Some lines in your post struck me like a thunderbolt...
You sound like a conservative in the post yet in a part of your post you do sound as if you want all this to change ....
At times I feel as if your posts 're written by 2 different guys where one contradicts the other.
Trust me the notion that the Ummah is somehow preserved through the offspring of Muslim men is culturally archaic.I've believed that the spread of Islam has been through its message and its growth is maintained through the belief of its followers.
Assuming that men are the head of households and carry on family legacy then we also support the notion that women 're the primary caretakers and nurturers. Ergo religion and culture are more likely to be passed through the mother.
Now it doesnt make any sense that a practicing Muslim mother would not raise her children as Muslims. It makes even less sense that a non Muslim mother could be expected to raise her children as Muslim.
Let me ask you a question...if a Muslim woman finds a non muslim who respects her better than the Muslim men around her and with whom she connects better as well,then whom should she marry?? the non muslim or the muslim who doesnt respect her?
The beauty of Islam is that it guaranteed a minimum standard for women at a time when there was no standard...the men in ME were barbarians back then.These iIslamic laws were made for ppl back then where it assumed that the man following Islam would respect women.But what would you do if the muslim men themselves stifle her rights to chose the man she loves??
I dont believe Love is haram in Islam and for the same reason I believe that the woman would 've every right to marry a man of her choice. I seriously feel that many have misinterpreted Quran because right before her marriage and in the presence of everyone a (would be )bride is asked that if she would want to marry the (would be) groom?
"Qabool hai" is what she would say if she is ready to marry him...isnt it??
It means Quran gives woman the right to marry a man of her choice.Then where did it all go wrong?? why is she stopped to marry a man of her choice who happens to be a non muslim??
Infact who is a good muslim?? a believer of god and the one who follows what has been taught to him by Prophet Mohammed.
And what was a muslim taught?? He was taught to be a good human,one who respects others and shoulders his responsibilities. In short a non muslim who follows the same teachings (may be in a different way) is as good as a muslim. Or should i interpret this as a good human being (whether a non muslim or muslim by birth) is the one who is right in front of God. God would not ponder over whether a person has been praying 5 times a day but God judges a person by his deeds.
A good human matters and not a religious man (though I do believe that a "true" follower of religion would be disciplined and a good human as no religion in its true sense preaches hatred).
I understand that the concern that a shift in traditional thought will have implications in Islamic law but it should not be considered a threat to Islamic traditions. Islamic law is not divine and it is not set in stone. It is a man made
interpretation of divine doctrine and tradition.
I believe that there 're many Islamic scholars who recognize the need for development in Islamic legal theory and 're uncomfortable upholding traditions that are not prescribed in the Quran, yet few are willing to voice that opinion for they fear they would be boycotted.
When it comes to the rights of women we need to remember that Islam provided a floor and not a ceiling and we must be careful of twisting something into haraam that is not expressly prohibited.
I read this somewhere that in the Quran God declares,
“…Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you…” (49:13) At another place in the Quran, God clearly states that all humans are equal:
“To whoever, male or female, does good deeds and has faith, We shall give a good life and reward them according to the best of their actions.” (16:97)
I interpret that as Quran sees both men and women as equal.
And also the fact back in the 7th century Prophet Mohammed declared that the pursuit of knowledge obligatory on every Muslim ,male or female.So if the prophet Mohammed could be so broad minded to give education and equal right to women then why 're his other teachings misinterpreted??
I strongly believe that there's an urgent need to change the existing Islamic laws.
Now this news took me by surprise that 45% of muslim women in America marry non muslims.
45% US Muslims marry outside their faith
Well in my immediate family one man is married to a muslim woman.She has not converted,neither was her family boycotted (she belongs to a very affluent muslim family).They've 2 kids the elder one is about 21-22yrs old.So I guess there're exceptions.
And you know the best part, she comes to temples with us (like Guruvayoor)
@Ravi Nair
The post above is just a reminder that exceptions 're there. I've no idea why she was not asked to convert or why her family did not face boycott. But I'm glad that it didnt happen