hi so when we’re talking about and when you hear the media talking about Islam
you hear the media talking about Islam
you hear the media talking about Islam terrorism violence usually you they use
terrorism violence usually you they use
terrorism violence usually you they use the word fundamentalism or
the word fundamentalism or
the word fundamentalism or fundamentalist Islam now the interesting
fundamentalist Islam now the interesting
fundamentalist Islam now the interesting thing about the definition of
thing about the definition of
thing about the definition of fundamentalism is that it’s strict
fundamentalism is that it’s strict
fundamentalism is that it’s strict adherence to any set of basic ideas or
adherence to any set of basic ideas or
adherence to any set of basic ideas or principles so what the media is actually
principles so what the media is actually
principles so what the media is actually saying is that the basic idea of the
saying is that the basic idea of the
saying is that the basic idea of the religion of Islam promotes terrorism
religion of Islam promotes terrorism
religion of Islam promotes terrorism violence is oppressive it’s primitive
violence is oppressive it’s primitive
violence is oppressive it’s primitive and that is the idea that the media is
and that is the idea that the media is
and that is the idea that the media is trying to portray but I am trying to
trying to portray but I am trying to
trying to portray but I am trying to debunk that idea and tell you that
debunk that idea and tell you that
debunk that idea and tell you that fundamentalism is that fundamental
fundamentalism is that fundamental
fundamentalism is that fundamental system is actually the opposite and the
system is actually the opposite and the
system is actually the opposite and the definitions that the media is trying to
definitions that the media is trying to
definitions that the media is trying to portray are actually contemporary
portray are actually contemporary
portray are actually contemporary definitions based on cultures and
definitions based on cultures and
definitions based on cultures and individuals twisting what they’ve what
individuals twisting what they’ve what
individuals twisting what they’ve what being deemed necessary for them for
being deemed necessary for them for
being deemed necessary for them for their own benefit so when we go back in
their own benefit so when we go back in
their own benefit so when we go back in time when Islam was first introduced
time when Islam was first introduced
time when Islam was first introduced what we what I call fundamentalist Islam
what we what I call fundamentalist Islam
what we what I call fundamentalist Islam it was introduced at a time when there
it was introduced at a time when there
it was introduced at a time when there was high ignorant
was high ignorant
was high ignorant it was literally called the days of
it was literally called the days of
it was literally called the days of Julia in Arabic which means ignorance it
Julia in Arabic which means ignorance it
Julia in Arabic which means ignorance it was because no respect was given to
was because no respect was given to
was because no respect was given to women and this was this is what brings
women and this was this is what brings
women and this was this is what brings me to feminism so last month was Women’s
me to feminism so last month was Women’s
me to feminism so last month was Women’s History Month um I’m sure as most of you
History Month um I’m sure as most of you
History Month um I’m sure as most of you know and feminism was in wasn’t a belief
know and feminism was in wasn’t a belief
know and feminism was in wasn’t a belief that came up quite often in conversation
that came up quite often in conversation
that came up quite often in conversation and Islam is rarely ever associated with
and Islam is rarely ever associated with
and Islam is rarely ever associated with that word so again in the seventh
that word so again in the seventh
that word so again in the seventh century this is about 600 CE II that’s
century this is about 600 CE II that’s
century this is about 600 CE II that’s exactly how it was there was Norris
exactly how it was there was Norris
exactly how it was there was Norris like for a woman whatsoever in fact when
like for a woman whatsoever in fact when
like for a woman whatsoever in fact when daughters were born they were buried
daughters were born they were buried
daughters were born they were buried alive because they were thought to bring
alive because they were thought to bring
alive because they were thought to bring shame to families sons were the ones
shame to families sons were the ones
shame to families sons were the ones that were given honor
that were given honor
that were given honor etc so it was very hard time for women
etc so it was very hard time for women
etc so it was very hard time for women to survive in that society so Islam was
to survive in that society so Islam was
to survive in that society so Islam was revealed and this was in Makkah so which
revealed and this was in Makkah so which
revealed and this was in Makkah so which is now in part in Saudi Arabia and all
is now in part in Saudi Arabia and all
is now in part in Saudi Arabia and all of a sudden excuse me all of a sudden
of a sudden excuse me all of a sudden
of a sudden excuse me all of a sudden the they completely changed the idea of
the they completely changed the idea of
the they completely changed the idea of what women are supposed to be so let’s
what women are supposed to be so let’s
what women are supposed to be so let’s start with a few examples woman like I
start with a few examples woman like I
start with a few examples woman like I said were buried alive they had no say
said were buried alive they had no say
said were buried alive they had no say in anything whatsoever maybe political
in anything whatsoever maybe political
