriarch" in nature.)

So yeah, let me start all over again. If you follow the feminist movement, you know who Katherine McKinnon is.

I just finished reading this book last week; The Protection Of Women’s Rights Under The Shari’ah. My sister gave me the book as our yearly makan makan tukar hadiah event with the family.

(We dont really celebrate birthdays, mothers day, or whatever days, we think its superficial (the Prophet said that, too), but we give presents every year to each other. Mak and Babah will decide on the date (either end or beginning of the year), and the date must be informed earlier so that each of us will put aside a budget for the whole family. That's how we roll)

So yeah, in relation to the book mentioned above, my friends say I am a feminist, especially when I told them that I did my Legal Aid at fillintheblanks. And when I told my friends, it was an eye opening experience and a humble one,  they gave me the look.

Like this

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I called it the "jilo poin jilo" look.

Many people talk bad about the organisation, but many fail to talk good about it, too. They give free legal advice to any Muslims (male of female), escort them to court, give them hope that it's not the end of the world if your husband abused you, or if your wife decided to take away your child without giving you a chance to talk and negotiate (though yeah, it can be the end of the world to some of us.) Issues on access, faraid, custody, domestic violence, rape, etc.

All of them, for free.

Putting aside the issue of Aqidah; creed/faith (very very very important for us Muslims) which differ from one to another, our society has the ability to say everything is deviant, haraam, sesat, liberal, wahabi, syiah, etc without seeing the root of the problem, which is labeling.

Yes, they can be wrong, especially in interpreting the Quran/Hadith. They would rather follow the modern/Orientalist (see the labelling, here?) scholars in order to understand the Quran/Hadith. They believe that the Quran/Hadith is to be interpreted based on the current political/economical/geographical situation and such,  must tally with the spirit of Human Rights. They believe that the Quran has been interpreted by man unjustly, according to their one whims; desire, hence it is vital for women to be given a chance to interpret according to their understanding.

Although one cant just read the tafsir like that, one has to learn, get to know the reasons behind the verses, get to know the language (which is very very very crucial, one Arabic alphabet means a lot) , and get to know the history behind the reasons of the verses.

But seriously, why such hate? Have your ever step into their shoes? No i dont think so. Have you listened or talked to the oppressed people? No. Do you know how long it will take for a person to get the talaq (pronouncement of divorce) even if the husband has beat her many times? Do you know that police stations rarely take any domestic violence report because it is too personal, its 'hal rumah tangga' or 'selesai la kat rumah'? Do you know that some wives think its OK for the husbands to slap her ears till they bleed or turn half deaf?

No you dont know that. So please, think.

I may disagree with the organisation's opinoin, but not all.  And I can not disagree on the good things they have done to the society even IF some people think they are liberal or whatever labels you like to put. Its unfair. I love the fact that with their existence in the society, we engage in healthy discussion, rather than putting "sensitive issues" under the old, unattractive rag (Read: law).

Credits must be given. Dont be little good deeds.

So back to the feminist Raihan. One fact for me to state here, for once and for all; I just love the way Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) treated his opposite gender (Muslim/non-Muslim sisters). I appreciate the beautiful verses of the Quran, which dignify the women, always. We (women) even have our own Surah in the Quran; An-Nissa'. I love the fact that women are not an object, nor even a slave to men. We are forever Allah's slaves.

(What is wrong with women nowadays; they think their husbands are gods.. I believe that a wife should not please the husband, but should please Allah. And by pleasing God, you will please the husband.)

Try google a hadith on the missing necklace, then you'll know how our Prophet treated his wife.
Try read the story of Asiah, she had the worst husband (the Pharaoh), but she chose Him over him.
Try understand the concept of faraid than you know that God protects us, women.

Islam does not say we female are the weaker sex. Islam does not say that men should beat woman at any time, in any degree of harshness. Islam does not say that, ever.

But we Muslims do. Note the difference?

Hmmm..... so if that makes me a feminist, Muslim feminist or what ever it is,  let it be.  I don't mind, seriously. Labels, name calling or whatever it is, doesn't make any different. So long that we stick to the right teaching of the Prophet and to respect and act according to the word of Allah, words wouldn't bring me down. Because in the End of The Day, its taqwa that matters, kan?

I mean, why can we just sit down & talk, like an adult rather than making press statement to one & another? Bosan la lawan press statement, sit down and have an intellectual discussion la, so both parties will bring out their arguments and then we can decide.

Now remind me why i studied Shariah? :)