Be bold for change

Defenders of traditions and the status quo often resist change that would disturb their control of power.

Yesterday, I escaped the oppressive heat of Manila and enjoyed the cool weather of Marawi. Can you imagine fog in the afternoon? Such a wonderful change! I would like to thank Governor Bedjoria Soraya Adiong for inviting me to join the Women’s Summit of Lanao del Sur and giving me the opportunity to discuss, with my Maranao sisters, the role of Muslim women in securing their communities. This year, the Philippines’ theme for International Women’s Month is “We Make Change Work for Women,” following the international theme of “Be Bold for Change.” What does the phrase “We make change work for women” mean? It sounds good, though. My sister Salma joked that it could mean we will make “barya” ( loose change) work for women. I more fully appreciate the international theme of “be bold for change.” We need to be brave and bold because change is difficult — at times dangerous. This is especially true for the Maranao women of Lanao del Sur and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.

Defenders of traditions and the status quo often resist change that would disturb their control of power. The issue of women’s rights is one change that has been resisted by a male dominated world, particularly in the Muslim World. This, in spite of the fact that the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) championed rights for women. He gave us economic as well as political rights, at a time when baby girls could be murdered and no one would even think it a crime. At a time when a man could have as many wives as he wished, Islam limited the number of wives to a maximum of four — and with stringent conditions.

The Holy Prophet sought to change the world for the better and did not say that women are inferior to men. After all, he married his employer, Khadija, who became one of his trusted advisers. My sisters and I therefore grew up believing we could — and should — strive to develop our potentials, and not just our brothers. If we wished to join politics, we could. Consider that women have been elected as heads of state in Muslim-majority countries like Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Turkey, Maldives, and Azerbaijan long before the United States ever will. (Here in conservative Lanao del Sur, the Maranaos have elected two women governors: Tarhata Lucman and now Governor Bedjoria Soraya Adiong.)

Around the world, Muslim women’s rights have generated a great deal of debate. While many feminists have criticized sharia ( Islamic law) as restrictive for women, many have also defended Islam as the sponsor of women’s rights.

Unfortunately, the wave of democratization that swept the Islamic world has been blocked. Today, more rigid interpretations of Islamic jurisprudence — not too friendly to women — have gained the upper hand in the newly democratized states. Thus, Muslim women leaders — such as Governor Soraya — must engage the state and the religious leaders to define a more just, legal framework for both women and men.

Patriarchy and feudalism, exacerbated by Muslim women’s lack of education, are responsible for the oppressive interpreta-

tion of Islam on women’s rights. While Islam sought to liberate women, patriarchal thinking has brought about the inequalities faced by women in society, not by faith. Culture must be separated from faith as Islamic law is interpreted. Rigid men have interpreted the Koran to favor men. In marriage for instance, men are taught that they are superior to women and thus must be followed by women. However, the Koran does not say that men are “superior” to women. Rather, it says that men are “caretakers” of women who are in need of assistance.

Over the last 15 years, we have witnessed the rise of religious fundamentalism and faith-based politics leading to intolerance in communities divided by religious, ethnic, and cultural lines. Intolerance is a threat to social cohesion and fuel for radicalism in society. Religion has a prominent role in both conflict and peace. Faith-based conservative political parties won power over the progressives and liberals in the Middle East and North Africa, in Europe and in the United States. For instance, US President Donald Trump’s anti-Muslim rhetoric is frightening, especially when he says that Islam hates the US. How can a religion hate?

Extremists like the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) use violence as a tool against their enemies and against peoples of other faiths, to establish an Islamic caliphate. Unfortunately, their interpretation of Islam has been exported as far as the Philippines. This skewed worldview is propagated by preachers who support violence in the name of Islam. Identity politics and faith have become intertwined in communities that are under threat — like conflict-affected Muslim Mindanao.

In the areas of conflict, it is the woman who is victimized again and again. She has the burden of caring for her children in a hostile environment with little access to government services. In communities dominated by Islamic extremists like ISIS and Boko Haram, Muslim women are abused — even raped — by Muslim men who claim to be defending Islam.

What can women do? We need to empower ourselves and the first step is education. Unfortunately, a big percentage of our women are illiterate.

In ARMM, almost 40% of our adults are no read, no write. According to DSWD’s data about 4Ps beneficiaries in ARMM, over 1 million (15 years old and above) are illiterate. Most of them are women. Thus, we need to help our illiterate women read and write and comprehend. Otherwise, they will not be part of the movement for bold positive change of our communities.

This is Islamic, after all. Surah 49, Verse 13 of the Holy Koran states: “O mankind! We created you from a single pair of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other, not that ye may despise each other.” Muslim man AND woman, father and mother of nations, are BOTH enjoined to be part of a pluralistic society. Muslim women in ARMM need to join forces and refocus attention of leaders — political and religious — on the principles of Hurriya ( liberty), Adl ( justice), Shura ( consultation) and apply these to both men AND women.

If we are to have a just and secure peace and neutralize violent extremism, then we must invest in a pluralistic and inclusive society where both men and women are partners to ensure stability and the common good.