Coronavirus cum Aurat March

From Ms.Fatima Jinnah to Mrs. Ra’anaLiaquat Ali Khan and to Benazir Bhutto, leading women leaders faced all kinds of opposition from those who felt challenged by their role in power politics, but people did. People still voted for women leaders even in direct elections and also elected a woman as Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Jinnah and Benazir challenged the power of military dictators. People responded and rejected the negative propaganda against them. While Ms. Jinnah had to face the first military dictator, Field Marshal Ayub Khan and carry cruel propaganda, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and his mother Begum Nusrat Bhutto faced arrests, house arrests and even an “edict” according to which a woman cannot be elected as head of state or government.
But despite all the odds in 1988, people voted Bibi to power, making her the first woman elected to the post of Prime Minister, but not before certain right-wing parties led by the IJI and backed by the establishment. At the public IJI meeting in Lahore, used a religious card against her and Begum Nusrat Bhutto.
If Bibi had not been killed on December 27, 2007, it was very likely that she would have been elected Prime Minister for the third time. Ms. AsmaJehangir emerged as one of the most powerful voices of women during the time of General ZiaulHaq and fought for women’s rights throughout her life.
But the credit for bringing women into the political current also lies with former General President Pervez Musharraf, who increased the record number of seats for women in Parliament, a law that was also adopted by his successive leaders. During the last three elected governments, there have been a number of laws in favour of women and even extremist religious parties, with the exception of a few, have reviewed their position on women’s rights.
Since the mid-1970s, women around the world have observed March 8 as International Women’s Day to highlight the injustices committed against them and also recognize their role in society as equals.It has never been an easy journey for them, as they have faced difficulties, pressures, threats and even attacks in claiming their rights. But one question which I want to put forward is that is this all according to the teachings of Islam? Or Islam is not enough to protect women rights?
There may be a difference of opinion on the controversy of the last “March of Aurat” and on the display of certain slogans. Some religious groups have called them “very reprehensible,” while women have defended them by saying that they are very little known.
The two traditional religious parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, which has the largest and most organized female wing, have adopted a more rational and political position than JamiatUlema-e-Islam (JUI-F). Interestingly, JI Emir, Senator SirajulHaq, announced a week-long campaign for women’s rights, accepting the fact that women do not enjoy the same rights in society. Although some of its extremists opposed the Aurat March, the JI organized large women meetings, but refrained from giving tickets to women on direct seats, which is quite contradictory to the role it plays. Women leaders have played in dominant politics.
However, the threats of the JUI (F) leader, MaulanaFazlurRehman, to stop Aurat’s March at all cost have left many perplexed. It is a flip-flop for the political style of JUI-F or Fazl. Maulana’s comments did not work well, even in political circles where he was always considered a rational politician. But last year, such threats were launched by Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), which decided to adopt a discreet key this time. So why did the JUI-F, which did not oppose the “march” last year, adopted such a radical approach this year? Its scsope will also define the changing political direction of the UCI. We just need to put Islamic provisions in the mind and heart of people to get rid of such coronavirus from our society.
Now if we look at the teaching of Islam we came to know that in Islam, men and women are equal in the eyes of Allah and are expected to fulfill the same duties of worship, prayer, faith, almsgiving, fasting and pilgrimage to Makkah. Islam has generally improved the status of women over previous Arab cultures, prohibiting female infanticide and recognizing the full personality of women. Islamic law emphasizes the contractual nature of marriage, requiring that a dowry be paid to women instead of their families, and guaranteeing the right of women to inheritance and the possession and administration of property. Women also obtained the right to live in the matrimonial home and to receive financial assistance during marriage and a waiting period after death and divorce.
The historical record shows that Muhammad (SAAW) consulted women and seriously weighed their opinions. We know that a woman corrected Caliph Umar’s authorized decision regarding the dowry. Women prayed in mosques that were not separated from men, participated in the transmission of hadiths, housed men, did business, were encouraged to seek knowledge, and were teachers and students in the early Islamic period. Muhammad’s (SAAW) last wife, Aishah, was a well-known authority in medicine, history and rhetoric. Caliph Umar appointed women to serve as officials in the Medina market. Biographies of distinguished women, particularly in the house of Muhammad (SAAW), show that women behaved relatively independently in the early days of Islam. In Sufi circles, women were recognized as teachers, adherents, “spiritual mothers” and even heirs to the spiritual secrets of their fathers.
Now again I ask why would we need Aurat March if we already have our certain rights. This March is for people either male or female who are not aware from the above said teaching of Quran & Sunnah. Our religion even our laws already granted so many rights to woman, if you want to protect your body then start following all these sayings of Quran & Sunnah rather to say in public “merajismmerimarzi”. Nevertheless, there are few loopholes which need to be addressed but the way you want them to be addressed, sorry to say! It’s not the right way to say. These kind of marches are becoming more dangerous than coronavirus.
“…and women have rights similar to those against them in a just manner…” (Holy Qur’an, 2:228).