Challenges which modern Muslim woman face
Most muslims in britian have imgrated from other muslim countries. The muslim society in Britian is mostly formed from varying backgrounds and ethnic groups so there are a number of different Muslim communities.
One of the challenges which a modern Muslim living in the west faces is the fact that there peers don’t wear a hijab. When a girl is in her teens one of the most important things is to be accepted, but when she is the only one in her class wearing a hiijab she might feel leaved, but in Islam Allah orders the Muslim woman to wear the hijaab when she steps out of the security of her home or when in the presence of strange men. Reason for this is You please Allah. Muslims believe that you are obeying the commands of Allah when you wear the hijaab and you can expect great rewards in return. They believe it is Allah’s protection of your natural beauty. Woman are too precious to be "on display" for each man to see. It is Allah’s preservation of your chastity. And many other reasons.
"Their reward is with their Lord: Gardens of Eden underneath which rivers flow wherein they will dwell for ever; Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him; this is (in store) for whoever fears his Lord." [Sooratul-Bayyinah 98:8]
Also the fact that many of their friends have boyfriends and have sexual intercourse with them must be very difficult for her as she is tempted to do so herself but in Islam any form of fornication is a sin, and great punishments in the hereafter are followed as a consequence to that.
“The woman and the man guilty of adultery or fornication,- flog each of them with a hundred stripes: Let not compassion move you in their case, in a matter prescribed by Allah, if ye believe in Allah and the Last Day: and let a party of the Believers witness their punishment. Let no man guilty of adultery or fornication marry and but a woman similarly guilty, or an Unbeliever: nor let any but such a man or an Unbeliever marry such a woman: to the Believers such a thing is forbidden”.
Challenges faced by Muslim woman in the workplace
As a Muslim working in a non Muslim society must be very hard not only for men but also for woman. In Britain in many Muslim households the main breadwinner isn’t the men anymore and Muslim woman are now very well educated. There are more and more challenges which are faced by Muslims in the workplace which will challenge and test on how they can combine their work commitments and duties as a Muslim.
The first challenge which faces many Muslims is to perform their salaht in a busy office it is often quit hard to find a quiet place where you can pray, especially in the winter months when the salath falls during office hours it is then when the real test comes abandon your work responsibilities or your religious duties.
Also the questions which are asked by work colleagues are often also very annoying relating to Osama Bin laden and what is happening in the Middle East.
Also in many offices there is occasional drink in the pub after work and also the invitations to office parties, in Islam the interacting of men and woman on a social bases is forbidden, but if they don’t they will be faced with being segregated from their work colleagues.
Another come thing which happens in the work place is gossiping, mainly about who likes who, who is falling behind in their work. Any form of gossiping and back chatting is not allowed in Islam, many Muslims are afraid that if they don’t join in that they will become the next target of rumours.
Also in may work places there is often a dress code, which is hard to follow for Muslim woman, and there also is the occasionally hand shake with the other sex.
A part of life for muslims is being tested by allah it is how you do those test that will determine whether or not you are going to heaven.
Or do you think that you will enter paradise without being inflicted with tests as we tested those before you?” (Al-Baqarah: 214).
Not only muslim woman but all muslim are suppose to react to these challenges with great dignity as before everything there religion is first.
Traditional view on woman in Islam.
The quran and sariah both detail on how male and female Muslims should live their lives, and also gives details on their right and responsibilities. Traditional views are that Women have rights guaranteed to them by Allah, as well as duties expected of them. Marriage is expected of Muslims, it is a holy duty through which they continue Allah’s purpose, unlike in Christianity marriage isn’t a promise between the two party’s and god but is more of a civil contract which can be broken, but can only be done if both parties are willing. Firstly the woman receives a two part dowry, the first one is given when they get married and the second one is given if the husband dies or he divorces her. The first part of the dowry is called mahr and belongs to the woman she uses this money to furnish her house or buy clothes. Even in traditional islam the woman was able to divorce her husband but must first go through courts and present desertion, neglect, or the extended imprisonment of her husband as a reason for divorce. A husband may divorce his wife by announcing such "I divorce you" three times and then waiting three menstrual cycles to pass to ensure that his wife is not pregnant.
A woman may inherit and own property, although she may receive a smaller portion than male heirs, she cannot receive less than a one sixth, and may appeal to a court if she has been cheated. If a woman brings property into a marriage, she may retain control of it.