Islam does not oppress women

Thank you for your arguments.RebuttalCon has basically given two arguments. I will now rebute them and show why they fail to prove that Islam oppresses women.The HijabI don't think Con has a problem with the hijab, and he never said that the hijab oppresses women. So I don't need to defend the hijab. However, if you are in fact saying that the hijab oppresses women, then just let me know in your round 3. I will then rebute that claim in my last round.Now, what was it that Con argued in his 'Hijab argument', if not to argue that the hijab itself oppresses women? Con said: ...it is clear that although both men and women are required to dress and behave modestly, the requirements are greater for women. Specifically, women are required to wear a veil, they are only allowed to reveal their body to certain people, and they are prohibited from moving their bodies in certain ways if the intent is to draw attention to certain parts of their bodies. Islamic scripture does not burden men with the same restraints. Thus, Islam oppresses women because it does not allow them the same degree of sexual expression.Rebuttal: So, Con argues that Islam oppresses women because the requirements are greater for women, and because Islam does not allow women the same degree of sexual expression.Now, Con is true about the fact that women are prohibited from moving their bodies in certain ways if the intent is to draw attention to certain parts of their bodies, but he fails to mention that women are prohibited from moving their bodies in certain ways if the intent is to draw attention to certain parts of their bodies...to people besides their husbands. And in contrast to what Con claims, men are obviously and of course also prohibited from moving their bodies in certain ways if the intent is to draw attention to certain parts of their bodies...to people besides their wives. Moreover, nowhere in the Quran or in the sayings of prophet Muhammed does it say that only women and not men is prohibited from moving their bodies in certain ways if the intent is to draw attention to certain parts of their bodies. Thus, Con's claim that Islam oppresses women because it does not allow them the same degree of 'sexual expression' as men, is a failure.Con also said that 'Specifically, women are required to wear a veil, they are only allowed to reveal their body to certain people...'As Con said, men are also required to dress modestly. However, women are more required than men to dress modestly. This is basically because of the fact that it is not common among women to look at men lustfully as much as men do look at women. Moreover, it should be obviously clear as to why men doesn't have to wear a veil as to cover their hair.Now, to your second point. Its true that women are only allowed to reveal their body to certain people. indeed, to reveal their body to strangers is both immoral and almost like you are doing infidelity against your husband/wife. So women should reveal their body only to their husband or to close relatives. However, so does the man. The man also of course cannot reveal his body to everyone, and can only reveal his body to certain people. And again, nowhere in the Quran or in the sayings of prophet Muhammed does it say that only women and not men are prohibited from revealing their body expect to certain people. Thus, Con's claim is invalid and a failure.I also want to say something very important which everybody, including Blob, should know about Islam and its view of women. Just because men have some rights on women, or just because there are some requirements which are greater for women than for men, that doesn't mean that Islam oppresses women. What should be understood is that equality between men and women in rights, is impossible and an absurdity due to their natural differences in physical, mental, emotional and psychological qualities. As I said in my argument round, Islam recognises that women and men are different , so women have some rights on men, and men have some rights on women. To say that women and men should have the same rights on everything, is again, absurd. Moreover, if we however take all the rights of men over the women, and then all the rights of women over the men, we will see that their rights in general (i,e.., In most cases) are the same. Can men beat their women in Islam?Con argues that Islam teaches that men can beat their wives if they don't obey them, because of verse 34 of the Quran. Well, it doesn't. This verse is just very misunderstood. What should be known is that the word 'beating" which is used in this verse, does not mean "physical abuse". It simply just means "a light tap". This is the best translation of this word, and must Muslim scholars agree on that. Here is a explanation given to this verse by some Muslim scholars:“Men are the support of women as God gives some more means than others, and because they spend of their wealth (to provide for them). So women who are virtuous are obedient to God and guard the hidden as God has guarded it. As for women who are averse in behavior, talk to them suasively, leave them alone in bed and tap them (like a doctor would tap a patient - lightly), if they open out to you, do not seek an excuse for blaming them. Surely God is sublime and great.' [1]Dr. Jamal Badawi, commenting on this verse, says:"If the problem relates to the wife's behavior, the husband may exhort her and appeal for reason. In most cases, this measure is likely to be sufficient. In cases where the problem persists, the husband may express his displeasure in another peaceful manner, by sleeping in a separate bed from hers. There are cases, however, in which a wife persists in bad habits and showing contempt of her husband and disregard for her marital obligations. Instead of divorce, the husband may resort to another measure that may save the marriage, at least in some cases. Such a measure is more accurately described as a gentle tap on the body, but never on the face, making it more of a symbolic measure than a punitive one.' [2]And even this light taping should only happen as a last resort and in extreme cases. Also, the face must be avoided. In fact, prophet Muhammed clearly discouraged his followers to beat their wives. He never hit any female, and he used to say that the best of men are those who do not hit their wives. In one hadith, he said: "How does anyone of you beat his wife as he beats the stallion camel and then embrace (sleep with) her?” (Al-Bukhari)It should also be noted that the relationship between the husband and the wife in Islam should be based on mutual love and kindness (Quran: Ar-Rum 21). Violence against women has no place in Islam.Now, concerning that the man is the 'boss'. Nowhere in the Quran or in the sayings of prophet Muhammed does it say that men are the boss of the women. However, the Quran clearly states that men are the maintainers of women and the head of the household. They are in a way the leader. But again, only in the context that they are the maintainers and protectors of women. It is the men who must support and maintan the woman. He is financially responsible for her, and must for example provide her with food, shelter and clothing. In this way, the man is the leader or 'boss'. Its not in a bad way, like for example that the man is the boss in everything and the woman has to obey like a slave. This is a big misunderstanding which must be gone with.ConclusionI have clearly shown that these examples that Con gave does not at all burden women with unjust and cruel restraints and impositions. Con's two arguments basically fails to show and prove that Islam oppresses women.The conclusion still stands very strong and obvious: Islam does NOT oppress women. Thank you.Sources [1] http://www.islamicfinder.org...[2] http://islamnewsroom.com...