in anything whatsoever maybe political maybe employment education but all of a
maybe employment education but all of a
maybe employment education but all of a sudden Islam allowed women to vote to
sudden Islam allowed women to vote to
sudden Islam allowed women to vote to partake in political activities and be
partake in political activities and be
partake in political activities and be important parts of society and this was
important parts of society and this was
important parts of society and this was 600 seee
600 seee
600 seee right when did when did the US do that
right when did when did the US do that
right when did when did the US do that we did this in the 1920s right so we
we did this in the 1920s right so we
we did this in the 1920s right so we were about thirteen centuries late now
were about thirteen centuries late now
were about thirteen centuries late now if I were to go to another example
ownership of property in Europe as some
ownership of property in Europe as some of you might know if you were to own
of you might know if you were to own
of you might know if you were to own property you had to transfer it to your
property you had to transfer it to your
property you had to transfer it to your husband once you got married and then a
husband once you got married and then a
husband once you got married and then a bill was passed in the 1870s to let
bill was passed in the 1870s to let
bill was passed in the 1870s to let women keep ownership of that property
women keep ownership of that property
women keep ownership of that property Islam doesn’t have anything of that sort
Islam doesn’t have anything of that sort
Islam doesn’t have anything of that sort you can keep as much investments or
you can keep as much investments or
you can keep as much investments or property that a woman might own and she
property that a woman might own and she
property that a woman might own and she has no responsibility to transfer it to
has no responsibility to transfer it to
has no responsibility to transfer it to her husband when she gets married and
her husband when she gets married and
her husband when she gets married and again that was in 603 E and we did this
again that was in 603 E and we did this
again that was in 603 E and we did this in the 1870s so for this we were about
in the 1870s so for this we were about
in the 1870s so for this we were about 12 centuries late let’s go to income now
12 centuries late let’s go to income now
12 centuries late let’s go to income now income is also related to your property
income is also related to your property
income is also related to your property your investment because there were equal
your investment because there were equal
your investment because there were equal employment and education opportunities
employment and education opportunities
employment and education opportunities for women now women were earning money
for women now women were earning money
for women now women were earning money and now what Islam says about women
and now what Islam says about women
and now what Islam says about women is that if you if a woman is to earn she
is that if you if a woman is to earn she
is that if you if a woman is to earn she does not have the duty to invest a
does not have the duty to invest a
does not have the duty to invest a single cent in her local household so
single cent in her local household so
single cent in her local household so she can do whatever she wants with it
she can do whatever she wants with it
she can do whatever she wants with it she can keep it for she can save it for
she can keep it for she can save it for
she can keep it for she can save it for something she could spend it on whatever
something she could spend it on whatever
something she could spend it on whatever she wills but her husband or her parents
she wills but her husband or her parents
she wills but her husband or her parents or her children do not have the right to
or her children do not have the right to
or her children do not have the right to tell her no since you’re earning you
tell her no since you’re earning you
tell her no since you’re earning you should be the breadwinner of the family
should be the breadwinner of the family
should be the breadwinner of the family in fact the man is supposed to be
in fact the man is supposed to be
in fact the man is supposed to be responsible to do that now some people
responsible to do that now some people
responsible to do that now some people may argue okay so all of a sudden now
may argue okay so all of a sudden now
may argue okay so all of a sudden now we’re giving men more a woman more
we’re giving men more a woman more
we’re giving men more a woman more rights in a sense what we’re doing here
rights in a sense what we’re doing here
rights in a sense what we’re doing here was it was kind of like affirmative
was it was kind of like affirmative
was it was kind of like affirmative action its previously women were
action its previously women were
action its previously women were oppressed and so it’s town comes along
oppressed and so it’s town comes along
oppressed and so it’s town comes along and goes like you know what we’re gonna
and goes like you know what we’re gonna
and goes like you know what we’re gonna give some certain rights more certain
give some certain rights more certain
give some certain rights more certain rights to women and and you know value
rights to women and and you know value
rights to women and and you know value it out with men in some other situations
it out with men in some other situations
it out with men in some other situations so if you were to actually do a
so if you were to actually do a
so if you were to actually do a cost-benefit analysis of the benefits
cost-benefit analysis of the benefits
cost-benefit analysis of the benefits and costs of being a woman or a man in
and costs of being a woman or a man in
and costs of being a woman or a man in Islam you actually found that we were
