| A Test of Faith
Allah has given us the ideal and most
beautiful description of what a marriage should be; “And among His signs
is this: that He created for you mates from among yourselves so that you
may dwell in tranquility with them. He has put love and mercy between
your hearts; in that are signs for those who reflect.” (Quran 30:21)
We all fall short of this ideal at
times; we are human beings, flawed and imperfect. Couples disagree and
argue but at what point does that behavior cross the line and become
something unacceptable? Domestic violence is much more severe than the
typical marital disputes experienced by most couples. Domestic violence
is a pattern of abusive behaviors used to establish power and control
over another person. A victim of domestic violence lives in a constant
state of fear and uncertainty. Domestic violence can take several forms
but the ultimate goal is always the same; control a spouse through fear
and intimidation. Most people think that domestic violence occurs in
the form of physical abuse (hitting, slapping, kicking, choking, etc)
but it can also take the form of verbal abuse, isolation, economic
control, threats and intimidation.
If we are honest with ourselves, we
must admit that domestic violence exists within the Muslim community.
It is unpleasant, embarrassing and we would all like to pretend that it
doesn’t exist, but we all know that it does. Those who try to raise
awareness of this problem are sometimes accused of airing our
community’s “dirty laundry” or risking a negative reflection upon
Islam. It is time that we speak out publicly against domestic violence
with one clear, strong, and united voice. There can be nothing less
than zero tolerance of domestic violence in our community. Domestic
violence is clearly an example of injustice and oppression. Islam
instructs us to stand for justice even if we must speak against
ourselves, relatives, or someone with wealth and position. (Quran
4:135).
What do our religious leaders say when
a victim asks them for help? How can we help a friend or relative who
is living in fear and denial? Do we minimize their concerns; do we
judge them; do we worry about what people will say; do we get involved?
October is domestic violence awareness
month; this is a good time for action. Contact Bridges to Family
Harmony Coalition at mwl@mwlusa.org or go to our website at
www.mwlusa.org
to learn how you can make a difference.
Bridges to Family Harmony Coalition
October 2009 |
