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This document contains 100 multiple choice questions about current affairs in various countries and international organizations. It covers topics like the leaders and capitals of countries, international organizations like the UN and OIC, and positions within the Pakistani government. The questions are intended to test knowledge of important people, events, and facts from recent world news and current events.
This document contains 100 multiple choice questions about current affairs in various countries and international organizations. It covers topics like the leaders and capitals of countries, international organizations like the UN and OIC, and positions within the Pakistani government. The questions are intended to test knowledge of important people, events, and facts from recent world news and current events.
This document contains 100 multiple choice questions about current affairs in various countries and international organizations. It covers topics like the leaders and capitals of countries, international organizations like the UN and OIC, and positions within the Pakistani government. The questions are intended to test knowledge of important people, events, and facts from recent world news and current events.
By Zulqarnain Sewag in NOA-National Officers Academy (Lahore Campus) IMPORTANT MCQs FOR CURRENT AFFAIRS 1. The name of Pakistans ambassador to the US is Sherry Rehman 2. Pakistan is a non permanent member of UN Security Council 3. The US Envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan is Marc Grossman 4. OIC has been recently renamed as Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Previously it was Organisation of Islamic Conference. 5. The US ambassador to Pakistan is Cameron Munter 6. The current Chairman senate is Farooq H. Naek 7. Pakistan leased out Shamsi airbase to UAE 8. Abbotabad Operation was carried out on May 2 2011 9. Abbotabad Commission is headed by Justice Javed Iqbal 10. The President enjoys immunity from criminal proceedings Under Article 248 of the Constitution 11. Leon Panetta is the US Defence Secretary 12. 12. A K Anthony is the current defence Minister of India 13. S M Karishna is the minister of external affairs of India 14. P Chidambram is the Home affairs Minister of India 15. Pranab Mukharjee is the Finance Minister of India 16. Hina Rabbani is Minister for foreign affairs 17. Abdul Hafeez Sheikh is the Finance Minister of Pakistan 18. Khursheed Shah is minister for the religious affairs 19. Makhdoom Amin Fahim is the minister for trade 20. Maula Bux Chandio is the law Minister 21. Hillary Rodham Clinton is the current Secretary of the US 22. Joe Biden is the US vice President 23. Ekmelu din Ihsanoglu is the Secretary General of OIC 24. Reko Diq contains copper and gold and is situated in District Chagai ( Balochistan) 25. 2012 Olympics are going to be held in London 26. Headquarters of Asian Development are situated (ADB) at Manilla ( Phillipines) 27. 27. Headquarters of OIC are situated at Jedda 28. 28. Headquarters of SCO are situated at Shanghai 29. Headquarters of ECO are situated at Tehran 30. The current secretary General of UN is Ban Ki Moon ( South Korea) 31. Steve Jobs is the founder of apple I phone 32. Pratibha Patil is the President of India 33. Yingluck Shinawatra is the Prime Minister of Thailand 34. Muhammad Hamid Ansari is the Vice President of India 35. Yaseen Anwar is the current Governor of State Bank of Pakistan 36. Transparency International is headquartered at Berlin (Germany) 37. Lufthansa is the Airline of Germany 38. Nabil-el Araby is the current secretary General of the Arab League. ( He is from Egypt) 39. 39. National Flower of Pakistan is Jasmine 40. National Sport of Pakistan is Hockey. 41. Leader of the Opposition in the Senate is Abdul Ghafoor Haideri. 42. Markhor is the national animal of Pakistan. 43. Arfa Karim, the youngest software engineer, belongs to Pakistan. 44. RAW stands for research and analysis wing (intelligence agency of India). 45. Mossad is the intelligence agency of Israel. 46. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is the head of state of Liberia. She is one of the three Noble Peace Prize winners for the year 2011. 47. Chinese Premier is Wen Jiabao 48. Hu Jintao is the President of China 49. Abdullah Hussain Haroon is Pakistans permanent representative in the UN. 50. World Trade Organisation (WTO) came into being in 1995 51. David Cameroon is the Prime Minister of UK. 52. Angelina Merkel is the German Chancellor. 53. Christine Lagarde is the new head of IMF. 54. Robert B. Zoellick is the head of World Bank. 55. Headquarters of ECO are situated at Tehran. 56. RCD was established in 1964. 57. Ali Akbar Salehi is the Foreign Minister of Iran. 58. Zalmai Rassoul is the foreign minister of Afghanistan. 59. Last Presidential elections in Afghanistan were held in 2009. 60. After Pashton , Tajik are the second largest ethnic group in Afghanistan. Hazara are the third largest group in Afghanistan. 61. Headquarters of South Waziristan are at Wana during summer and Tank during Winter. 62. Headquarters of North Waziristan are at Miramshah 63. Headquarters of Khyber Agency are at Landi Kotal 64. South Waziristan is the largest agency in size in FATA. 65. FATA comprises of seven agencies. 66. APP is the news agency of Pakistan whereas AP ( Associated Press) is the news agency of the US 67. AFP is the news agency of France. 68. Interfax is the news agency of Russia. It is the news agency of Ukraine also. 69. Reuters is the news agency of UK. 70. PTI is the news agency of India. 71. Xinhua is the news agency of China 72. Yonhap is the news agency of south Korea 73. SPA is the news agency of Saudi Arabia. 74. MFN stands for most favoured nation. 75. SCO was established in 2001. 76. G8, association of the richest and most developed countries of the world comprises of US, UK, France, Germany, Canada, Italy, Russia, Japan. It has no formal structure. 77. Scandinavian states are Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway. 78. TAPI stands for Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. 79. Bonn Conference was held in November 2011 to discuss post with drawl scenario in Afghanistan. 80. Pakistan boycotted Bonn Conference because of NATO attack on Salala check post. 81. Next Conference will be held in Chicago in May 2012. 82. Mansoor Ijaz is an American national ( not Pakistani) who has ignited memogate controversy. 83. Hussain Haqqani, Pakistans former ambassador to the US, had to resign as a result of memogate scandal. 84. Rao Qamar Suleman is the current Air Chief Marshal of Pakistan 85. Asif Sandila is the current Naval Chief of Pakistan 86. Chairman NAB is Admiral Fasih Bukhari. 87. PNS Mehran was attacked on 22 May 2011. 88. South Sudan Became a Nation on July 9, 2011. South Sudan's capital is Juba. Salva Kiir, South Sudan's president, signs the interim Constitution 89. Kvitova and Djokovic won Wimbledon Titles in 2011. 90. Yoshiko Noda is the Prime Minister of Japan. 91. Saudi Arabia has recently granted right to vote to women. 92. Palestine became member of UNESCO on 31 October 2011. 93. Mario Monti is the Prime minister of Italy. He has replaced Berlusconi.n 94. Tahrir square is in Egypt. 95. First ever elections were held in Tunis on 24 Oct 2011. 96. On Oct 11, 2011, U.S. Attorney general Eric H. Holder announcedm from Washington that the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps paid assassins from a Mexican drug cartel $1.5 million to kill Adel al-Jubeir, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States. 97. South Sudan is the 193rd member of the UN. 1. George J Mitchell is President Obamas special envoy to the Middle East.
