When I mention Islam, I am not only concerned about its young age, but its way of life, a concept that encompasses every aspect of one s life from beginning to end. Islam, the newest and second largest faith, influences many parts of this earth. Originating in Saudi Arabia, the religion is based on one book, The Holy Quran, the final word of Allah (god). Prophet Muhammed, in Islam, was the last messenger of god. His life is one that Muslims should follow. The Holy Quran, outlines every Muslim s life. This outline, provides guidance from whom to marry to how to mourn a loved one s death. The Holy Quran dictates a religion based on unsurpassed knowledge, fairness, and equality. Equality, as described in The Holy Quran, O mankind! Reverence your Guardian-Lord, Who created you from a single person, and created of like nature his mate, and from them twain scattered (like seeds) countless men and women (4:1). The Holy Quran enforces the idea that all men and women were created equal, regardless of origin, race or wealth. The fact that Islam gives women equal rights, but not identical, shows that it takes her into due consideration, acknowledges her, and recognizes her independent personality. Despite these ideas, many so-called Islamic countries have alienated many of women s god given rights. But this is not the fault of Islamic ideology but rather the misapplication or sometimes the outright denial of the ideology in these societies. Ignorance on behalf of those societies rulers, being the root of alienation, has caused many people to perceive the religion as unequal. Rights that many take for granted in this society. Many people view the religion as a man s religion. As mentioned earlier, Islam outlines every aspect of men and women's lives. A woman s lifestyle is explicitly described in The Holy Quran. Misconceptions about dress, marriage and polygamy have formed about women in Islam.

Modesty, a lifestyle, best explains woman s clothing and covering. The western influenced media portrays women s dress to be outdated and oppressive. Many of us have seen movies, documentaries, etceteras, in which Muslim women are portrayed as wearing black gowns to the ground, full facial, excluding eyes, head and hand covering. This practice is more a cultural ritual than religious act. The Holy Quran explains that women must dress modestly, And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.) and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent (like palms of hands or one eye or both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer dress like veil, gloves, head-cover, apron, etc.), and to draw their veils all over Juyubihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms, etc.) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husband's sons, their brothers or their brother's sons, or their sister's sons, or their (Muslim) women (i.e. their sisters in Islam), or the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigor, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful (24:31). This passage prescribes clearly why women wear the appointed coverings. It s to divert attention and protect from impure thoughts. Equally, men must look down, in respect for women. Men must not wear any gold, silk, or anything that displays wealth. This enforces the idea of modesty for men. Suzanne Haneef, author of What Everyone Should Know About Islam and Muslims says about modesty, Purity, modesty and decency in behavior, appearance, dress and speech are required (Haneef 106). Wearing what is prescribed for god and appropriate reasons, displays an act of faith and worship. A sense of closeness between woman and god is achieved. Any good deed for that matter, done for god and appropriate reasons, displays an act of faith and worship. Allama Sir Abdullah Al-Mamun Al-Suhrawardy put together a compilation entitled The Sayings of Muhammed, which contains a collection of sayings from the Prophet. About modesty, Muhammed says, True modesty is the source of all virtues. Modesty and chastity are parts of the faith (96).

