Author: Obaidullah Nimruzi
Allama Sayyed Abul Hasan Nadwi, may Allah have mercy on him, (Part 21)
A Word to Modern Afghan Women
The Embassy of Saudi Arabia was very eager and wanted to make the most of this short period (six days) that we spent in Kabul, utilizing this good opportunity to hold scientific and religious meetings and to meet different prominent cultural figures.
Therefore, two meetings were held in the spacious and luxurious house of the Ambassador; one of these sessions was reserved for Muslim women from noble families with a religious orientation. The women who attended the meeting were familiar with religion and did not rebel against or protest Islamic beliefs, despite their cultural and university education.
Western Cultural Influence and Orientalist Thoughts in Afghan Women’s Society
In Afghanistan, we discovered that Western civilization and culture have made significant strides in this country. The period from 1928 to 1973 was particularly long, as the Afghan nation adhered strictly to Islamic customs until the time of Amanullah Khan, often to an extreme and exaggerated degree. The result was that when King Amanullah Khan turned away from some of these customs, it led to revolution and rebellion that eventually overthrew his government. However, without a doubt, the situation has changed significantly now. While this 45-year interval might seem short mathematically, the intellectual and cultural distance covered during this time is equivalent to what some nations accomplish in a century.
Today, hijab has become a symbol of backwardness, ignorance, and poverty; as such, it has been marginalized and is often confined to villages, the homes of conservative scholars, and the farmers living far from the capital. Women’s clothing has become completely foreign and Western; however, remnants of old traditions and the Islamic character of Afghans were still evident in the words of these educated Muslim women. There was no rebellion against religion and Islamic law. Instead, they expressed shyness and modesty in most of their conversations and acknowledged the value and significance of religion. They expressed a desire to recognize the status, rights, and dignity of women in Islam. They should be informed about issues that threaten Afghanistan, as they do not wish to succumb to the powerful factors leading to this unfortunate fate.
Professor Ahmed Mohammad Jamal then elucidated Islam’s view on women, explaining the position and duties Islam has delineated for women in a healthy society. He spoke about the merit women have in building a good family and a healthy society during a scientific lecture. At the end of his talk, the attendees posed a wave of questions, most of which revolved around polygamy, divorce rights for men, and Islamic hijab. This meeting concluded in an atmosphere of peace and silence, after which the guests, both men and women, engaged in dinner and performed Isha prayers.
Honorable colleague Professor Ahmad Mohammad Jamal attended another meeting organized by one of the women’s associations in Kabul. I was not present at this meeting due to my trip to Ghazni. The Professor informed me about the intense discussions and debates that took place regarding hijab, the rights to polygamy, and the rights to divorce for men. This indicates the significant intellectual anxiety present in Afghan women’s society and the extent of the influence of foreign propaganda on its culture.
Continues…
By admin2