United Nations 1) The United Nations was established on 24 Oct 1945. 2) Official languages of UN are English, Russian, French,Chinese, Arabic,Spanish 3) There are currently 193 member states. 4) The first meetings of the General Assembly, with 51 nations represented, and the Security Council, took place in Westminster Central Hall in London in January 1946. 5) Headquarters of UN are situated at international territory New York 6) Headquarters of World Bank and IMF are situated at Washington 7) Headquarters of FAO are situated at Rome 8) Headquarters of UNESCO are situated at Paris 9) Headquarters of UNICEF are situated at New York 10) Headquarters of International Court of Justice are situated at The Hague (The Netherlands) 11) Security Council consists of 15 members ( Five Permanent and Ten Non Permanent) 12) The Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly, after being recommended by the Security Council. 13) Veto Power is enjoyed by the Permanent members only 14) Headquarters of IAEA are at Vienna 15) Headquarters of ILO are at Geneva 16) Headquarters of Universal Postal Union are at Bern (Switzerland) 17) Headquarters of World Health Organisation are at Geneva 18) Headquarters of UNHCR are at Geneva 19) Ban Ki Moon is the Secretary General of UN . He is from South Korea. 20) International Court of Justice comprises of 15 judges. 21) Session of UN is held in September every year
Balochistan Governor: Zulfikar Ali Magsi Chief Ministers: Aslam Raisani
Gilgit-Baltistan Governor: Pir Karam Ali Shah Chief Ministers: Syed Mehdi Shah
Kashmir Governor: Raja Zulqarnain Khan Chief Ministers: Sardar Attique
Important Personalities Bangladesh President: Zillur Rahman Prime Minister: Sheikh Hasina
Afghanistan President: Hamid Karzai Vice President : Mohammed Fahim and Karim Khalili
Russia President: Dmitry Medvedev Prime Minister: Vladimir Putin
Iran Leader of Iran: Ali Khamenei President: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad First Vice President: Mohammad-Reza Rahimi:
Iraq President: Jalal Talabani Prime Minister: Nouri al-Maliki
Israel President : Shimon Peres Prime Minister: Benjamin Netanyahu
United Kingdom Monarch: Elizabeth II
France President: Nicolas Sarkozy (UMP) Prime Minister: Franois Fillon (UMP)
Germany President : Christian Wulff (CDU Chancellor: Anglina Merkal
Canada Monarch: Elizabeth II Governor General: David Johnston Prime Minister: Stephen Harper Organisations
SAARC Secretariat: Kathmandu, Nepal Official languages: English Establishment: December 8, 1985 SAARC Secretariat was established in Kathmandu on 16 January 1987 Members: (8) Afghanistan , Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka
ASEAN Secretariat: Jakarta, Indonesia Official languages: English Secretary-General: Surin Pitsuwan Establishment Bangkok Declaration: 8 August 1967 Charter signed on: 16 December 2008 Members: (10) Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore , Thailand, Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.
OIC Secretariat: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Official languages: Arabic, English, French Establishment: September 25, 1969 Secretary- General : Ekmeleddin hsanolu (Turkish) Members: 57 member states It changed its name from the Organisation of the Islamic Conference on 28 June 2011 and renamed as Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
ECO Secretariat: Tehran, Iran Official languages: English Establishment: 1985 successor organisation of Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD), founded in 1964, which ended activities in 1979. Secretary-General: Yahya Maroofi (Afghani) Members: 10 member states Iran, Pakistan, Turkey Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
SCO Secretariat: Beijing, China Official languages: Chinese and Russian Establishment: 2001 Secretary-General: Muratbek Sansyzbayevich Imanaliyev Members: (6 Members) China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan successor organization Shanghai Five, founded in 1996; after the inclusion of Uzbekistan in 2001, the members renamed the organisation. Observers: (4 )Pakistan, India, Iran and Mongolia Dialogue Partner: Belarus, Sri Lanka and Turkey Guests: ASEAN, CIS and Turkmenistan
NOBEL PRIZES FOR 2011 Nobel peace prize 2011
1) Winners are Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Leymah Gbowee of Liberia and Tawakul Karman of Yemen for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for womens rights to full participation in peace-building work.
Nobel Literature prize 2011
Tomas Transtrmer for condensed translucent images which give us fresh access to reality.
Nobel Economics prize 2011
Thomas J. Sargent and Christopher A. Sims for their empirical research on cause and effect in the macroeconomy.
Nobel Physiology or Medicine prize 2011
Bruce Beutler, Jules A. Hoffmann and Ralph M. Steinman for their discoveries concerning the activation of innate immunity. Nobel Chemistry prize 2011
Dan Shechtman for the discovery of quasicrystals.
Nobel Physics prize 2011 Saul Perlmutter, Adam G. Riess & Brian P. Schmidt for his contributions to the discovery of the acceleration of the expansion of the universe. (PREPARED BY ZULQARNAIN-0313-4040037) Posted 12th May 2012 by BEST CSS ACADEMY,NOA 2 View comments 98. abby10 July 2012 01:40 very informative post indeed.. being enrolled in http://www.wiziq.com/course/3822-current-affairs-2012- for-ias-upsc-and-other-exams, Online Video Coaching I was looking for such articles online to assist me.. and your post helped me a lot :) Reply Replies 1. BEST CSS ACADEMY,NOA26 July 2012 05:24 welcome
Reply Add a commentLoad more May 12
IJTEHAD in ISLAM IJTEHAD The modern age has raised large number of new problems for the Islamic Ummah. The Quran and Sunnah provide the concrete bases on which answers to these problems can be found. Muslims all over the world are now devoting their attention to a reinterpretation of Islam in the context of modern times. Generally speaking, the desire for religious reconstruction and moral regeneration in the light of the fundamental principles of Islam has throughout their historical destiny, been deeply rooted among Muslims-Progressivists as well as traditionalists. Both the sections seem conscious of the fact that the only way for the Muslims of today, for an active and honorable participation in world affairs, is the reformation of positive lines of conduct suitable to contemporary needs in the light of social and moral guidance offered by Islam. This, however, entail a great and heavy responsibility of all those engaged in the onerous task of reconstruction. Literal Meaning of Ijtehad Ijtehad literally means exertion. It is an endeavor of qualified jurists to discover the injunctions of Shariah on a legal question. Fiqhi Meaning of Ijtehad The idea of Ijtehad has its origin in well known verse of Holy Quran: And to those who exert we show Our path. We find it more definitely adumbrated in a tradition of the Holy Prophet S.A.W. when Maad was appointed ruler of Yemen, the Prophet S.A.W is reported to have asked as to how he would decide matters coming up before him. I will judge matters according to the book of God, said Maad. But of the book of God contains nothing to guide you? Then I would act on the precedents of the Prophet of God. But if the precedents fail? Then I will exert to form my own judgment. IJTEHAD + CONSENSUS = IJMA Examples from Quran, Hadith, khilafat, Fiqh Quran: Quran says: "As for the thief, both male and female, cut off their hands", but during the year of famine - which resembled the case of plight, Caliph Umar suspended the penalty for theft in view of the verse "Whosoever is forced to transgress the laws without violating the laws, then there is no sin against him" Another example concerns the time of waiting (iddah - the period after which a woman can marry - a safeguard for ascertaining the correct fatherhood of a child) for the pregnant wife who becomes widowed. In view of the verse "For those who carry life in their wombs, their period is until they deliver their burden", there was an opinion that when a man dies and leaves a pregnant wife, her time of waiting expires at the birth of the child. While in view of the verse "If any of you die and leave widows behind, they shall wait concerning themselves four months and ten days" there was another opinion that the time of waiting expires either when she gives birth or after 4 months 10 days, whichever is the longest duration. In other words, if the woman gives birth 8 weeks after her husband's death, she still has to wait the remaining 2 months and 10 days. It was resolved that each of the verses was interdependent and, were connected ingeneral to the other. The second verse in linked to the first which gives the understanding that the women whose husband has died, is under iddah for four months and ten days if she is free from pregnancy. However if she is pregnant, her iddah expires when she has given birth. Hadith: An example of this is a hadith whereby Umar al-Khattab and Ammaar ibn Yaasir exercised ijtihad about tayammum. While Umar decided to delay his prayer, Ammaar decided to roll himself on the ground to perform tayammum and offered the prayer. Later, he told Rasulullah () about it who responded, It is enough for you to strike the ground with your hands, then blow into them, then wipe up your face and the palms of your hands with them. Rasulullah () corrected Ammaar about the acceptable nature of tayammum.