To much disbelief/contrary, the role of Muslim women in the home is far from passive. Best described by Haneef in What Everyone Should Know About Islam and Muslims, The Western stereotype of the Muslim woman as a mere household drudge, preoccupied from morning to night with cooking, cleaning and looking after the children, with no spirituality, interests, personality or life of her own, who is debarred from contributing in a constructive manner to society has no basis in the Islamic teachings (Haneef 155). Women s role as a wife and mother is regarded with much respect in Islam. Man is the person solely responsible for the complete maintenance of his wife, his family and any other needy relations. It is his duty by law to assume all financial responsibilities and maintain his dependents adequately. It is also his duty to contribute financially to all good causes in his society. All financial burdens are borne by him alone. The Holy Quran states, Men are responsible for women because God has given to one more than the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women) (4:34). Though it is the man s responsibility to care for the wife, it s not a male dominated marriage. If a wife has been used to be a maid or is unable to attend to her household duties, it is the husband s duty to provide her with a maid if he can afford to do so. The Prophet is reported to have said that the best Muslim is one who is the best husband. The Prophet encourages to Admonish your wives with kindness (Al-Suhrawardy 115). The wife s rights are greater than of that of husband. The wife is entitled to a marriage gift that is her own. This may be prompt or deferred depending on the agreement between the parties. A marriage is not valid without mahr. " Mahr" is a gift from the groom to the bride. It does not have to be money or gold. It can be non-material, like teaching her to read The Holy Quran. This is the Islamic law, unlike some cultures whereby the bride s parents pay the future husband to marry the daughter. This practice degrades women and is contrary to the spirit of Islam. Here is no specification in The Holy Quran as to what or how much the Mahr has to be. It depends on the parties involved. One of the main duties of the wife is to contribute to the success and blissfulness of the marriage. She must be attentive to the comfort and wellbeing of her husband. The wife must be faithful, trustworthy and honest she must not deceive her husband by deliberately avoiding contraception. She must not allow any other person to have access to that which is exclusively the husband right i.e. sexual intimacy. She must not receive or entertain strange males in the house without his knowledge and consent. She should not be alone with a strange male. She should not accept gifts from other men without his approval. This is meant to avoid jealousy, suspicion and gossip. The husband possessions are her trust. She may not dispose of his belongings without his permission. A wife should make herself sexually attractive to her husband and be responsive to his advances. The wife must not refuse her husband sexually as this can lead to marital problems and worse still - tempt the man to adultery. The husband of course should take into account the wife s health and general consideration should be given.

Another subject of much misconception and skepticism is the practice of polygamy in Islam. The practice of polygamy is one that is not widely accepted in the western world, though it is a common practice in the east. Muslim men can marry up to four wives, but only under certain conditions. According to Ruqaiyyah Maqsood in Islam, polygamy arose because of the abundance of women and lack of men, resulting in no chance of marriage for women (182). The Holy Quran and the Prophet have clearly defined this practice. The Holy Quran says, "Marry women of your choice, two or three or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with them, then only one or one that your right hands possess. That will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice (4:3)." This verse from The Holy Quran allows a man to marry more than one woman but only if he can deal justly with them. Another verse says that a person is unable to deal justly between wives, thus giving permission but discouraging. "You will never be able to deal justly between wives however much you desire (to do so). But (if you have more than one wife) do not turn altogether away (from one), leaving her in suspense... (4:129)" Actually there are three kinds of polygamy practiced in Western societies:

1.serial polygamy, that is, marriage, divorce, marriage, divorce, and so on

2.a man married to one woman but having and supporting one or more mistresses;

3.an unmarried man having a number of mistresses.

Islam condones but discourages the first and forbids the other two. The practice of polygamy also prevents adultery, an act so serious, it can be punishable by death. The truth of the matter is that monogamy protects men, allowing them to "play around" without responsibility. Easy birth control and easy legal abortion has opened the door of illicit sex to woman and she has been lured into the so-called sexual revolution. But she is still the one who suffers the trauma of abortion and the side effects of the birth control methods. Taking aside the plagues of venereal disease, herpes and AIDS, the male continues to enjoy himself free of worry. Men are the ones protected by monogamy while women continue to be victims of men's desires. Polygamy is very much opposed by the male dominated society because it would force men to face up to responsibility and fidelity. It would force them to take responsibility for their polygamous inclinations and would protect and provide for women and children.

In conclusion, modesty, marriage, and polygamy are some of the misconceptions of women in Islam. Equality of women among men the Muslim world is not publicized much. As mentioned before, the religion is not a male dominated religion, based upon the beliefs of The Holy Quran. The Muslim woman is referred to with high regard. Followers of the religion are taught to treat women with much respect. The Prophet says about motherhood that, Heaven lieth at the feet of mothers (Al-Suhrawardy 97). The religion is an equal faith. Though in some aspects of the religion some practices and beliefs may be regarded as unequal , only because of the nature of the two sexes. Ridding these misconceptions is a task similar to ridding racism and discrimination, all are a result of ignorance.