Islam holds wives in highest respect

IN HIS Oct. 17 column titled “More sticky issues in Bangsamoro talks,” Neal Cruz says: “Among the most difficult is the question of the possession of guns. The government wants the national law on the possession of firearms to also apply to the Bangsamoro. This is very difficult because it is said that Muslims would rather give up their wives but not their guns.”

It’s about time we corrected this erroneous perception of a non-Muslim who knows little about the true belief and faith of Muslims.

The Holy Qur’an, as the final testament out of the Old Testament and the New Testament, elevated the status of women to the highest degree of respect. We are no longer in the Medieval Age when women were treated as material possessions, not as men’s coequal. (Women then were even locked with iron chastity belts when their men went out for wars.) During the early period of the modern times in the West, women were not allowed to cast their votes, much less to participate in elections, thus denying them their right to suffrage.

The Qur’an dedicates one whole chapter (Chapter 4) to women (Surah An-Nisa), affirming the equality of their rights and privileges to those of men. Likewise, Virgin Mary, (Chapter 19) who is named Surat Maryam, the mother of Jesus, is the most honorable lady in Islam. Moreover, the first convert to Islam was Khadijah (ra) the Prophet Muhammad’s wife. The first martyr of Islam was a lady by the name of Somaya (ra). One of the best Hadiths of the Prophet is the love and respect for a mother. It says: “Paradise lies under the feet of the mother”; as a Muslim you have to extend preference to your mother three times more than to your father. Another Hadith says: “A virtuous wife is the most precious thing in the world.”

Due to centuries-old wars that emboldened the Moros to be firm and steadfast in their struggle, their customs and traditions as civilized people dictated that they keep and maintain their weaponry for security and protection, in defense of their freedom and territory. This resonates also among some of the cultural minorities threatened by colonization or ethnic cleansing. This does not mean that they prefer their guns over their wives; of course, they will keep both and defend their families, properties etc. anytime—with their guns when the need arises, like any other tribal group in this country be they Christians, Muslims or Lumad.

—DATU HAJ ANSARI D. ALONTO,

organizer-convenor,

Palestine Solidarity-Philippines,

dalonto@gmail.com