Khilafat: The companions of the Prophet were the first to resort to analogy [A form of Ijtihad] when confronted with the problem of the election of Abu Bakr to Khilafat. The Prophet (Pbuh) having asked Abu Bakr to lead the prayers they elected him as their leader, for one who is the leader in religious affairs must also be the leader in worldly affairs. The cause for election is quite apparent and they were justified in electing Abu Bakr as their leader. The companions were unanimously in agreement concerning the application of analogy. An example is the directive from the Caliph umar to Abu Musa al-Ashari which read; know the similitude and weigh the cases against them! Hazrat Ali, when consulted by Caliph Uthman on the punishment which should be meted out to those who drank wine, he advised; We apply the punishment for calumny, namely eighty lashes of the whip, because if a person becomes intoxicated, he knows not what he says, and in such a condition he commits calumny. Thus, through this analogy, drinking of wine was linked to calumny. Other examples of Ijtehad by orthodox Caliphs are as follows; Punishment as prescribed by the Quran for the thief, male or female, is to cut off their hands, but the Caliph Umar suspended it in the year of famine because of necessity and in order that people might keep alive. The consensus of jurists followed this rule. Similarly workers and artisans such as tailors and goldsmiths were not responsible for the loss of things given to them to work upon. Hadrat Ali argued, although the workers or the manufacturers do not seem to be responsible for the loss of such things, if there is no responsibility they will become quite negligent with the result that the owners will have to suffer a great loss. Therefore, the artisans and workers must be held responsible, hence Alis proposal was adopted by consensus. Caliph Umar , observed the principle of sound analogy (Tawil) in the interpretation of the Quranic verse: Alms are only for the poor and the needy, and those who collect them and for those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and to free the captives and the debtors, and for the cause of Allah and the wayfarer, a duty imposed by God. (9:60) The words, those whose hearts are to be reconciled, refer to a group of weavers who were included among the recipients of the alms. The verse is silent as to the cause why this group was included among the recipients of alms. The sole object was to win them over to the side of Islam on account of their influence and the high esteem in which they were held in their tribe. Caliph Umar refused to give them alms when Islam had gained in strength saying: These were payments from the Prophet (Pbuh) to you in order to win you over for Islam. Now Allah has given power to Islam and made your support unnecessary. So you either remain faithful to Islam or the sword will be the arbitrator between us. There is a report about Umar, the second Caliph, that one day, during the month of Ramadan; he announced the end of fast, when the sun apparently set. After a while he was informed that the sun was again seen in the sky (as it had not actually set). Upon this he reportedly remarked: the matter is easy; we exercised Ijtehad. This is an early example of the use of this term by the companion standing for discretionary judgment.
Ijtehad and Four Imams: It is interesting to note that the four Imams Abu Hanifa, Malik, Shafi and Ahmed Ibn Hanbal never advised to follow their views unless their sources were ascertained. Imam Abu Hanifa and Abu Yusuf are reported by Ibn Qyyaim al-Jawziah to have said, It is not legitimate for anyone to follow our view until he has learned the source where from we derived those views. Imam Mohammad, and Imam Yusuf both students of Imam Hanifa, rejected eighty percent of Ijtehad of their teacher Abu Hanifa in the light of new sources and changed conditions. The Fiqh Hanafi as it exists today is based on the Ijtehad of both these students, that is, Imam Yusuf and Imam Mohammad. Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, reputed the most meticulous adherent to the traditions said, Do not imitate me, Malik, AlShafii or al-Thawri but learn from the source from which they learned. All these statements prove that interpretation is incumbent upon every man of learning. They also prove that the interpreter is liable to err. Caliph Umars instructions to Abu Musa -al- Ashari given in a letter are noteworthy. After giving judgment, if upon reconsideration you come to a different opinion, do not let the judgment which you have given stand in the way of retraction; for justice may not be disregarded and you are to know that it is better to retract than to persist in injustice. Ibn Qayyim writes, The shariah is all justice, kindness, common good and wisdom. Any rule that departs from justice to injustice ... or departs from common good (Maslaha) to harm (Mafsada) ... is not part of Shariah, even if it is arrived at by literal interpretation. Abu Ishaq Al-Shatibi in Maqasid al-Sharia writes, Allah made this blessed righteous Shariah accommodating and convenient and thus won the hearts of human beings and invoked in them love and respect for law. Had they had to act against convenience they could not have honestly fulfilled their obligations. Modes of Ijtehad There are three modes of Ijtehad undertaken by Muslim Jurists. 1. Literal interpretation: Here the jurist stays as close to the meaning of the texts as is possible. The purpose is to discover the true intent of the law giver. 2. Analogy or Qiyas: In the second mode, jurist attempts to extend the laws derived during the first mode to new situations not expressly covered by texts. The form of analogy employed by Muslim jurists is strict and some of its forms are very similar to literal methods. 3. Interpretation based on purpose of law: When the set of facts awaiting decision is neither stated expressly n texts nor can one of the laws derived in the first mode be extended to this new situation through analogy, the jurist employs the theory of interpretation based on the purposes of shariah. The essential difference is that in analogy the jurist solves the legal problem by extending the meaning from single text while invoking the purposes or spirit of the laws means looking at all the texts or group of texts collectively in the light of their purpose. In this mode the jurist is required to work on the basis of general principles conform with the purpose of shariah. The third mode of Ijtehad has not been employed very frequently by fuqahaa s it is meant to be exercised by imams, that is, the rulers, who deal mostly with public law rather than personal law and who usually employ the general principles of shariah to frame the laws or to provide relief. Need of Ijtehad Allah (swt) addressed the whole of mankind through the Prophet hood of our master Muhammad (saw). He (swt) said:
Say (O Muhammad (saw)): O mankind! Verily I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah [TMQ 7:158]
O mankind! Verily, there has come to you a convincing proof (Muhammad [saw]) from your Lord [TMQ 4:174]
O mankind! Verily, there has come to you the Messenger (Muhammad [saw]) with the truth from your Lord. [TMQ 4:170]
O mankind! Fear your Lord and be dutiful to Him! Verily, the earthquake of the Hour (of judgment) is a terrible thing. [TMQ 22:1]
From these verses and others similar we understand that Allah (swt) has addressed humanity directly. Therefore for the one who has heard the address of the Legislator, Allah (swt) - it becomes incumbent on him to believe in it and understand it. It also becomes incumbent on him to act upon it, because it is Hukm Shar'ai (Shariah rule). So in principle a Muslim should understand the Hukm (rule) of Allah from the speech of the Legislator directly. This is because the speech has been directed at all people by the Legislator and not only at the Mujtahidin or the 'Ulama but all the Mukallafin (those who are legally responsible). Thus it became an obligation on the Mukallafin to understand this speech so as to be able to act upon it, since it is impossible to act upon the speech without comprehending it. Therefore, the inference (Istinbat) of Allah's Hukm became Fard on all the Mukallifin i.e. Ijtihad became Fard on all the Mukallafin (legally responsible). Consequently, the basis of a Mukallaf (legally responsible) should be that he adopts the Hukm of Allah himself from the speech of the Legislator because he has been addressed by this speech.
However, the reality of the Mukallifin (legally responsible) is that there is a disparity in their understanding and comprehension and in their aptitude for learning. They also differ in terms of knowledge and ignorance. Therefore, it is impossible for all of them to deduce Sharai rules from the evidences i.e. it is impossible for all Mukallafin to be Mujtahidin. Since the objective is to understand the speech and act upon it then the understanding of the speech i.e. Ijtihad is Fard on all the Mukallafin (legally responsible). However since it is impossible for all Mukallafin to understand the address for themselves due to the disparity of their understanding and the disparity in learning, then the obligation of Ijtihad becomes one of sufficiency ('ala al-Kifaya). If some undertake it the rest are absolved of the sin. Therefore, it became obligatory on those Muslims legally responsible that there should be Mujtahidin amongst them who would derive the Sharai rules. There is a similarity in this respect to other sciences, not everyone can become a doctor, physicist or chemist due to the disparity of peoples aptitude for learning.
The reality of the Mukallafin and the Hukm Shar'ai means that there would be two categories amongst the Muslims: the Mujtahidin and Muqallidin. This is because the one who adopts the Hukm himself directly from the evidences is a Mujtahid, and the one who questions the Mujtahid about a Hukm Shar'ai is a Muqallid; irrespective of whether or not the questioner asked about the Hukm to learn and act upon it, to learn and teach it to others or just to learn it. The Muqallid is considered as one when he asks someone who is not a Mujtahid but knows the Hukm Shar'ai and is able to tell others, whether the one who was asked is knowledgeable or just a layman. Thus, they are all followers (Muqallid) of others in this Hukm even if they do not know the one who deduced the Hukm, because the Mukallaf is required to adopt the Hukm Shar'ai and not follow any particular person. Being a Muqallid means he has adopted a Hukm Sharai, which he did not deduce himself. It does not mean he followed a particular person, since the subject matter is the Hukm Sharai and not the person. The difference between the Muqallid and the Mujtahid is that the Mujtahid deduces the Hukm Sharai from the Shariah evidence himself and the Muqallid is the one who adopts the Hukm Sharai irrespective of whether or not he knew the one who derived it, as long as he trusts the Hukm to be a Shariah rule. It is not a permissible Taqleed to adopt the opinion of any person as a personal opinion or the opinion of such and such scholar, thinker or philosopher without it being derived from the Islamic evidences. None of this is legitimate Taqleed. It is tantamount to adopting something other than Islam and this is prohibited by the Shariah. Also, Allah has ordered us to adopt from the Messenger Muhammad (saw) and not from anybody else whoever he may be. He (swt) said:
And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad [saw]) gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it). [TMQ 59:7]
Iqbal states that worldly matters are related to the rights of the people and are subject to change and modification.