Islam you actually found that we were
Islam you actually found that we were very equal and so this is literally what
very equal and so this is literally what
very equal and so this is literally what a jar would look like because of the
a jar would look like because of the
a jar would look like because of the lack of income invest but like income
lack of income invest but like income
lack of income invest but like income expenditure in the house by the woman
expenditure in the house by the woman
expenditure in the house by the woman her jaw would probably be much more
her jaw would probably be much more
her jaw would probably be much more filled with coins than you know the man
filled with coins than you know the man
filled with coins than you know the man would another point that I’d like to
would another point that I’d like to
would another point that I’d like to come to is motherhood this is my mom
come to is motherhood this is my mom
come to is motherhood this is my mom this is me as a baby I was a bald maybe
this is me as a baby I was a bald maybe
this is me as a baby I was a bald maybe really dress you know how he was so in
really dress you know how he was so in
really dress you know how he was so in motherhood once a woman gives birth to a
motherhood once a woman gives birth to a
motherhood once a woman gives birth to a child or adults a kid automatically her
child or adults a kid automatically her
child or adults a kid automatically her status in Islam is elevated to extreme
status in Islam is elevated to extreme
status in Islam is elevated to extreme degrees one of the examples is that
degrees one of the examples is that
degrees one of the examples is that Prophet Muhammad he was the one who
Prophet Muhammad he was the one who
Prophet Muhammad he was the one who brought Islam to the society and a man
brought Islam to the society and a man
brought Islam to the society and a man approached him and asked him who in
approached him and asked him who in
approached him and asked him who in society respect deserves my respect and
society respect deserves my respect and
society respect deserves my respect and kindness and so the Prophet replied your
kindness and so the Prophet replied your
kindness and so the Prophet replied your mother and then he said who next and
mother and then he said who next and
mother and then he said who next and prophet replied your mother and then the
prophet replied your mother and then the
prophet replied your mother and then the man asked who next and the Prophet again
man asked who next and the Prophet again
man asked who next and the Prophet again replied your mother and then the man
replied your mother and then the man
replied your mother and then the man asked one last time okay who next and
asked one last time okay who next and
asked one last time okay who next and then the Prophet replied your father
then the Prophet replied your father
then the Prophet replied your father so this doesn’t mean that you don’t
so this doesn’t mean that you don’t
so this doesn’t mean that you don’t respect your father at all of course
respect your father at all of course
respect your father at all of course what it means is that your mother
what it means is that your mother
what it means is that your mother actually deserves three times more
actually deserves three times more
actually deserves three times more respect than your dad does but just
respect than your dad does but just
respect than your dad does but just because she had to bear with you for
because she had to bear with you for
because she had to bear with you for nine months and the physical pain that
nine months and the physical pain that
nine months and the physical pain that she had to go through and the sacrifices
she had to go through and the sacrifices
she had to go through and the sacrifices that she had to make and also the
that she had to make and also the
that she had to make and also the Prophet says that once you’re a mother
Prophet says that once you’re a mother
Prophet says that once you’re a mother paradise lies under your feet so with
paradise lies under your feet so with
paradise lies under your feet so with these examples I just like to say that
these examples I just like to say that
these examples I just like to say that my I might have proven to you that Mia’s
my I might have proven to you that Mia’s
my I might have proven to you that Mia’s may be that Islam is a feminist religion
may be that Islam is a feminist religion
may be that Islam is a feminist religion or I might not have but if someone were
or I might not have but if someone were
or I might not have but if someone were to come to me and tell me oh so are you
to come to me and tell me oh so are you
to come to me and tell me oh so are you a feminist I probably just be like no
a feminist I probably just be like no
a feminist I probably just be like no I’m just a Muslim because I don’t need
I’m just a Muslim because I don’t need
I’m just a Muslim because I don’t need to be a feminist now if I were to give
to be a feminist now if I were to give
to be a feminist now if I were to give you more examples of famous women in
you more examples of famous women in
you more examples of famous women in Islamic history maybe you’d be convinced
Islamic history maybe you’d be convinced
Islamic history maybe you’d be convinced so this is no say Babinski balance aria
so this is no say Babinski balance aria
so this is no say Babinski balance aria she was actually there at the time of
she was actually there at the time of
she was actually there at the time of the Prophet she took part in the battle
the Prophet she took part in the battle
the Prophet she took part in the battle with along with the Prophet something
with along with the Prophet something
with along with the Prophet something that people will be surprised at because
that people will be surprised at because
