Sharia law is the foundation of the legal system for Islam. It was developed over a 500 year period after the death of Muhammad. Sharia is based on both the Koran and the Hadith. The Hadith is comprised of other sayings and doings of Muhammad in addition to the Koran. However, it is considered to carry as much significance as the Koran. Sharia is an integral part of Islam and affects all aspects of Muslim life.
A significant difference between Islam and Christianity is how women are perceived, especially as they relate to men, to whom they are considered inferior by Islam. The Bible is very clear on the matter. Women and men are considered equal partners who have been assigned different roles to maintain order. Adam was created first and then his counterpart, Eve.
“And the LORD God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.’” Genesis 2:18
Both Adam and Eve were created in the image of their Creator.
“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:27
Equality of men and women was confirmed in the New Testament.
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28
Approximately 500 years after the Bible was completed and the final warning given about adding to or taking away from it, Islam was born. Islam, however, claimed the Bible was corrupted and viewed the value of women very differently. It began with Muhammad who stated the following:
“O women! Give alms, as I have seen that the majority of the dwellers of Hell-fire were you (women)…I have not seen anyone more deficient in intelligence and religion than you…”
Muhammad’s thinking pervaded Islam’s Sharia law. Several examples of the perceived inferiority of women by Muslims include:
• A woman’s testimony is only counted as half of a man’s
• A woman can only have one husband while a man may have as many as four wives
• A woman should have no contact with men unless accompanied by a male relative
• A woman should be covered with the exception of her face and hands
• Muhammad said that a nation will never succeed that has a woman as a ruler, therefore, a woman cannot be a ruler or judge
• In some Islamic countries Muslim women are not allowed to drive
• The legal marriage age for Muslim women varies from country to country but the girl can be as young as 9 years old based on Muhammad’s example, i.e. he married 9 year old Aisha when he was 53
• The Koran allows Muslim men to hit their wives even if they only suspect highhandedness in them
There are attempts being made to incorporate portions of Sharia in several European nations as well as in Canada and the United States. Most Americans believe that Sharia should be rejected forthrightly as un-American, unconstitutional, uncivilized and counter-Biblical. Most notably and closest to home is SQ 755 which is currently being challenged on constitutional grounds by Muslims.
There are those who think Sharia law pertaining to a woman being stoned to death for adultery is akin to the Biblical Old Testament law concerning adultery.
“If a man is found lying with a woman married to a husband, then both of them shall die – the man that lay with the woman, and the woman…” Deuteronomy 22:22
“If a young woman who is a virgin is betrothed to a husband, and a man finds her in the city and lies with her, then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them to death with stones…” Deuteronomy 22:23-24
The key thought in the above is ‘both’ participants were found worthy of death, not just the woman.
It is very interesting that the National Organization for Women has been silent on the threat of Sharia. Their Statement of Purpose is totally contradictory to that part of Sharia pertaining to the rights and status of women.
“NOW’s purpose is to take action to bring women into full participation in the mainstream of American society now, exercising all privileges and responsibilities thereof in truly equal partnership with men. This purpose includes, but is not limited to, equal rights and responsibilities in all aspects of citizenship, public service, employment, education, and family life, and it includes freedom from discrimination because of race, ethnic origin, age, marital status, sexual preference/orientation, or parenthood.”
The NOW organization wholeheartedly endorsed Elana Kagan’s appointment to the Supreme Court. They also applauded the ruling on Proposition 8. It will be interesting to see if they exhibit the same vigor when confronted by the ‘sure to come’ threat of Sharia law in America inasmuch as they show no apparent concern for its implementation in other countries.
Next week we’ll examine in more detail the Biblical reference of death by stoning for those who commit adultery in this present era.
Google ‘women living under Sharia law’