Needs: Gap between message and meaning. E.g.; Share trading, concept of Islamic state Issues of language Two basic elements of law a. Dignity b. Flexible according to need Law is there but situation is new. Eg; blood donation Law is there but cause is developing. Eg; Riba, Globaliszation (Jet lag, Geographical lag) Law itself is developing. Eg; Organ transplant Law and cause both are developing. Eg; Cloning
Limitations of Ijtehad The subject of Ijtehad occupies a recurring theme across much contemporary Islamic literature. A tool employed by Islamic jurists, it holds the key to Islam's continual relevance and to defining an Islamic approach for solving problems in the 21st Century. But there are certain teachings in which there is no element of ambiguity or modification required. These laws are fixed for all ages. Ijtehad cant be invoke in: Creation of universe Oneness of Allah Faiths 5 pillars of Islam Practical application of Ijtehad Ijtehad by individual Ijtehad by institution Ijtehad by Individual (Individual Mujtahid): A mujtahid is someone qualified to exercise Ijtehad, which literally means striving and technically means juridical endeavor and competence to infer expert legal rulings from foundational proofs within or without a particular school of law. There are various grades of mujtahid e.g. Mujtahid Mutlaq [unrestricted in his ijtihad due to him having established his own usoolul fiqh with regards to general evidences and universal principles],
Mujtahid Masala [competent to make ijtihad in a specific issue or group of issues]
Mujtahid Madh-hab [competent to make ijtihad based upon the usoolul fiqh of a complete mujtahid]
Mujtahid Murajih [competent to outweigh between the different ijtihad within a school, in later times this has also been applied to scholars outweighing between different opinions from different schools, however, that obviously contains the bias of the mujtahid murajihs own legal thought]
Mujtahid Mustakhrij [competent to trace and authenticate the ijtihad within a madh-hab and distinguish between the preferred views]
There are also other grades of mujtahid which have been mentioned by the usooleeyeen and some have given them different names with similar meanings. From the basic requirements of a mujtahid there are the following. [The requirements for ijtihad differ from madh-hab to madh-hab and on the type of ijtihaad that is being performed, also circumstances are also relevant, there may be times when the most knowledgeable of a community does not possess every tool of ijtihad that would ideally be required but he still uses all of his knowledge, resources and abilities to spend effort on reaching the best decision he can.]:- 1. MUSLIM Allah (swt) says Verily, We have sent down to you the Book as a clarification for all matters, a guidance, a mercy and good news for the Muslims (an Nahl 16:89) 2. SANE Nabi (saw) was reported by Ali to have said The pen is lifted for three one who sleeps till he awakes, a child till he becomes mature and an insane person till he gains his sanity (ABU DAWOOD kitabul Hudood, AHMAD, NASAAI, IBN MAAJAH and graded saheeh according to AL HAAKIM as reported by IBN HAJR AL ASQALAANI in Bulooghul Maraam min Adillatul Ahkaam [kitaabun Nikaah no.927]) 3. INTELLIGENT Thus do We explain the signs in detail for a people who use their intellects (yaqiloon) (ar Room 30:28) 4. ARABIC LANGUAGE Verily, We have sent it down as an Arabic Quran in order that you may understand. (Yusuf 12:2) This includes:-
i) Ilmul Lughah ii) Ilmul Laghwah (dialects) iii) Ilmun Nahw iv) Ilmus Sarf v) a) Amm/Khass b) Mantooq/Mafhoom c) Muhkam/Mutashabbih 5. ULOOMUL QURAN This includes:-
i) Asbaabun Nuzool ii) Ahadeethul Ahkaam iii) An Naasikh wal Mansookh Abu Ala ibn ash Shikhir reports The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) abrogated some of his commands by others, just as the Qur'an abrogates some part with the others. (MUSLIM [no.675]) iv) Daaeef/Hasan/Saheeh v) Mawqoof/Marfu/Musnad vi) Ilmur Rijaal vii) Imud Diraayah 7. ILMUL IJTIHAAD WAL TAQLEED 8. Al Adillatul Ijmaliyyah (The general evidences) Al Qawaaid ul Kulliyyah or Qawaaid ul Usoolul Fiqh (The general principles relating to deduction of laws) 9. Fataawatul Ulemaa and Fiqhul Madhaahib (The rulings of the previous scholars and schools of law) [for mujtahid murrajih] 10. Women can be mujtahid like Justice Fakhar un Nisa has given remarkable decision related to child custody that mother has first right on child and then child has right on himself. 11. Slaves can be mujtahid In present age, it is difficult to have all the qualities in one individual. There are people like Taqi Usmani, Dr. Zakir, Mufti Muneer etc renowned capable personalities who can give their opinion in different issues but their Ijtehad would be individual Ijtehad which is not acceptable. We need collective Ijtehad. Ijtehad by Institution: Parliament: According to Allama Iqbal Parliament can undertake Ijtehad because collective wisdom will generate better results. Cabinet: According to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Cabinet can undertake Ijtehad. Rational of this opinion is selected wisdom that out of general public selected members of cabinet can better decide the matter. Courts: Dr. Javed is of the view that Courts can undertake Ijtehad. Rational behind this opinion is legal wisdom that courts can better decide the matter for maintaining law and order in society Special Institutions: Islamic Ideological Council Federal Shariat Court Shariat Appelant Bench Universities/Research Institutions Courts of non Muslim countries Ijtehad at International level Individual level: On individual level internationally renowned respectable personalities like Imam Kaba and Mufti Azam Saudi Arabia and non Muslim judges like Justice A.R. Cornalic and Justice Keh Ka Woos are undertaking Ijtehad for the welfare of nations. Institutional level: Following institutions are performing service of Ijtehad on international level. Organization of Islamic Cooperation Jamaiya Azhar Bait ul qum Islamic Research Foundation Dar ul Uloom Deoband Doors for Ijtehad are open or closed? Imam Ibn al Qaffal: In the fourth century of Hijrah a person called Al-Qaffal issued a Fatwa closing the door of Ijtehad, thus he was called Al-qaffal which means the one who closes something. In 1111 hijrah Imam Ghazali gave fatwa of freezing Islamic hinking in time. During the Mogul invasion, it was believed that all religious intellectual elites have become sufi and normal individuals are treating the affairs of religion and politics. Secondly when the state is properly organized, individual Ijtehad is not acceptable. Thirds reason is a concept that when an institution is obsolete, you cannot easily revive that. Besides all the justifications mentioned above we can say that the door of Ijtehad is open and base of it is Istadlal. First istadlal was committed by Iblees when he refused to bow down in front of Ibrahim A.S on the basis of reason that if we throw dust in air, it will always come down. But if we inflame, it will always shoot up. Misconceptions about Ijtehad
As mentioned earlier different extremes exist regarding the view of Ijtehad, some believe the doors of Ijtehad are closed whereas others have broken the doors of Ijtihad altogether. The following are some of the key misconceptions that have crept into the minds:
a) The doors of Ijtihad are closed i.e. it is impossible and not permitted to undertake Ijtehad today.
b) To undertake Ijtihad one has to be similar in knowledge to Imam Malik ibn Anas (d. 796) and it is not permissible or possible for someone with less knowledge than him.
c) The scope of Ijtihad includes most things including definitive matters such as the prohibition of Riba (usury) and the prohibition of having nation states with a multiplicity of rulers in the Muslim world. It allows for definitive Islamic rules to be altered in order to apply to the modern age.
d) Ijtehad is only personal reasoning and not the hukm of Allah i.e. it is the reasoning of an individual and therefore cannot be a shariah rule.
e) Ijtehad only occurs in those areas where the Islamic evidences have not discussed directly i.e. upon new issues.
f) Ijtehad is an individual obligation (Fard Ayn) and therefore Taqleed (following an opinion of a Mujtahid) is prohibited (haram). Epilogue Strict pre-requisites are described by Shah Wali Ullah and Imam Ghazali and other religious scholars but its difficult to find all those requirements in one individual, practically its not possible. There is an opportunity of individual Ijtehad at international level by Imam Kaba and Mufti Azambut but due to divided beliefs situation is again on the same place. So, its better and appropriate that institutions should undertake Ijtehad. Universities and Research institutions give their individual opinion. Practicality of their opinion is judged by special institutions. Then they get authentication form parliament and finally court supports the same decision. This is a comprehensive process which is being followed for Ijtehad. Posted 12th May 2012 by BEST CSS ACADEMY,NOA 0 Add a comment Add a comment May 12
Critically Examine the main theoretical explanations of womens inequality in developing countries and discuss them with reference to Case Studies. Critically Examine the main theoretical explanations of womens inequality in developing countries and discuss them with reference to Case Studies.
