Refuting - 10 top ways the Quraan oppresses Women

Mr. Arlandson..... I came across the website with your articles, while looking for an opposing view to use as a source for my school paper. Google, is really helpful in locating what ever you may be looking for! Needless to say, I googled upon your article on the top 10 rules of the Quran that are oppressive and insulting to Women. Structure wise, it was a very well put together piece of writing I thought. It was excellent of you to include the links, as a way of trying to prove your words true. A lot of similar types of websites/articles do not take that extra step, almost suggesting that we should take them at their word. Actually, thats exactly what most people do.. Take them at their word, with out ever asking to see proof, or to know where their information even came from. So, I commend you on taking this extra step. I must admit, that I smiled most of the way through your writing. Not for the reason that you may be thinking, but out of understanding. Understanding that the sources, and explanations you used, were not ones worth using for the most part. Although the Quraan, and the hadiths from Bukhari, are indeed legitimate sources, your accounts and explanations of them were completely inaccurate. It is as if, you only were informed in partial truths. That, although Quraanic verse and or related hadith may have been correct, your explanation and understanding were not. I intend to go into further detail at a later point... You, yourself have said that giving you a verse from the Quraan, will not change your mind. So, how is it you use this method in trying to change the minds of others? Although, I am sure you have angered many Muslims, I am not angered in the least. I am also pleased to know that you are open to a polite discussion. I must also add, that I am pretty sure that most of the Muslims that were angered by your writing, have an inaccurate understanding of Islaam. The world today, is full of Muslims with inaccurate understandings of Islaam. Unfortunately, they send a message that all Muslims are the same.. Totally incorrect! Some of us, actually take the time out to learn correctly our religion. I don't even own a Quraan that has been translated by Maududi, nor would I ever.. He is not qualified to write a commentary on the Quraan. Honestly, he is not qualified to write anything on Isaam. " Maududi promoted un-Islamic revolutionary modes of thought which led him to have a distorted view of Islam as being primarily a political system. Overlooking Islam's fundamentals such as teaching tawhid (true monotheism) and the pillars of the religion such as understanding the realities of the testimony of faith, praying, giving charity, fasting and making Hajj'."- taken from the book "THE WAHABI MYTH". This is a very common sentiment among Muslims. Granted, you do have those that praise his position and work. Like I said earlier, the world is full of Muslims with the wrong understanding of Islaam. Using his commentary, takes completely away from the validity of your argument. He is not a reliable, nor trustworthy source to use. And it is clear that as a result of this, you have absolutely no understanding of Islaam. Nor, do you have the correct understanding of ANY of the Quraanic versus you chose to build your argument on. Similarly, a few(possibly more) of the hadiths you referred to, were not correctly explained. They were either incorrect in their explanation, or they were incomplete AND incorrect in their explanation. The hadith you partially cited - "I heard Allah's Apostle who was on the pulpit, saying, "Banu Hisham bin Al-Mughira have requested me to allow them to marry their daughter to Ali bin Abu Talib, but I don't give permission, and will not give permission unless 'Ali bin Abi Talib divorces my daughter in order to marry their daughter, because Fatima is a part of my body, and I hate what she hates to see, and what hurts her, hurts me." You used to show that the Prophet, knew polygyny to be painful to women... Also implying that he wouldnt allow his son -in-law to practice that which he himself practiced. The more in-depth meaning behind this hadith is, the woman Ali was offered in marriage, was the daughter of their enemy. The daughter of an Idol worshipper.. It was not befitting that a daughter of a Prophet, be co-wives with a daughter of an idolitrist, and a avowed enemy of Islaam. I do not feel the need to correct you verse by verse, because by using Maududi's commentary, it's safe to say that they are all incorrect. In fact, none of the references you chose (outside of the actual Quraan and Hadith) were reliable. There was not 1 Scholar cited, or even mentioned. I would not take knowledge from any of the sources you used in your article. Nor would I read anything they may have written. It is extremely important to take knowledge from those that actually have knowledge... Not someone that has an extremely warped understanding of Islaam. Let me share with you what Islaam is about... Its about perfecting the fundamentals, the basic principles Islaam is built upon. Basically what this means is, to believe in the Oneness of God.. Spending a lifetime perfecting your worship, as a result of truly understanding and believing this.. Striving to obey the commands of God, understanding that this included refraining from what he has forbidden, and practicing and perfecting what he has commanded of us. Preparing for the next life, by seeking forgiveness and doing as many good deeds as possible in order to be of the inhabitants of paradise. In all fairness, there are those ignorant fools that call themselves Muslims, and distort perfection into madness. Not only those that carry out killings claiming to be in the name of God, but also those that beat, and abuse their wives or daughters, sisters,etc. Oppression is NOT from Islaam, nor is terrorism and killing of the innocent. Islaam is not a religion of hate, although it has some followers that practice it as such. Islaam is perfect.. Muslims are not. Islaam does not oppress women, men do... Islaam on paper, and in the example set by the Prophet and early generations of Muslims, prohibited the oppression, ill-treatment, abuse, abandonment etc. of Women in any form. As is the nature of Man, some countries, and some families, have corrupted the set examples. Some Men, have undeniably become like tyrants over the women in their family. There is good and bad in everyone... A true human characteristic. I intend to take the time to read a few more of your writings.. I am just too tired right now, long day... Let me suggest to you a few authentic, reliable sources... Ibn Kaathir- his explanation of the Quraan is the most respected and reliable one. The Noble Quraan E-fatwa.com- a site that list all of the major Scholars of Islaam, past and present. Also included, is their rulings and positions on certain issues. The Wahabi Myth- the name says it all.. Informative reading A little about me... I converted to Islaam almost 15 years ago. I am a white American woman, and a mother of 7 children. My father is Pentecostal Minister, and we spend hours having religious discussions. We call it sharing of information... I cover completely (veil) by my choice, and I love the beauty of it. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask! My intention here was not for a debate, rather more of a correction, and also to suggest the use of more accurate sources. Have a wonderful and enlightening day.. Nazirah As of today- I have yet to receive a response. Its been nearly 3 weeks.. to see his entire bogus article reference- http://www.answering-islam.de/Main/Authors/Arlandson/women_top_ten.htm