At the time of the prophet Muhammed (saw) where the mode of transport was camels or horses, women were allowed and even encouraged to learn how to ride a camel or a horse, so it is only natural that with changing modes of transport over time women should be allowed to drive a vehicle.In many of the remote parts of Saudi Arabia that I have visited, there are many Bedouin women who do actually drive without being bothered by the authorities.Women are also allowed to drive within Saudi Aramco situated in the Eastern part of the country.There is a lot of hypocrisy that exists within the Kingdom. On the one hand a woman is only allowed to travel outside the country after seeking permission from a mahram. A woman’s mahram is a person whom she is never permitted to marry because of their close blood relationship (such as her father, grandfather, great-grandfather, etc., and her son, grandson, great-grandson, etc., her paternal and maternal uncles, her brother, brother’s son and sister’s son), or because because of radaa’ah or breastfeeding (such as the brother and husband of the woman who breastfed her), or because they are related by marriage (such as the mother’s husband, the husband’s father, grandfather, etc., and the husband’s son, grandson, etc.).Whilst on the other hand because she can not drive herself she is forced to make use of cabs or hire a driver who is not her mahram.There has been a few isolated reports whereby drivers have abused their female passengers. In a twist of tale, there has also been reports of numerous females indulging in sexual relationships with their drivers.
When the religious clerics were questioned regarding the whole mahram issue, Sheikh Abdul Mohsin Bin Nasser Al Obaikan, a member of the Scholars of Saudi Arabia, the king advisers and consultants in the ministry of law caused a controversy after issuing one of the most bizarre and ridiculous laws ever.It is so ridiculous that any intelligent person would recognise the level of ignorance that the people of power hold in today's times.The Prophet (saw) said, 'Just before the Hour, there will be days in which knowledge will disappear and ignorance will appear, and there will be much killing.' " (Ibn Majah; also narrated by Bukhari and Muslim,from the Hadith of al-A'mash.)
Sheikh Nasser Bin Abdul Mohsin Al Obaikan said that the driver can interact freely with the entire family without breaking the law master Saudi Arabia if they are breastfed by women who employ them.
Sheikh Nasser Bin Abdul Mohsin Al Obaikan said “A woman can breastfeed an adult man, so he became her son. Thus he can interact with all the women in her employer’s house without violating Islamic law. ”
Sheikh Nasser Bin Abdul Mohsin Al Obaikan said “The man should drink breast milk, but not directly from her breast. Once he drinks the breast milk he would become a member of the family, allowing him to interact freely with the women of the household without violating any Islamic law. ”But one other Saudi religious official, Sheikh Abu Ishaq al Huwaini does not agree with the fatwa, he says that the man should suck milk directly from the breast, rather than glass. Both views are absolutely nonsensical.
Thousands of other clerics across the globe have denounced these baseless rulings and quite rightly so.
On the flip side of things, as a Muslim woman coming from a western orientated society where I was allowed to drive I always wished that I had a driver to chauffeur me around especially from work to home which was usually a long tedious one hour drive.When I came to Saudi Arabia my wish came true as I now have a driver. I feel that my life has become so much more convenient. With one phone call my driver appears like a genie in a bottle. I don't have to concentrate on the road anymore. I don't have to be stressed out driving through peak hour traffic with cars honking and speeding down the road. I don't have to look for parking at a shopping centre any more. I simply get dropped off right at the doorstep.I don't have to concentrate and become irritated whilst driving through Riyadh's horrendous traffic.The driving culture here is very rough and so even if I was allowed to drive I wouldn't want to drive. And of course if you are a married woman, your life becomes a thousand times easier as hubby has to take on most of the responsibilities like dropping the kids of to school or picking them up if the driver is not available. In a western society, women have to be super moms undertaking many responsibilities. I find that in Saudi Arabia the women here are more relaxed as most of the chores are delegated to the driver and of course the husband. I actually feel more pampered and queen like being chauffeur driven but of course that is just my opinion. Someone else could think otherwise.
Whilst Saudi women are demanding the King to allow them to drive in the Kingdom which is definitely a step in the right direction towards enforcing proper Islamic laws, I do firmly believe that there are other more urgent and pressing issues regarding women's rights that needs to be addressed such as domestic violence against women, tribal arranged marriages which is once again un-Islamic, better employment opportunities for women, female education and of course making court procedures involving women easier.The issue of women driving in Saudi Arabia is quite a trivial one in comparison to the above issues I've mentioned. To Saudi Women I'd like to say that the grass always seems to be greener on the other side until you experience it for yourself!!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment