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Did
You Know? Refuting rigid interpretations concerning the position of women in
Islam and Muslims interactions with Non-Muslims
Aziza Abdel-Halim AM
Muslim Women’s National Network of Australia Inc. (2008)
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This book written by Aziza Abdel-Halim never seems
to date. It’s just as relevant today as it was when was first published
in 2008. I’ve often thought it’s the kind of book that Australian
journalists should wake up to find in their Xmas stockings. I also think
that many of our shaykhs, resident in Australia, would find
the author’s
interpretations and arguments ‘interesting’ reading.
Sydney-based Aziza Abdel-Halim
is a leading Arabic language scholar. The clarity of her explanations and
interpretations, based on her expert knowledge of Arabic are a joy to read
and reflect upon.
In her introduction,
Aziza identifies two important issues that have corrupted the thinking of
some Muslims and affected the way they interpret Islamic injunctions. As
she reminds us in her style that informs, but never lectures, ‘Many
superstitions and innovations have entered into Islamic practices of which
Islam itself is completely innocent and can easily be refuted by Islamic
evidence.’
Her second argument is
equally compelling: ‘Mixing up cultural beliefs and practices with
Islamic teaching and allowing these beliefs to take precedence, has led to
the distortion of some Islamic practices….’
Sister Aziza argues against weak and fabricated
Hadith and lists numerous examples that affect women. Readers may find the
following sections particularly enlightening:
the misuse of the term kafir; the origin and status of An-niqab,
which she argues came about as a temporary requirement at the beginning,
when Islam was first introduced; women’s attendance at mosques, shaking
hands, and rules pertaining to polygamy. The above represent just a small
selection of the seventy commentaries that are made with clear
explanations in a non-polemical tone that go back in history to the
beginnings of Islam.
There is also a chapter
on contemporary influential Islamic male and female Islamic thinkers and a
chapter on Australian Muslims including a brief history of Muslim women in
Australia.
In the words of Aziza Abdel-Halim: ‘I hope this
book will encourage readers to understand the enlightened message of
Islam’.
This book I heartily recommend to Muslims and
non-Muslims alike—and wonder of wonders—it’s a free publication.
Hanifa Deen
The entire book is available
for free online here from the Muslim
Women’s National Network Australia.
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