In most public debates when the discussion is about matters to do with women, the speakers often repeat the phrase, "Islam honors women". Those who keep saying this want us, the men, to hold women in the high esteem which our religion directs us to do. This is especially evident if the discussion is about the employment of women. Calls are being made for women to be respected and honored and elevated above suspicion. Women must be treated gently, never exposed to hardships and must be provided with a healthy working atmosphere.
Judging from what is said in these debates, one would think that we, the men, have provided women with more rights than they are actually entitled to. It is as if we sacrifice our own interests to guarantee theirs and that we can do what it takes to please women.
Is this the true picture? Islam honors the sons of Adam, male and female, but we need to ask ourselves if we are really following the teachings of Islam as we should. I wish we honored women by issuing laws, legislation and systems that ensured this, especially those relating to work.
The examples drawn from life make one wonder whether we, the men, are indeed serious about protecting women. It seems to me that what we, the men, really care about is glorifying ourselves and trying to do everything that will bring us a happy life. Honoring women and protecting them is a very secondary concern. This is obvious from the fact that the majority of those working under extremely difficult conditions while risking their lives are women.
I challenge men to tell me of any of their fellow men who leave for work at dawn and do not return until after sunset. Many women do exactly that. I challenge any man to tell me of men who travel hundreds of kilometers every day to go to work as those women teachers do. I challenge you to tell me of any men being subjected to this kind of daily torture and the risks they are exposed to at every moment as they travel on poorly-maintained roads in vehicles which do not meet standards of safety.
Can any one tell me of men being killed in large numbers in road accidents while going to or coming from work as is the case with women these days? While women continue to suffer, all we men do is watch and fail to act. Are we really honoring women or tormenting them?
Arab News From the Local Press 19 November 2002
