Firstly, muslims try hard not to kill each other and this shia vs sunni thing is something thats instigated by the west. Its obviously got politaical propaganda all over it. The shia's are a newer form of islam that never existed during the time of the prophet and is a bit deviant.
I'd like to add you said "there are christian women in clergy nowadays!" what does this refer to? are you saying back when the relgion was started it didn't have women in clergy and now you have? in that case its obvious that you've deviated from you own relgion
In islam the mother (who is the women) enjoys the highest respect. If a child is cursed by his mother and he or she doesn't take care of the mother at old age the child is doomed to hell! Women, like the brother mentioned, are equal to men in the site of god but are different in nature (you havn't seen men trying to get pregnent have you). The man is obliged to protect the women at all costs and is forbidden from hitting the women. The hitting you quoted before doesn't refer to 'wife beating' (which is explicitly prohibited in islam) but to a slight tap (no joke!) muslims aren't even allowed to beat their servents.
In islam the women is well protected against dangers, which a reason behind the viel. How many times do you feel like a man is undressing you with his eyes (even though thats no 100% protectable against) islam works to reduce that. and by doing so adultery and fornication are reduced (how can you reduce either with girls walking around with tang tops and thongs! no possible)
Like in any culture and tradition you'll have people who are extreeme so don't go by what the people do but by what allah ordered in the quran and what the prophet did.
I'll like to end with this translation of a verse from the quran (not the quran is written in arabic and anything in any other language is a translation and the arabic can not be changed)
"We have enjoined on man kindness to his
parents: In pain did his mother bear him and in pain did she give birth. The
carrying of the child to his weaning is a period of thirty months. At length when
he reaches the age of full length and attains forty years, he says, 'O my Lord!
Grant me that I may be grateful for thy favour, which thou hast bestowed upon
me and upon both my parents, and that I may work righteousness such as thou
magest approve; and be gracious to me in my issue. Truly have I turned to thee
and truly do I bow (to thee) in Islam' such are they from who we shall accept the
best of their deeds and pass by their ill deeds; (they shall) be among the
companions of the Gardens a promise of truth, which was made to them (in this
life)" (Al Quran XLVI 15,16) |