Outlines: 1. Introduction 2. What do we mean by women rights? 3. What do we mean by inequality? 4. Inequality and its types 5. Historical background about woman status in the developing world 6. Women in south Asia Women in Pakistan Women in India Woman in Nepal Women in Bangladesh Women in Afghanistan 7. Women in Arab world Women Saudi Arabia 8. Woman and UN 9. God and Social Stratification 10. Is equality of women is just a roar or real? 11. Mukhtar Mai: A case Study 12. Naseem Bibi: A case Study 13. Rights of women Spiritual rights Economical rights Social rights Political rights Educational rights Cultural rights 14. Modes of Violation of women Rights in the Developing World Female genital mutilation Honor killing Karo kari Forced prostitution Forced marriages Forced abortion Harassment by Morality Squads Infanticide Rape Health issues Verbal abuse Acid throwing Political killings/ imprisonment Dowry issues Punishment on giving birth to daughter Love exploitations Trafficking Victims of gender discrimination in society Low importance on women education 15. How to eradicate this menace Following of UN Charter Human rights organizations due role Education and awareness programs Health reforms for women Tacking the socio-economic problems of women Moral support Role of media Role of civil society Solving the issues of unemployment, poverty 16. Conclusion
Introduction The first woman was created from the rib of a man. She was not made form his head to top him, nor from his feet to be trampled on by him but out of his side to be equal to him. (Men and Women Quotes) Being a woman is terribly difficult task since it consists principally in dealing with men. (Joseph Conrad) Violence against women is the manifestation of historically unequal power relation between men and women, which have led to domination over and discrimination against women by men and to prevention of full advancement of women. (UN declaration 1993) A man willing to work, and unable to find work, is perhaps the saddest sight that fortune's inequality exhibits under this sun. (Thomas Carlyle)
I do not think I ever opened a book in my life which had not something to say upon woman's inconstancy. Songs and proverbs, all talk of woman's fickleness. But perhaps you will say, these were all written by men."
"Perhaps I shall. Yes, yes, if you please, no reference to examples in books. Men have had every advantage of us in telling their own story. Education has been theirs in so much higher a degree; the pen has been in their hands. I will not allow books to prove anything. ( Jane Austen, Persuasion) The basic message of every divine message is always there to make a man man. All are equal in the divine sight. But we men, having beliefs in the commands of divinity, do not materialize them. These differences have made our green world a bloody some. Women rights around the world are an important indicator to understand the global well-being. Despite tremendous changes of the 20th century, discrimination and violence against women remains fully rooted in cultures around the world. The most widely cited reason for gender inequality is the developing countries relates to the social customs, values, traditions and beliefs. Social exclusion, honor killing, harassment in offices, feudal exploitation, female genital multination, restricted mobility and early marriages are the issues that deny the fundamental rights of woman. Although it is a global issue but it is more prevalent in the developing countries where inequalities include both discrimination and disempowerment of women. The question on how gender inequality shapes peoples life is on one that has been echoing widely through minds of modern society in recent decades. The biological difference between men and women constitute as one of the main reason this inequality. The males were always branded the breadwinners of the family, whilst a females place was remained at home. Throughout the history, Women keep of fighting for their equal rights, opportunities, place and treatment. Although womens inferior status to men exist in almost all developing countries like India, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Burma and also in central Asian states but the reasons, intensity, shape and manifestation differ seeing the circumstances quite substantially as we move from one socio-economic class and region to another. The inability of women to make their own life choices that is the root of many injustices they suffer. The afflicted world in which we live is characterized by deeply unequal sharing of the burden of adversities between women and men. In ancient times and even now at some places women are known as the root cause of all evils. Top of the list are the socio- economic constraints that compels a woman to even sell herself knowing it will never recover again. What do we mean by Women Rights? [M]en, though they know full well how much women are worth and how great the benefits we bring them, nonetheless seek to destroy us out of envy for our merits. It's just like the crow, when it produces white nestlings: it is so stricken by envy, knowing how black it is itself, that it kills its own offspring out of pique. ( Moderata Fonte, The Worth of Women: Wherein Is Clearly Revealed Their Nobility and Their Superiority to Men) According to Oxford dictionary, Womens Rights are the rights that promote a position of social and legal equality, of women to men. They are the rights, claimed for the women, equal to those of men, as regards to suffrage and right to vote, as regards to property, etc. The start of mankind was from Adam and Eve (May peace be upon them). Eve is the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Women have been given the equal status from the day start. But women in the developing countries have been suffering from many issues and problem in the past, though this sticky situation in the society has not been fully rooted out, but almost melt down. Women are still yearning to get their equal rights in the society in almost all the developed counties. Women had to go through many aches from the day of the birth till they die. In Third world countries people had been very much conservative and narrow minded towards giving equal status to their women. However, in Muslim society women remained impregnable in contrast to other societies and religions. History has seen many changes and one of those changes was the restoration of the rights of the women in the society. Only in the last hundred years, women have been seen rightfully as equals to men. History, however, is not recent, and there are numerous examples to how the female gender was given inferior status to males. Surprisingly, the evolutions of women's rights were not particularly in chronological order. In different times and different societies, the status of females advanced or retrogressed depending on a variety of reasons. Women have seen some good days where they ruled and run over the states like Razia Sultana, Jhansi Ki Raani, who were brave and courageous as well. Women have seen rise and fall in the war of getting their rights and got success majorly yet it needs more to be improved. Because in recent times woman of developing countries is facing suchlike issues from the birthday to the day of death. Though todays woman is not like the ancient one. But still she needs more awareness, education and moral as well as real legal support to stand up side by side to contribute in such a festinating time. This fact should be acknowledge that females have excessive ability to face the critical situations and challenges as they have the quality to resist with greater patience then that of males.
