Salam Aleykom brother AK, Saudi Arabia like all other countries has a secular constitution and many things they do there goes against Islam. As far as women being treated badly, I don't know every detail but I know from people who been there that women are not allowed to go out alone, they are not allowed to drive and yes men have it easy there. But that does not mean all Saudis are bad nor is this an Islamic law. The west often confuses Saudi constitition with Islamic sharia but that is not the case at all. Just like all other countries, they only pick and chose what they like out of the sharia and ignore the rest.
Are Women Realy Suppressed in Saudi Arabia ??
- Thread starter BigAk
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Salam Aleykom brother AK, Saudi Arabia like all other countries has a secular constitution and many things they do there goes against Islam. As far as women being treated badly, I don't know every detail but I know from people who been there that women are not allowed to go out alone, they are not allowed to drive and yes men have it easy there. But that does not mean all Saudis are bad nor is this an Islamic law. The west often confuses Saudi constitition with Islamic sharia but that is not the case at all. Just like all other countries, they only pick and chose what they like out of the sharia and ignore the rest.
ShyHijabi
Junior Member
Salaam,
I just had a friend visit Saudi for a month. (she is a Christian Canadian so her view is interesting) She said that while women are not allowed to drive she wouldn't drive there if you paid her to. She said their driving is atrocious and one the most common causes of fatality is car wrecks. Do I think women should still be allowed to drive, of course. It makes absolutely no sense to forbid women from driving but allow them to take a taxi driven by a non-Mahrem male. Foolishness.
She said women can choose to wear the hijab but the abaya is mandatory. (black only, which is so preposterous given the heat and that men are allowed to wear white thobes) She said she was amazed at the level of laziness over there as so many are simply rich from the money oil brings to the country. She said the women will spend many, many thousands of dollars at the mall...daily. They basically either languish of boredom at home or pass the time spending money at the mall. Think about how much charity they could be spending it on instead. Sigh.
She told me a story of a young woman (early 20s) who burned her own house down and was sent to the hospital as "punishment" by her father. For ten days this girl lived in the cardiac wing (she was VIP since she was royalty and this was the only VIP room left) and had my friend's mother as her soul caretaker. Seems my friend's mother was the only person she would tolerate and basically was a spoiled brat. Oh and the reason she was at the hospital was for "psychological care" while her house was being rebuilt. She was given day passes where the nurse (friend's mom) had to be her chaperone. In one day she spent $50,000 at the mall...in.one.day.
She said the young males get away with murder as sons are more treasured than daughters. She said the girls are basically marriage fodder and very few fathers have much involvement with their children's upbringing. All in all she said that the media demonizes SA way too much and it's no where as bad as they show it. But her main complaint was the laziness, the fact that no shop opens on time (not unusual for them to open 3 hours late), and that the royalty can literally get away with murder while the poorer, tribal folks are treated very harshly.
I just had a friend visit Saudi for a month. (she is a Christian Canadian so her view is interesting) She said that while women are not allowed to drive she wouldn't drive there if you paid her to. She said their driving is atrocious and one the most common causes of fatality is car wrecks. Do I think women should still be allowed to drive, of course. It makes absolutely no sense to forbid women from driving but allow them to take a taxi driven by a non-Mahrem male. Foolishness.
She said women can choose to wear the hijab but the abaya is mandatory. (black only, which is so preposterous given the heat and that men are allowed to wear white thobes) She said she was amazed at the level of laziness over there as so many are simply rich from the money oil brings to the country. She said the women will spend many, many thousands of dollars at the mall...daily. They basically either languish of boredom at home or pass the time spending money at the mall. Think about how much charity they could be spending it on instead. Sigh.
She told me a story of a young woman (early 20s) who burned her own house down and was sent to the hospital as "punishment" by her father. For ten days this girl lived in the cardiac wing (she was VIP since she was royalty and this was the only VIP room left) and had my friend's mother as her soul caretaker. Seems my friend's mother was the only person she would tolerate and basically was a spoiled brat. Oh and the reason she was at the hospital was for "psychological care" while her house was being rebuilt. She was given day passes where the nurse (friend's mom) had to be her chaperone. In one day she spent $50,000 at the mall...in.one.day.
She said the young males get away with murder as sons are more treasured than daughters. She said the girls are basically marriage fodder and very few fathers have much involvement with their children's upbringing. All in all she said that the media demonizes SA way too much and it's no where as bad as they show it. But her main complaint was the laziness, the fact that no shop opens on time (not unusual for them to open 3 hours late), and that the royalty can literally get away with murder while the poorer, tribal folks are treated very harshly.
sazk
Banned
its very difficult to be a non arab n be in the company of royalty. i have two very close friends who lived in jeddah. one of them related an incident where he was studying at a school which was for the princes. said they were very cruel n used to slap him ridicule him etc. there hasnt been a decent saudi royal member since Shah Faisal.
i dont know how much saudi arabia treats girls as marriage fodder. but in my country women are married young too. its the idea :- get them married quickly because, one, she is young n beautiful and her husband n she will lead a happy marriage life. n two, so that she can reach the esteemed status of motherhood n be raised in the sight of Allah.
i dont know how much saudi arabia treats girls as marriage fodder. but in my country women are married young too. its the idea :- get them married quickly because, one, she is young n beautiful and her husband n she will lead a happy marriage life. n two, so that she can reach the esteemed status of motherhood n be raised in the sight of Allah.
Hard Rock Moslem
I'm your brother
Brother BigAk, it may be forbidden for women to drive in Saudi Arabia but not in Malaysia, Indonesia (largest muslim population), Brunei and many middle east countries. In Singapore chewing gum is banned to both men and women, for sure this is not muslim state. So this is nothing to do with religion but man made law.
