Volumne 5 No. 2
Consultation's
New York Conference:
Dignity of Women in Islam
Dan Maguire, Riffat
Hassan, and Sa'diyya Shaikh hosted a discussion of the human rights
and the dignity of women as set down in the teachings of Islam. The
program was held
at the Union Theological Seminary in New York City on December 4, 2001.
Both Riffat and Sa'diyya are Islamic theologians who
spoke about the true groundwork of women in Islam: the right to life,
right to work, right to economic independence, the rights in marriage,
divorce, and inheritance.
Discussion centered on going beyond the stereotypes
to the heart of Islam that holds a high respect for women. It is a clear
teaching of the Qur'an that man and woman are equal in the sight of
God, and the Qur'an uses both feminine and masculine terms and imagery
to describe the creation of humanity from a single source. Both men
and women are called upon equally to be righteous, to be "protectors"
of each other.
The discussions drew a diverse audience from the greater
New York area, representatives of Columbia University and NYU, a Middle-eastern
ambassador as well as members of the UN.
For more information on this topic, see Gender,
Equity and Justice in Islam (Hassan).