Bigotry: The Dark Danger

Conclusion:

The main reason for our discussion of the fabricated hadiths concerning women in this chapter is to show the false belief widespread in some Islamic communities and what its true origin is. In this way, those who abide by these views in the name of Islam, and those who are opposed to Islam because of them will be able to see that this oppression of women has absolutely no place in the Qur’an.

However, some people try to find evidence in the Qur’an for the belittlement of women. That stems from the misinterpretation of various verses of the Qur’an, the misinterpretation of various personal annotations made in parentheses and from such misinterpretations being generally made in the light of the fabricated hadiths cited above. Yet when one looks at the Qur’an alone it is impossible to find any of the ideas that the fanatics come up with in the light of their own desires. In order to understand this better, we shall be looking at verses which they have for years sought to portray as supporting evidence for their enforced enclosure and beating of women and women being treated as second-class human beings. When one looks at these through the eyes of a Muslim who abides by the Qur’an, and not through the eyes of a fanatic, when the verses are interpreted according to their true meanings, when that false faith of the fanatics is excluded, then everyone will clearly see that the system that attaches the greatest value to women is the system found in the Qur’an.

Responses to those who look for evidence from the Qur’an in order to restrict and belittle women

The addition of the word “headscarf” to translations of the Qur’an

One of the issues that fanatics bring up most of all is that women should cover themselves up. The conception of religion and faith of certain people, who exhibit almost no sensitivity to a great many commandments of the faith, who fail to observe even its most fundamental requirements but who are scrupulous when it comes to abiding by the Sunnah - the hadiths in other words - generally takes the form of “the headscarf=religion.” However, does the headscarf, which some people literally regard as the sole symbol of the faith, appear in the Qur’an?

Many scholars say that they draw their remarks about the headscarf and covering up from the Qur’an, and point to various verses on the subject. The fact is, however, that the word “headscarf” appears in not one single verse. Therefore, we first need to see how the Qur’an is interpreted and what the accurate explanation is.