On the issue women in Saudi can not go out alone, as a muslim you know why. But of course this again not the practice in Indonesia which has about 200mil population and certainly not in Malaysia and Brunei.
You may suggest to your neigbour to visit Malaysia and Indonesia, both are muslim majority states.
TheHumbleWun
Banned
The Oppression of the Western Women
Salaam,
Your neighbor suits the definition of a hypocrite. He looks for "oppression" in other countries but does not look at his own nation & surrounding. Western women are oppressed with provocative clothing, dillusionary ideologies such "bikinis," "models", etc. The men take advantage of these women. They are constantly forced to dress "sexy" & pounded with make-up. "Models" for example can not just be any body, they have to be willing to wear their bras & panties for store magazines for the public, they have to be willing to show their skin and body. This is oppression!
It is no wonder that rape, cheating, adultary is much higher in the West compared to Islamic countries.
Every country has their own laws & people have to abide by them. Women could not vote in the U.S. less than 100 years ago. Where they oppressed? I have to pay taxes on each of my paychecks to the government for interest on loans they take from the private Federal Reserve. Am I oppressed?
If man never invented cars, does that mean the entire world is oppressed? Just because something is invented does not mean other people are backward. "Oppression" can be a subjective word. I'm sure that Saudi women feel they are more free than American women!
We can not have establish a perfect Islamic country. Why? Because we can't establish heaven or utopia on earth. Every country has flaws, but as Muslims we do our best to establish sharia in our countries. Saudi has many positive aspects of sharia implemented.
The rule of thumb (in most cases) is to go against & and think the opposite of what the U.S. or Westerners say about Muslims or Islam. We have heard enough of about their "democracy!"
Salaam,
Your neighbor suits the definition of a hypocrite. He looks for "oppression" in other countries but does not look at his own nation & surrounding. Western women are oppressed with provocative clothing, dillusionary ideologies such "bikinis," "models", etc. The men take advantage of these women. They are constantly forced to dress "sexy" & pounded with make-up. "Models" for example can not just be any body, they have to be willing to wear their bras & panties for store magazines for the public, they have to be willing to show their skin and body. This is oppression!
It is no wonder that rape, cheating, adultary is much higher in the West compared to Islamic countries.
Every country has their own laws & people have to abide by them. Women could not vote in the U.S. less than 100 years ago. Where they oppressed? I have to pay taxes on each of my paychecks to the government for interest on loans they take from the private Federal Reserve. Am I oppressed?
If man never invented cars, does that mean the entire world is oppressed? Just because something is invented does not mean other people are backward. "Oppression" can be a subjective word. I'm sure that Saudi women feel they are more free than American women!
We can not have establish a perfect Islamic country. Why? Because we can't establish heaven or utopia on earth. Every country has flaws, but as Muslims we do our best to establish sharia in our countries. Saudi has many positive aspects of sharia implemented.
The rule of thumb (in most cases) is to go against & and think the opposite of what the U.S. or Westerners say about Muslims or Islam. We have heard enough of about their "democracy!"
ShyHijabi
Junior Member
Yes they were. You need to watch a movie called "Iron Jawed Angels" that shows what women had to go through during the suffrage movement. It's quite the eye opener when considering this was the "good 'ole days" of the US.
Our taxes go towards the upkeep of the nation. Everything from feeding the poor (WIC) to welfare, to the roads and mail system. Comparing paying taxes to removing rights to women is a flawed argument.
I guarantee you that the opnion of the Saudi woman depends very much on her wealth (or lack thereof). Females in wealthy families will have more of an opportunity for education and such. Whereas the poorer families will most likely view their daughters as an extra mouth to feed and thus a burden. This is not unique to Saudi but rather universal.
I am viewing Saudi as a Muslim female without the Western lens. Just because the country I live in deeply, deeply flawed doesn't mean other "Islamic countries" get a pass-go card and can make any law, even ones that defy Shariah. (women can't drive but can be with a non-related males in a taxi) We should be tough on our fellow Muslim brothers and sisters and correct jahilya thinking. If a country does not permit education and opportunities for education, or takes rights away from women that the Qu'ran allows, then we can correct them. I don't expect even bare minimum from the likes of America but I do hold the Muslim countries to a higher standard. I mean, we are comparing Kuffir to Shariah, no contest.
Wasalaam
salam aleikum
Everyone is so prejudice ...
We are so quick to judge people ,and we even forget that those people are our brothers and sisters .Saudi Arabia is still the land of Islam ,however bad it seam to be for others ,still we have to remember that Mekkah and Medinah are there.
Which Muslim country is perfect? None
Then why are we discussing Saudis .We can start discussing every country now and find good and bad in each one ..
Then why are we judging them here ?....Let them be ,and leave the Judgement to Allah... ..
Why don't you ask Saudi women how they feel about their life? Why do you all asume things?
There are many better things to do then discussing Saudis ...
waaleikum salam
Everyone is so prejudice ...
We are so quick to judge people ,and we even forget that those people are our brothers and sisters .Saudi Arabia is still the land of Islam ,however bad it seam to be for others ,still we have to remember that Mekkah and Medinah are there.
Which Muslim country is perfect? None
Then why are we discussing Saudis .We can start discussing every country now and find good and bad in each one ..
Then why are we judging them here ?....Let them be ,and leave the Judgement to Allah... ..
Why don't you ask Saudi women how they feel about their life? Why do you all asume things?
There are many better things to do then discussing Saudis ...
waaleikum salam
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