For over two months now, the local newspapers have been talking about the unprecedented event in June at the National Dialogue Center. It aimed to address the different problems we face — national unity, religious tolerance, women’s rights and freedom of expression. And for over two months, I have been eagerly reading what has been written in the hope that someone, somewhere, would ask the ultimate question: How can you have a dialogue calling for “respect for the existence of the other, regardless of its political, religious, or social background” when “the other” is not even allowed to be there? Does that not, in itself, contradict the very essence and stated purpose of the meeting?
Thirty-five invitations were handed out to people who represent different views and parties. Present were men of religion representing both the Saudi mainstream and others, academics from different fields and men from different regions and cultures within the Kingdom. Not one of the 35 invitations, however, was sent to any member of the group which makes up more than 50 percent of the population: Women. A group which the committee thought was important enough to devote one of its six items to but not important enough for a woman to be present and speak on behalf of herself and her sex. Not only should a woman have been invited but so should women — many different women — representing the different groups of women in the country from various regional, cultural and educational backgrounds.
Some people will say that it was for social, not political reasons, that women were not invited. That is, on a social level, many people are not ready for women to attend such gatherings. I agree. I, myself, would probably not have been able to attend for cultural reasons, but there are so many other educated, enlightened, well-spoken and intelligent women who would have been more than happy to attend. On a political level, however, the government has shown it is accepting more female participation on different levels.
In 1999, Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, said: “We will not allow any person to undermine the role of Saudi women or marginalize the active role they take for their religion and country. We will not allow it to be said that we, in Saudi Arabia, diminish the status of our mothers, sisters and daughters... Saudi women have proven their ability to handle responsibilities with great success, whether through their principal duty as mothers or as professionals. We look forward to women playing a major role in a way that will promote the interests of this nation on the basis of Shariah (Islamic law).”
Having said this, I would also emphasize that “social restrictions” is a rather lame excuse for the continued marginalization of women in Saudi Arabia. Focused and organized leadership can remedy almost any problem. The government, hand in hand with the media, demonstrated impressively how it could tackle a topic as sensitive as terrorism and the dangers of fanaticism. Surely, the issue of women’s rights is considerably less complicated. If the media can address a topic like fanaticism and work on changing the mentalities of many people in an amazingly short period of time, could it not do the same for social misconceptions regarding women and their place in society? Why can’t different TV talk shows host a number of religious authorities speaking on how women in Islam are entitled to many more rights than our strict social structure gives them? Why can’t voices of different men of religion be heard on this topic?
Anyone who has real knowledge of the status of women during the earliest — and perhaps strongest — days of Islam knows that women were very much a force then. The first believer was a woman — Khadijah, the Prophet’s wife — and the first martyr in Islam was a woman — Umm Umarah. Twenty surahs (chapters) of the Qur’an address women directly; in the Hadith (sayings of the Prophet) women are also very much a group which is dealt with. In fact, Aisha, the Prophet’s wife was one of the leading narrators of Hadith. Moreover, she was regularly asked for advice by many of the Prophet’s followers. Her “presence” was historically remarkable and is undeniably recognized by all religious authorities. Women took part in those days on a political level too. They were not turned away when they came to cast their votes, contributing to the first election of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Asma, daughter of Abu Bakr, the first Caliph and a close friend of the Prophet, aided in the escape of her father and the Prophet when they were threatened by the tribes of Makkah.
Women also took part in battles fought by the Muslims in order to spread Islam; they nursed the wounded and even defended themselves and others with their own swords. So in other words, anyone looking at Islamic history will find that there are countless women who contributed in numerous ways. True, times have changed but they have changed to make the means by which women contribute easier. It is amazing that today, with all our technology, we cannot find a way — rather do not want to see a way — in which women can attend and contribute to this and other national gatherings. By attending and contributing, they would be able to play a direct and vital role in our development as a nation.
As a nation, we are constantly being restrained by a limited interpretation of religion, and women have especially been the most affected. People continue to try to relate new situations to the past when things were very different. Continued and rapid development has naturally brought the emergence of new needs that were non-existent and perhaps even unprecedented in earlier times. If we are to progress, we need to look forward rather than backward. Our failure to do that, perhaps more than any other reason, is why we are always held back.
Lately, it seems as if one of the fastest ways to deal with these sensitive new issues has been to declare them forbidden and “get on with the show.” Ibn Al-Qayyem, says: “A ‘fatwa’ (religious opinion on the legality of an issue) can change with changes in time, place, situation, habits, intentions, and people.” In fact, he devoted a whole chapter to this in one of his books.
Islam is a flexible religion. Perhaps it is this feature more than any other that makes Islam a religion for all places and all times. Why then do we strip our religion of one of its most valuable and appealing features?
The National Dialogue Center is a wonderful idea and an undeniable step forward. Any society in order to develop fully must have freedom of expression as well as national unity. Freedom of expression need not mean rebellion; in fact, it is only through that freedom that sincere and realistic contributions can be made. National unity need not mean everyone is identical; in fact, it is variety that makes each group’s contributions more valuable. And for these two essential aims to be achieved, all members must be allowed to contribute. Women make up more than half the Saudi population. Thus it would be naive to think that any real development can be achieved if women are marginalized. Yes, it may take some time and effort to get people to understand and accept the idea of women having more active roles in the country’s future — but surely 50 percent of the population is worth it, is it not?
- Arab News Features 12 September 2003