What do we mean by Inequality? In a world of increasing inequality, the legitimacy of institutions that give precedence to the property rights of "the Haves" over the human rights of "the Have Nots" is inevitably called into serious question. (David Korten) When the gap between the rich and the poor is so huge that you cant help pointing it out thats when you risk being labeled a pervert. (Benson Bruno) The disposition to admire, and almost to worship, the rich and the powerful, and to despise, or, at least, to neglect persons of poor and mean condition is the great and most universal cause of the corruption of our moral sentiments. Adam Smith Scottish political economist (1723-1790) Inequality is basically a difference between the realization and provision of rights. Ineauality means shortage, limitization, difference in power, status, value, importance, say, affairs, dealings, consultancy, share and work etc. Historical background of women status in developing countries: As of today, we do not need expert reports by the authoritative analytical institutions to realize that the reasons for such a situation in our community lie in global inequality, poverty and illiteracy. (Nursultan Nazarbayev)
Our inequality materializes our upper class, vulgarizes our middle class, brutalizes our lower class. Matthew Arnold English essayist (1822-1888)
In ancient times, before Islam women were treated in worst manners, their rights were shattered, they were not given any respect in the society, and female infants were lively buried as they were considered as a symbol of disgrace in ones family. They were considered as slaves, property or just autoerotic objects. But in Islam women were given equal rights in the society. And awarded more respect that in any other religion or society. Muhammad (PBUH) put the example by giving respect to his own daughter Hazrat Fatima (A.S) by standing up and stretching his own cloak for her honor signifying the high status of a daughter. In other civilizations like Egyptian civilization, women had the equal rights in all necessary parts of life. Yet there had been some discrimination prevailed in all the times of the history to deprive the women from their rights. They had to abide by many restrictions which were physically and morally awful to them. As time passed and society modernized, many changes took place which brought several positive moves in favor of women rights. Women is South Asia Can one preach at home inequality of races and nations and advocate abroad good-will towards all men? (Dorothy Thompson) Culturally and historically, South Asia is remained bleak in terms of women rights. In Hindustan woman was presented as the root cause of all misdeeds and was burnt alive with the death of her husband. In Pakistan and Bangladesh she has always been remained the victim of so-called mullahs and tribal leaders as well as in villages she is exploited in the hands of feudal lords. Same is the case with the other countries of the South Asian states. Member countries of the SAARC have remained at their lowest ebb in empowering the woman but in the current era a ray of hope is hoping the hopes of hope hoppers. Women in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Nepal Being the similar culture, rites, rituals and traditions in the South Asian countries especially the India and Pakistan, the treatment of women both at household and offices is similar up to a greater extent. Same type of laws and traditions are found here and there. Hindustan where once the woman was burnt alive with the demise of her husband and considered the source of all evils is still struggling for her rights. Situation of woman in Pakistan is also not hidden. Tribal belts and villages of all the provinces show the hot and hard lined treatment of the women in the hands of ever dominating men. But the situation differs in the metropolitan cities where writ and rule of the law is strong and awareness is every where like a forest fire. Women are never considered women in the history of Afghanistan. They are always remained there confined to the house walls. Bangladesh being the former part of Hindustan, then Pakistan and then being the separate entity is not differ from the parent countries. Women have same fate there. Nepal being the immediate neighbor depicts the unequal treatments of women in her society. Woman in Arab world Arab world, a world of cruel and illiterate people, who used to burry their daughters alive before the advent of Islam are still dominant in terms of women rights. Arab countries from Yemen to Egypt and Palestine to Libya do not differ in the treatment of women. In real sense the mindset of the Arabs is not changed. It is almost same as it was centuries ago. Basically it is the mindset, a set of beliefs which shows the practices of the people. Mindset of a person truly depicts the personality of the keeper. Recent Arab uprising is one of the major examples of this uproar. Women Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia, where the Islam was ad vented, and women due rights were first propagated, is still denying rights to women. Women are still fighting for their rights. Issue of driving for woman is a hot issue of the day. Women are not allowed to drive or ride on bike and men are not allowed to drive other than the closely relatives. The kingdom is facing a dilemma of how to get 367000 girls to school on buses that can only be driven by men. If any movement is started in this regard in the kingdom, it is forcefully shut down by the authorities. Women and UN The form of law which I propose would be as follows: In a state which is desirous of being saved from the greatest of all plaguesnot faction, but rather distractionthere should exist among the citizens neither extreme poverty nor, again, excessive wealth, for both are productive of great evil . . . Now the legislator should determine what is to be the limit of poverty or of wealth. Plato Greek philosopher (427-347 B.C.)
Sidelined once, women of the rejected and denied world are now gaining momentum within the UN system. If there were no UN, it may take more a century for woman to get her rights. Milestones at UN: A Glance
Women of the world have always fought to defend their rights within the global decision-making body to be there in the United Nations since it came into being.. These are given some milestones of the movement for equality within the womens savior, the UN:
1946 Commission on the Status of Women created; independent entity in 1947.
1947 Declaration on the Protection of Women and Children in Emergency and Armed Conflict adopted.
1975 First UN Conference on Women in Mexico City; annual meeting as of 1987.
1976 UN Development for Women is created; becomes UNIFEM in 1984.
1979 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination (CEDAW) adopted.
1994 UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women appointed.
2000 UN Security Council Resolution 1325 mandates gender lens on conflicts.
2006 High level panel on coherence named to study gender reform of UN.
2010 UN approves creation of UN Women as new agency.
God and Social stratification God touches and moves, warns and desires all equally, and He wants one quite as much as another. The inequality lies in the way in which His touch, His warnings, and His gifts are received. (Johannes Tauler)
If it is as evil to do lechery as the Bible and the Lord Himself tell us, then who is the more blameworthy: the one who instigates it, or the one who doesn't so much do it as suffer what men do to her? You know very well that it is the male who does it, and whoever says otherwise is wrong and is lying through his teeth, unless he has no teeth -- and would to God he hadn't. (Anonymous, the Southern Passion) Gender inequality or Social stratification gender stratification is basically the structured form of social inequality in which a ranked group of people who brings about unequal financial rewards, such as a persons income, and power or property, that is normally brought upon by money in a society. This system comes in many different ways and forms. They may be slavery; castes, social class, race, and gender are just few of the issues that are afflicted by this system. Gender inequality or also known as gender stratification, is actually the unequal distribution of a societys wealth, power, and privilege between the tow basic genders females and males. it is crystal cleared from the reported reports that the majority of the women are the oppressed as in turn the men being the oppressor. The idea of the oppressed and the oppressor is against the justice of God. He created all the human beings on equal grounds with same importance and status. That is why none of the divine religion denies the women rights and status but the followers of that religion do being the part of their beliefs but not of actions. Therefore, in the sight of God, all people whether male or female, black or white are equal. No one has greater importance but those who practice piety. Al-Quran There are we men who practice this impractical but it is not the commandment of God. God is just and preaches just and equity.
Inequality of women is just a roar or real? Inequality of women is about the deprivation of fundamental rights not being properly dedicated to the women. It is real to some extent but there has been a rapid change since past few years in most of the developing countries. The problem is that once we compare the so called women right in western countries with eastern countries we come to know that the western talk of womens liberation is actually a disguise from the exploitation of her body, deprivation of her honor and degradation of her soul. The Western society has actually reduced women status to concubines, to mistresses, to society butterflies, which are mere tools in the hands of sex marketers and pleasure seekers, which are disguised behind the colorful screen of art and culture. West is the trend setter of this abuse. Once we talk about the developing countries. Every country adopts and catches the ideas and practices being done by any developed nation. This evil has also been transformed from the developed countries those are now penetrated in the society of developing countries. Women in underdeveloped countries are awarded with more safety and social respect as compare to the developed countries, which a women deserves to have but still they are desperate to get their rights which should be equal to men. But the brutal cases are now a days going to be reported about the womens in equality. That is why human rights activists are more active now days regarding the women rights. Mukhtar Mai: A Case Study Women have served all these centuries as looking glasses possessing the magic and delicious power of reflecting the figure of man at twice its natural size. ( Virginia Woolf, A Room of One's Own) Mukhtar Mai, 30 years divorced women, belonging to Gujar family from a Village in Jatoi, Muzaffar Garh being the district in the Southern Punjab, Pakistan, was one day in mid 2002, caught, trapped and gang raped by four men named Abdul Khaliq, Allah Ditta, Fayyaz Hussain and Ghulam Farid, on the issue of her 12 years brother, Abdul Shakoor who was alleged in a matter. The decision was taken to the local Punhcayat and it made the traditional conservative decision justifying the Mais rape as good. But thanks to the media which highlighted the issue and the roar was roared in the deaf ears of the respective areas bureaucrats as well as the upper courts and politicians. As a result a so motto action was taken, case if was exploited by the local police station but she was granted justice by the court and the culprits were caught and punished. Although they are recently released in December, 2011 fulfilling there time in the Jail. Actually this was the issue that was highlighted by the media and as result a victim got justice otherwise there a countless incidents in the jurisdiction of South Asia that are hardly reported and justified. Countless such incidents are exploited by the local Punchayats, feudal lords and politicians, deciding against the wishes of women creating inequality not only in Pakistan but the whole South Asia. .
Naseem Bibi: A Case Study Eyes glimmering with worry, Tasleem Bibi peered through the slits of her pitch-black veil. Seventeen years earlier, her father ad struck a devilish deal to stay out of the Jail. A rival family was demanding that Tasleem marry to their son. Her hand in marriage had been promised when she was just five years old. Her father was accused of killing another man in a bitter land dispute. To keep the case out of court, her family agreed to high price and five women. She is the victim of Vani, an ugly tradition where young women are traded between the rival families in resolution of their disputes. Although, it was outlawed a few years back, vani is still prevalent in the conservative pockets across Pakistan. The woman is traded like an animal. Once married, she is little better than a slave. A vani wife is treated like dirt; the men wear her like a pair of shoes. Most of the defenders of this bleak custom, being the pessimistic tribal elders, say, this way prevent bloodshed between the warring clans.
