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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 |
