How should change come? Through a political or social process? The question continues to generate much debate among all who are interested in change. It is important to admit that if we fail to find a decisive answer to the question, we will risk leaving an unfortunate legacy to our children which may prove to heavy for them to bear.
In all societies, ours not excluded, there are those who oppose, or even reject outright, any change. In our case opposition to reform should be viewed from two perspectives. First, people oppose change on the grounds that it is counter to religion. This is common in Muslim societies and is usually driven by a fear of alien ideas and thoughts that do not conform to religion. Second, within this opposition group, there is another trend that rejects even the positive aspects that may result from change, even if there is no religious contradiction and even if the change has been accepted by other Muslim societies.
An example is the rejection by some groups of Saudis of girls’ education. This rejection is despite the fact that Islam encourages learning for all.
To address the issue of change and how it should be carried out, we must recognize that our society is one in which people have a number of ideas about change. Geography and culture play an important role here. It means that a certain degree of change needs state intervention. The challenge is found in many developing countries where governments are forced to intervene and shoulder the burden. Governments have to intervene in order to show their people that if there are some who oppose change, there are others who accept it.
By agreeing to bear both the psychological and material cost, the state can help pave the way for the process of change to go smoothly. Playing up the political element through state intervention, however, should not lead to the neglect of the social side. Change is inevitable and one of the best ways to convince people of its importance is to show its merit.
Again, the issue of girls’ education serves as a good example. We don’t want change to collide with our religious beliefs but when addressing the work of women, this doesn’t necessarily mean putting men and women in closed rooms. It means finding a suitable mechanism to employ half of society in a suitable environment.
There are large numbers of qualified women ready to take up jobs in different areas.
Women need to work to support themselves and their families. We should not forget that neighboring Gulf states are encouraging qualified women from other states to come and work there by offering them lucrative jobs.
Arab News From the Local Press 28 July 2003
