Lost in Translation: "Violence" Against Wives

When I meet someone who is a total misogynistic douchebag pulling out verses he doesn't understand to "prove" Islamophobia is justified with his fake concern about Muslim women or women in general, it's always amusing to see his reaction when Muslim women tell this undercover rape-apologist to shut up. It's funny how, when it comes …

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Religion and Culture, And Things I Shouldn’t Have to Explain

So a few weeks ago I had this conversation online in the comments section of Feministe. This is going to be a snippet of the conversation toward the end, so bear with it. It's the best way to illustrate my point. Personal identifies are in bold. The italics are individuals quoting individuals.Sonia 1.30.2011 at 3:39 …

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Taken Out of Context: Killing the "Infidels" and Violence in the Qur’an

The verses in question:And slay them wherever you catch them (2:191)and...fight and slay the pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war.) (9:005)Let's put the first one back in its Quranic context:"Fight in the cause of God those who fight you, but …

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the Barrier

The barrier in mosques separating the women's and men's prayer area has not only no theological foundation (even during the Prophet's time men and women had no barrier between them--the grand mosque in Mecca has no barrier!) but is a blatantly offensive obstacle in the participation of women in their communities, "justified" by the fallacious …

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Lost in Translation (And Taken Out of Context): Marital Sexual Relations

So recently I was led to a post in which these verses were used as an example of "women as the property of men."Your wives are a place of sowing of seed for you, so come to your place of cultivation however you wish and put forth [righteousness] for yourselves. (Qur'an 2:223)I was pretty surprised …

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Islamic History and the Women You Never Hear About: Umm Salama

Before the spread of Islam, first-born baby girls were buried alive and women were abused and deprived of any deserved rights. When Islam began to spread, and after the Prophet and his followers were pushed from city to city, the men who took up the new religion were enthusiastic of the changes and adaptations made …

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Lost in Translation: Cutting off the Hands of Thieves

This is kind of a terrifying misconception. Children steal. The poor steal. Greedy, rich jackasses steal. Of course, only the first two will suffer from this misconception, which makes clearing it up pretty damn important*. The misconception comes from this translated verse: The male thief, and the female thief, you shall cut off the hands …

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