that people will be surprised at because now we’re not considered woman aren’t
now we’re not considered woman aren’t
now we’re not considered woman aren’t like most Islamic countries do not take
like most Islamic countries do not take
like most Islamic countries do not take part in fighting but she did and she was
part in fighting but she did and she was
part in fighting but she did and she was actually one of the key people to
actually one of the key people to
actually one of the key people to protect the Prophet when an enemy was
protect the Prophet when an enemy was
protect the Prophet when an enemy was attacking and she got injured in the
attacking and she got injured in the
attacking and she got injured in the process and she wakes up the next day
process and she wakes up the next day
process and she wakes up the next day and she’s the one concern that she had
and she’s the one concern that she had
and she’s the one concern that she had was is the Prophet okay is he alive
was is the Prophet okay is he alive
was is the Prophet okay is he alive that’s what her biggest concern was this
that’s what her biggest concern was this
that’s what her biggest concern was this is actually a depiction of her in a
is actually a depiction of her in a
is actually a depiction of her in a recent movie actually a series on a
recent movie actually a series on a
recent movie actually a series on a Middle Eastern channel called MPC it’s
Middle Eastern channel called MPC it’s
Middle Eastern channel called MPC it’s not and it’s not NBC it’s MBC and it’s
not and it’s not NBC it’s MBC and it’s
not and it’s not NBC it’s MBC and it’s called the series is called Omer so if
called the series is called Omer so if
called the series is called Omer so if you would like to check it out another
you would like to check it out another
you would like to check it out another example I like to give you is of Fatima
example I like to give you is of Fatima
example I like to give you is of Fatima alpha here she was a moroccan princess
alpha here she was a moroccan princess
alpha here she was a moroccan princess and she was the first person to open up
and she was the first person to open up
and she was the first person to open up a formal university that gave out
a formal university that gave out
a formal university that gave out degrees so the fact that we’re all
degrees so the fact that we’re all
degrees so the fact that we’re all sitting here at UTA the fact that we’re
sitting here at UTA the fact that we’re
sitting here at UTA the fact that we’re having this TED talk and were gaining
having this TED talk and were gaining
having this TED talk and were gaining degrees or our teaching degrees
degrees or our teaching degrees
degrees or our teaching degrees is because of her and this was the ninth
is because of her and this was the ninth
is because of her and this was the ninth century so this is not the 1800s the
century so this is not the 1800s the
century so this is not the 1800s the 1700s this is 800 C II so this is just
1700s this is 800 C II so this is just
1700s this is 800 C II so this is just eight hundred years after Christianity
eight hundred years after Christianity
eight hundred years after Christianity came along
came along
came along another example na now SMO she was much
another example na now SMO she was much
another example na now SMO she was much recent she was in the 19th century so
recent she was in the 19th century so
recent she was in the 19th century so this is 1800s
this is 1800s
this is 1800s she was also from the royal family and
she was also from the royal family and
she was also from the royal family and she was responsible in her society to
she was responsible in her society to
she was responsible in her society to gather women and empower them towards
gather women and empower them towards
gather women and empower them towards education so these are just a few
education so these are just a few
education so these are just a few examples of women doing spectacular
examples of women doing spectacular
examples of women doing spectacular things of a Muslim woman doing
things of a Muslim woman doing
things of a Muslim woman doing spectacular things so the contemporary
spectacular things so the contemporary
spectacular things so the contemporary fundamentalist definitions of women not
fundamentalist definitions of women not
fundamentalist definitions of women not being important parts of society in
being important parts of society in
being important parts of society in Islamic Islamic societies is actually
Islamic Islamic societies is actually
Islamic Islamic societies is actually it’s actually very wrong so if you were
it’s actually very wrong so if you were
it’s actually very wrong so if you were to go back to fundamentalist teachings
to go back to fundamentalist teachings
to go back to fundamentalist teachings refer to go back to the basic principles
refer to go back to the basic principles
refer to go back to the basic principles of Islam feminism was very much
of Islam feminism was very much
of Islam feminism was very much prevalent and if I request you after
prevalent and if I request you after
prevalent and if I request you after this talk if you have been convinced if
this talk if you have been convinced if
this talk if you have been convinced if someone comes up to you and says oh no
someone comes up to you and says oh no
someone comes up to you and says oh no Islam as oppressive as primitive it’s
Islam as oppressive as primitive it’s
Islam as oppressive as primitive it’s not made for contemporary times and it’s
not made for contemporary times and it’s
not made for contemporary times and it’s definitely not feminist you just be like
definitely not feminist you just be like
definitely not feminist you just be like bro Islam was a hipster in feminism
bro Islam was a hipster in feminism
bro Islam was a hipster in feminism thank you
”
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