Blind Inequality

By: Bijla Singh

Foolish Statements - 1

In this section we respond to the irrational and illogical comments (in red) made by Muslims in “Blind Equality”.

The male is not like the female" (Qur’an 3:36)

Of course male and female are different in physical sense. It was obvious to humans back in Stone Age. How is this revealed truth?

Unfortunately, many Sikhs, similar to others who have no guidance from an all-Wise Creator, have fallen into this mistake, the degree of which varies between the numerous sects of Sikhism.

We rather not have “guidance” from Quran which leads to oppression, injustice and degradation of human beings.

There is a reason why the all-Wise created us different. If He intended both genders to be equal in its functionality, He would have made us all females or all males. However, the fact that He created us differently is recognised by Muslims as part of the universal "balance" (al-Meezaan), part of which is that each sex compliments the other by fulfilling a designated role. Furthermore, Allaah has revealed laws that sustain this different but complimentary functionality, which maintains this "balance", by not allowing one to mix with the other.

Everyone, not just male and female, is different in physical terms. If physical difference is the main cause of treating women unequal then all men are physically different from each other as well. Some are short, tall, fat, and slim and have different characteristics. Facial structure, nose, eye color, finger prints etc. all are different. How do intersexual fit in the “balance” equation? Physical differences between male and female are obvious but how does this constitute men’s superiority? How does this grant men to beat their wives? There is a fine line between being different and being unequal. Either Muslims are too foolish to realize this fact or are blinded by backward Quranic message. Humans are not robots created for the purpose of performing specific jobs. Humans are given free will and have choices to do what they want in their lives.

What is the business of Allah to say that women have to stay home and clean the dishes? Granted that female’s physical body is different but how does that make her inferior so much so that she must stay at home, pray in secluded rooms and must cover herself up to be saved from the preying lustful eyes of men? Household roles are decided by society and depend on cultural practices, which is why they differ from country to country. According to Sikhi, equality does not mean performing same functionality but granting women the same rights to progress in religion and society. Women must have equal opportunities to education, employment, spirituality and all other religious and social affairs. Many countries have declared it illegal to discriminate based on gender but Muslims have failed to move forward and are still stuck with inflexible rules.

"And they (women) have rights (over their husbands) similar (to those of their husbands) over them." (Qur’an 2:228)

What rights do women have over their husbands? Muslims are quiet on this.

One of the things that people misunderstand is that when they say "Islam is the religion of equality", what they should say is that Islam is the religion of justice. 

When women are given less rights and not regarded equal, it is an injustice. Women’s rights discussed in previous section makes it clear that Islam is a religion of inequality and injustice. If a woman wants to marry her ex-husband she has to consummate the marriage with someone else and then get a divorce. She is forced to spend the night with someone she doesn’t love for the sake of spending her entire life with her ex-husband. If she doesn’t get a divorce she is trapped in a loveless marriage. How is this justice? This is just one example and numerous more can be presented but Islam and justice do not go together. Is there any right that is granted only to women and does not benefit men directly or indirectly?

Those who say that Islam is the religion of equality are lying against Islaam. Rather Islaam is the religion of justice which means treating equally those who are equal and differentiating between those who are different.

Ignorant Muslims do not know the difference between different and equal. It shouldn’t be a differentiation between “equal and different” but “same and different”. How do Muslims determine which group of people is different or the same? All men are different in nature and physical structure. Serving justice depends on the situation and punishing someone depends on the degree of crime. What role does physical body play in the judicial system? None. Why is Allah so concerned with physical structure? Assume a man and woman both commit the same crime, why would Allah treat them differently? Considering gender of a person in awarding or punishing is absurd.

Most of the rulings of Islaam apply to men and women equally. However, in cases where a distinction is to be made between the sexes, by necessity of the mental and physical differences, the Muslim will regard that as a mercy from Allaah and a sign of knowledge of His creation, whilst the non-Muslim, due to heedlessness, sees it as oppression, inequality and injustice; stubbornly insisting that men and women must be equal. 

It is Allah’s mercy upon men for giving them more rights but a grave injustice to women who are equally capable of praying alongside men and defending themselves by keeping arms rather than wearing a veil. How merciful is Allah on women when they are called “unintelligent”, “deficient in mind”, and considered a “sex toy”? Women must have equal opportunities to perform the same religious duties as men without any extra restrictions. Women must be allowed to progress spiritually at the same level as men. Once again, physical differences are irrelevant in spiritual progress.

There are many cases in point that a sincere seeker of truth would only dispute at his/ her peril. For example, motherhood which in Islaam is subject to particular laws that of course are only prescribed upon women. There are conditions for birth, after-birth, purification rights, breastfeeding, etc. all of which a Muslim mother must know. Likewise, the father’s role is subject to particular laws and conditions. For example, he is considered the breadwinner of the family unit having been given the important (and often arduous) responsibility of working in permissible (halaal) ways to maintain the family, as well as being the head of the household.

This is a blasphemy. A woman will breastfeed and nurture her child regardless of her religion. Whether a woman is Muslim or not plays no role in raising a child. Do non-Muslim women raise and breastfeed their children in a different or irreligious way? Since when did breastfeeding become a religious ritual? A woman doesn’t have to be a Muslim to learn how to breastfeed her child. Are Muslims assuming that women didn’t know how to give birth, breastfeed and take shower after birth before Mohammad? We don’t think ignorance and idiocy have any limits in Islam. Different roles do not constitute to different rights. There are many women in the world that cannot give birth. How do breastfeeding and “purification” laws apply to them? Many women do not get married and live alone so they have to work to earn their own bread. Why must they seek dependency? Who is the head of the household when only two women live together as a couple? Does Allah have any answers or he forgot about the different nature of human beings 1400 years ago?

One such example is the manner in which Sikhs dress. It is sad to see this perverted acceptance of blind equality take such a strong hold that one will now find Sikh men and women dressed in almost identical attire, including the dastar (turban).

Women wearing Dastaar is a clear proof that it was not given to distinguish men from women. Dastaar is not attire for men only. Rather, it is a gift of the Guru to His Sikhs. It shows His love for His followers. It is a crown of the Sikhs bestowed upon them by the True King (Satguru). Had it been considered part of dress then only men would’ve been wearing it today but it is a symbol of one’s dedication and love for the Sikh faith. Whereas veil was given to women to distinguish them from slave women and keep them in confinement, Dastaar was given to bless Sikhs with sovereignty. When a Sikh wears a Dastaar no longer will he/she keep faith in anything other than Akaal (One immortal God) and submit to the rule of anyone. Guru Sahib blessed Sikhs with His own image and elevated them to the equal status. His saying was “Soul in the Granth and body in the Panth”. This was the greatness of Guru Sahib that wherever five Sikhs assemble they have the authority to make decisions and conduct religious affairs. Thus, Dastaar is not part of men’s attire but an article of faith that represents our free way of life, submission to Akaal and dedication to the only true path. This is why both men and women are required to wear it.

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