Gender Inequality and Its Types
Everyone has an equal right to inequality. (John Ralston Saul)
Women inequality has many faces and manifestations from region to region, customs to custom and country to country. Normally there are counted seven types of inequality. 1) Mortality inequality: Mortality in equality which is based on the matters of life and death and shows the predominance of the male sex is going to be common especially in developing world. It is mostly found in the regions of Africa, china and south Asia.
(2) Natality inequality: Under this type of inequality boys being neo-Nate is given more importance than the girls. People wish to have their children more as boys and special focus is given on the first child born to any couple. It is seen that women are delivered divorced it they fail to give birth to a mail child. For this purpose selective and coercive abortion is forced compelling a woman to please the wishes of males. (3) Basic facility inequality: In this form of inequality women especially girls are denied the basic necessities of life. Education being the prime need and demand of the time is fully conferred on male child but Toto denied to a female child. Afghanistan is on top in this matter. (4) Special opportunity inequality: In this type of inequality women are denied the opportunities e.g. of higher education and high job trainings. (5) Professional inequality: Professional inequality is based on denying the due job and work promotions and job benefits.
(6) Ownership inequality: It comprises the inequality in the inheritance and properties. Islam granted this right to woman but the followers of Islam are not fully inclined to give due share to woman except the Shia Muslim Sect. Hinduism and some other religions also do not grant this right to woman. (7) Household inequality: In houses biasness is found among the members of the family and a male child in any perspective is given more preference than a female child.
Types of Women Rights It is a wise man who said that there is no greater inequality than the equal treatment of unequals. Felix Frankfurter Women must have their basic spiritual rights so that they can easily practice their religion with their own will and freedom. Women must have their economical rights they can share the burden of their family and contribute to the countrys economy. Women should have their social rights because the equal members of the society and they should the equal freedom and availability of the opportunities which are available to men. Women should have the equal educational rights so that they can get the similar educational facilities available to their opposite gender. Likely women must have the legal rights which can protect them from all social evils. Women should have the right to vote with their own will and should have reasonable representation in the politics. Modes of Violation of women Rights in the Developing World
The worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal. (Aristotle) Women in developing countries have been facing with severe challenges. There are a lot of social abuses and customary restrictions imposed on them even in todays society as we are in 21st century. Problems as, female genital mutilation which is a custom in Somali), killing for the sake of honor is common in developing countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India (case is quoted where Shafilea Ahmed was the victim of a suspected honor killing. The 17-year-old's body was found months after she had returned from a trip to Pakistan in 2003. On the trip she drank bleach. The coroner said he saw it as a 'desperate measure' to avoid a forced marriage). Force prostitution is different countries is very common, where parents or husband forces the women to sell the body unwillingly. Selling of women (case is quoted where: In 1983, Zana Muhsen and her sister Nadia, from Birmingham, were pushed by their father to visit Yemen and forced to marry. Zana, now 35, escaped eight years later. Her father had sold her for a few thousand dollars. The experience is recounted in her book; 'Sold' Slavery is also common in Arab countries where women are treated as the slaves of her husband. Same is the case in some of Pakistan rural areas where women are treated as property, forced marriage (case is quoted where Narina Anwar, 29, and her two sisters claim they were tricked by their parents into going on a family holiday to a remote village in Pakistan, where they were held captive for five months in an attempt to force them to marry three illiterate villagers. These girls were later rescued as they contact the police and media). Karo Kari is also a customary tradition in the tribal areas of Pakistan; Karo Kari is the form of honor killings. Every year several women are murdered in the name of honor by the male family members (and these are only the registered cases. On 11th June 2000, four women and one man were killed in the Dera Jamali village in Sindh. Last year on the same dates a 13 year old girl, Sara, was subjected to this honor killing in Goth Khosa. Two young boys Imtiaz and Arshad were also killed in the same case. The boys had never met the young girl in their lives. But the brother of Sara declared it an honor killing to get less punishment in law. This law also gives some leniency to the killers in such cases. He actually wanted to grab the land of these boys and used this accusation to kill the boys along with his sister. Secondly In the village of Moratha there was a case of Karo Kari (honor killing). The motive of the killing was that the murderer wanted to marry a married woman. He killed the husband of that woman and his own innocent sister and he was released from jail after a few months). In the underdeveloped countries, forced abortion, restricted freedom of movement outside the house, harassment by morality squads, infanticide, rape (Mukhtaran Mai scandal), health problems, Acid dropping on the faces, verbal abuse, less emphasis on women education and the discrimination of being women in most of the social matters is common in very common. Political killings/imprisonment is also very common (Dr. Afia Siddiqi, who was sentenced to jail for 86 years , on an accusation of attempt to murder) and the women in Jammu and Kashmir have been the worst victims of Indian state terrorism during the past 22 years where approximately 15000 women have been martyred due to the state terrorism. (Report on Women's Day on March 08). The common reason being found is that the most of developing countries have the male dominated society and the women being lower in power have always been victimized in all the aspects. Is there any brighter side of women rights in the developing world? Despites of the deprivation and pains of getting the equal status, todays women are cherishing and enjoying their life more than their status which few are fighting for. Women have got the equal rights in all sectors and parts of the life in most of the developed countries which were not vested to them in past. They have become the symbols of the society; they have got the equal rights in every walk of life. They are being given special quota in jobs which confirms their selection beyond the merit. They have been facilitated with separate and Co-educational institutions in most of the developing countries, where they can study according to their own choice without any restrictions being imposed on them. Women have got the right to vote and not only this they have got the facility to join the politics and represent their gender too. We have the example of Benazir Bhutto, who was the first youngest lady P.M of Pakistan; Bangladesh had his lady prime minister too. Suu kui and Sonia Gandhi are also the other prime examples while discussing the bright side. Women have participated in Showbiz and become the modern and liberal due to their freedom they have got. In recent days we have a scandal of Veena Malik, who has probably done an act of giving a nude photo shoot which is against her religion but she has done that due to the freedom she has got and society has accepted in silently either she committed that act or not. Furthermore, Women have been educated than the past, this is not the case in all the developing countries but in most. In Pakistan literacy rate is already very low, but still women are much efficient in contributing the literacy rate by getting more education. The trend to get women educated is changing positively then the past. How to Eradicate This Inequality: Under-representation of women and other inequality among researchers is a problem that will not solve itself as women acquire competence. (Tarja Halonen)
It is the belief that extremes and excesses of inequality must be reduced so that each person is free to fully develop his or her full potential. This is why we take precious time out of our lives and give it to politics. (Paul Wellstone) Inequality of women rights has been consistently under consideration in all the society in the past century and has got maximum results, Women rights have been protected in the Charter of United Nations 1948. Where it is stated, the charter of United Nations forbids discrimination on the basis of race, sex, language or religion. Furthermore there are several human rights organizations which are actively working and fighting to protect the women rights especially in the underdeveloped countries. Moreover educational programs for women have been ongoing for last many years which have got success in creating awareness in women towards getting their fundamental rights. Several health reforms have been in action to fights with the dangerous diseases especially breast cancer. Gender inequality in education may hamper growth through its impact on child health. Better educated females have healthier children, which have been found to increase growth in the long run as said by Napoleon Bonaparte. Media has played a vital role by providing a bridge to pass on the actual information and facts of the society where women were deprived of their rights. Media has contributed a lot by plays T.V dramas, films, talk shows, which has created awareness in the society about the rights of the women. Provision of Education to Masses Eradication of socio economic constraints Awareness about the hazard of sex abuses in literature Community based programmed Overcoming the issue of poverty by giving due share to women in the production Safeguarding women at work place Enacting strict laws and their full enforcement Providing jobs to women to overcome the issue of inequality by making the women economically strong Making the customs, rites and rituals women friendly Giving women a due political representation in local, provincial and national Bodies/Assemblies Giving women a due share in national decision making process Equal representation of women at each and every forum to negate the concept of inequality Protection of women rights through Police and Vigilant teams Making the best health care centers for mother and neo-Nate Recruitment of women as judges, bureaucrats, land registration officers, and police officers. Giving due share to women in inheritance and properties Using media as an instrument and propagator of women rights Due role of civil society Due role of the Religious leaders of any religion Government special loans to empower the women
Conclusion: There is always inequality in life. Some men are killed in a war and some men are wounded and some men never leave the country. Life is unfair. (John F. Kennedy) Women rights have been infringed and victimized in different orders and in different periods. Today Woman is much securer then it was in the past. Still the need is to improve the areas where the developing countries should concentrate, like the education of the women, steps to eradicate poverty from the society so that the basic needs should be fulfilled. Women should be encouraged to come ahead in all the field of life, because the only key to success is that there should be no discrimination between male and female, so that the society may prosper and develop in smooth ways. Otherwise no country would be able to stand in the row of developed nations.
1. References: i. Daily Dawn.com ii. Brainqoute.com iii. Un.org iv. Any Faces of Gender Inequality, an essay by Amartya Sen.
Note: studies all case studies and issues from Daily English news paper, dawn.com Posted 12th May 2012 by BEST CSS ACADEMY,NOA 0 Add a comment Add a comment May 12
Concept of veil in Islam Concept of veil in Islam In Islamic discourse a great deal of emphasis is placed on the issue of hijab for women with much debate about the extent and nature of that covering. This is obviously an important issue for Muslim women, but an equally significant topic is that of Modesty. The Prophet (S.A.W) passed by an Ansari man who was counseling his brother on modesty (He was advising him not to be too much shy or modest). The Prophet (S.A.W) said: Leave him (and do not advise him like this); for modesty is part of faith. (Bukhari and Muslim). The Prophet (S.A.W) also said, Modesty results in good alone and nothing else. (Bukhari and Muslim)
Modesty is a term that is used often but one that is not clearly understood. One way to conceptualize it would be to think in terms of moving from an outer layer to the inner workings of a system. The covering or hijab is the surface layer of modesty that everyone sees and that is very obvious to all. However, a woman could wear hijab and modesty may not go any deeper than that; it could be an artificial form of modesty or one done to satisfy another person.Going deeper, the next layer may consist of what is commonly known as self-consciousness or shyness. At this level the woman not only wears hijab, but also acts in a way that is reserved and respectful. An important behavior in this category is lowering of the gaze. And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty. [24:3 1 Emphasis is often placed on men lowering their eyes, but this is also a requirement for women. Eyes should be turned away from everything that is forbidden. This includes not looking at any non-mahram man, at the awrah of another woman, or with bad intentions at another person. In one hadeeth qudsi, the Prophet (S.A.W), reported that Allah (S.W.T) says, "Looking at a non-mahram (men relatives to whom women cannot get tnarried) is one of the poisoned arrows of Satan. Whoever will stop it because of fearing me, I will bless him with such Emaan, the sweetness of which he will feel in his heart" (Tabarani). Humility in speech: Another characteristic at this level is humility in speech. As with everything in Islam, a woman's speech should be in moderation. It should be neither too loud nor too soft (so as to be alluring). Idle, senseless, excessive conversation should be avoided since it has no benefit and distracts from more important responsibilities. When a woman engages in conversation she should keep it decent and respectable and void of such harmful vices as backbiting, mockery, suspicion, and gossip. She should be humble and not boast about her abilities and achievements. "Successful indeed are the believers who are humble in their Salah, and who shun vain conversation, and who are payers of zakat" [23:1-4]. Avoid contact with non.mahram: Being placed between two pillars of Islam demonstrates the very significance of this pronouncement. A woman should also attempt to avoid contact and conversation with non-mahram men. When this is necessary, such as for educational purposes or in the work environment, the discussion should be limited to pertinent matters and the woman should speak in a straight-forward and virtuous manner. As with the hijab, these rules of etiquette may be observed for various reasons. The woman may act modestly because of cultural norms, her own innate disposition, or to impress or satisfy other people. This may have no connection whatsoever to the innermost level of modesty as any non-believer may follow the same code of conduct.. The center of this innermost level is the heart, alongside Emaan. A true believing woman does not engage-in these behaviors for other people; rather, she does it for the sake of Allah. She does not do so out of shyness from other people; she does it out of shyness from Allah. She is humble in the presence of Allah because she knows that everything she has, her wealth, her status, her abilities, are only from Him. This understanding highlights the interconnection between modesty and Emaan. The Prophet (S.A.W) said, Indeed, modesty and Emaan are companions. When one of them is lifted, the other leaves as well. (Baihaqi). And when this happens, the moral fiber of society is jeopardized. Evidence from Quran: Surah an-Nur ayah 31 says: And say to the faithful women to lower their gazes, and to guard their private parts, and not to display their beauty except what is apparent of it, and to extend their headcoverings (khimars) to cover their bosoms (jaybs), and not to display their beauty except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband's fathers, or their sons, or their husband's sons, or their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their womenfolk, or what their right hands rule (slaves), or the followers from the men who do not feel sexual desire, or the small children to whom the nakedness of women is not apparent, and not to strike their feet (on the ground) so as to make known what they hide of their adornments. And turn in repentance to Allah together, O you the faithful, in order that you are successful.
Surah al-Ahzab ayah 59 says: O Prophet! Say to your wives and your daughters and the women of the faithful to draw their outergarments (jilbabs) close around themselves; that is better that they will be recognized and not annoyed. And God is ever Forgiving, Gentle.
Explanation through Hadith: Hadiths What exactly is the meaning of each of these rules? For this, we need to look to the Sunna, because the Sunna shows us how the Prophet (sAas) explained the Quran.
Sahih Al-Bukhari Volume 6, Book 60, Hadith # 282 Narrated Safiya bint Shaiba (Radhiallaahu nha) "Aisha (Radhiallaahu nha) used to say: "When (the Verse): "They should draw their veils over their necks and bosoms," was revealed, (the ladies) cut their waist sheets at the edges and covered their faces with the cut pieces.
Sahih Al-Bukhari Volume 1, Book 8, Hadith # 368 Narrated 'Aisha (Radhiallaahu nha) Rasulullah (Sallallaahu layhi Wasallam) used to offer the Fajr prayer and some believing women covered with their veiling sheets used to attend the Fajr prayer with him and then they would return to their homes unrecognized .
Abu Dawood Book 32, Hadith # 4090 Narrated Umm Salamah, Ummul Mu'minin (Radhiallaahu nha): When the verse "That they should cast their outer garments over their persons" was revealed, the women of Ansar came out as if they had crows over their heads by wearing outer garments.
Abu Dawood Book 32, Hadith # 4091 Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin (Radhiallaahu nha) "May Allah have mercy on the early immigrant women. When the verse "That they should draw their veils over their bosoms" was revealed, they tore their thick outer garments and made veils from them.
Imaam Malik's MUWATTA Book 20 Hadith # 20.5.16 Yahya related to me from Malik from Hisham ibn Urwa that Fatima bint al-Mundhir (Radhiallaahu nha) said, "We used to veil our faces when we were in Ihram in the company of Asma bint Abi Bakr As-Siddiq (Radhiallaahu nha). Conclusion Islam emphasizes on four types of veil. It includes covering of satter, veil form mahram, veil from non-mahram and concept of Haya. From above discussion we found that in Quran and Hadith there is no specific way mentioned for veil so to prevent herself from exploitation, woman can use scarf,hijab,jilab,abaya,cloak etc. the purpose is to secure herself from bad intentions of people around and to keep the spirit of Haya sustained. Muslim women in many Muslim societies are not free to make a choice to wear or not wear the veil. The majority of veil-wearing women in Pakistan do not make a decision to wear the veil. On the contrary their male family members make decisions in this regard. In conservative families, girls start to wear the veil from a very young age as tradition and custom. Even small girls of 6 or 7 years old start to wear the veil, and this is decided by the family, and not by the girl. Women are forced to wear veil on the basis of religion, tradition and custom of the family. For many women, the veil is a precondition to allow them to go out of the home. In Iran, Saudi Arabia and some other countries, state laws force women to wear a specific dress. It is not a choice but a compulsion. In many areas, it is not a state law but local religious clerics force women to wear the veil. For them, every woman without a veil or burqa is not modest and is like a prostitute. They regard the veil as a sign of modesty, honour and nobility of the family. So women are not free to make a choice. This discussion is between men on what a woman should wear and what they should not wear. Both male politicians and religious clerics are men dictating to women. In 2010, France declared restriction on veil of face. They prevented hijab as it is a religious symbol which should not be displayed. Biggest fashion industry of the world is operating in France and it was their entire gimmick to prohibit hijab on one side and boost up their fashion industry on the other side.