In the Los Angeles times, there is an article about Muslimahs taking a stand on not having the ability to drive by saying they will breastfeed their drivers!!! I absolutely have to share this with you all so let us know what you think!Many were stunned when Saudi cleric Sheik Abdel Mohsen Obeikan recently issued a fatwa, or Islamic ruling, calling on women to give breast milk to their male colleagues or men they come into regular contact with so as to avoid illicit mixing between the sexes.
But a group of Saudi women has taken the controversial decree a step further in a new campaign to gain the right to drive in the ultra-conservative kingdom, media reports say.
If they're not granted the right to drive, the women are threatening to breastfeed their drivers to establish a symbolic maternal bond.
"Is this is all that is left to us to do: to give our breasts to the foreign drivers?" a Saudi woman named Fatima Shammary was quoted as saying by Gulf News.
Obeikan argued in his decree that if the women give their drivers their breast milk, the chauffeurs would be able to mingle with all members of the family without having to worry about violating Islamic law. Some Islamic scholars frown on the mixing of unmarried men and women. Islamic tradition, or hadith, stipulates that breastfeeding establishes a maternal bond, even if a woman breastfeeds a child who is not her own.
Drawing from the cleric's advocacy, the women have reportedly chosen a slogan for their campaign that translates to, "We either be allowed to drive or breastfeed foreigners."
The current driving ban applies to all women in Saudi Arabia, regardless of their nationality, and it's been a topic of heated public debate in recent years.The ban on driving was unofficial at first but was introduced as official legislation after 47 Saudi women drove cars through the streets of the Saudi capital, Riyadh, in 1990 in an attempt to challenge authorities.
The incident brought harsh consequences for the women, who were jailed for a day and had their passports confiscated. Many of them were said to have been forced to leave their jobs after the driving protest.
Still, every now and then, reports of Saudi women driving in defiance of the ban emerge in the media.
Two years ago, 125 women in Saudi Arabia signed a petition that called on the Saudi interior minister to lift the ban.
One of the Saudi female signatories, Wajeha Huwaider, posted a video of herself driving on YouTube in a direct appeal to the Saudi authorities to allow women to drive.
"For women to drive is not a political issue," Wajeha said as she sat behind the wheel. "It is not a religious issue. It is a social issue, and we know that many women of our society are capable of driving cars. We also know that many families will allow their women to drive."
-- Alexandra Sandels, Los Angeles Times
So, what do YOU think about this? Do you think this is a bad idea? A good idea? Would you care if you had to have a driver instead of drive yourself? Would you enjoy the idea of having a driver? Leave your comment and let us know!
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Honestly... I really dislike driving. But I would feel SO uncomfortable alone in a car with a man who is not related to me. The same way I would feel uncomfortable having a maid live in the house who is not related to my husband. The Saudi government is forcing these women who have to have drivers to do something that is haraam. Which is not good. This is why there is no true Islamic state. Even KSA doesn't follow all the rules (though to be fair, they try harder than a lot of other countries in this world).
ReplyDeleteBy Maryam Msoa
ReplyDeleteI love it !!!! Women stand up to the men you have given bith to. if yo have to give milk in order to have some rights than I back you 110%. Further more sahabiet women where traveling on horses and camels as a ridding beat! why not a car etc?
ahhh. I'm really confused by this. The drivers would drink the breast milk from a bottle, right?
ReplyDeleteI can understand that they want to drive because in the old days women was allowed to ride on the camels so whats wrong with driving. But the whole breastmilk issue is dumb. First of all you cant breastfeed passed 2 years old so if a women is putting her breast in a mans mouth then you is going aganist what Allah has said and thatis another form of adultey. Also when we leave comments we should be able to use our name instead of having these other crazy accounts.
ReplyDeleteYou can add your name by selecting Name/URL in the comment as drop-down menu.
ReplyDeleteoh my goodness, i think is lower than low. and i cant believe a fatwa has been issued for this. Yes, its wrong to ban women from driving. but to go to such an extent where it crosses the boundaries???? besides, a woman is not allowed to breast fead anyone above the age of 2. which would make this 'comeback' at the saudi government don in vain and not having any benefits...im really losing faith in arab muslim countries
ReplyDeleteadd: plus, letting unknown grown men near a womans breasts is not a form of breast feeding. its purely zina (fornication). no way is it 'motherly' its purely sexual and everyone knows this.
ReplyDeleteSalaam.
ReplyDeleteOriginally, I thought it was a bad idea, but then I remembered how Saudi Arabia is.
Saudi women have tried so many options to get this basic right. I dont feel its a bog deal.
So, if they do go on with it, it will only anger the government; however, their voice and concerns will be heard.
In conclusion, they should just let the sisters drive themselves.
Plus: it costs the famly a lot of money to hire a driver.
i think we should be a little bit more worried about the cab driver that would drink a stange womans breastmilk! (which i hope will be in sometype of cup or bottle) this whole idea is just nasty
ReplyDeleteYeah, its obviously a statement made by some women to get a reaction so they can drive because there is no way they could even do it. You have to be lactating to even give milk to a strange man. Therefore. only the fertile women would be able to do so and only after having a child.....not exactly full proof plan..
ReplyDeleteAs Salaamu Alaaykum Sisters
ReplyDeleteThis is very sad and unfortunate that these types of comments are coming from this part of the region. I understand people have their bad sides but there should be some kind of appreciation for where u are in the world [not too far from the two Most beloved Cities {Mecca & Medinah} By Allah the exalted]. These types of comments sound like women with no deen at all. We must realize the truth from the Prophet (saas}
Most of hell is populated by women – Sahih Bukhari 4, Book 54, Number 464: Narrated 'Imran bin Husain: The Prophet said, "I looked at Paradise and found poor people forming the majority of its inhabitants; and I looked at Hell and saw that the majority of its inhabitants were women."
This situation is serious but we sit and laugh about it and think its funny. Actually if you think about who wouldn’t want a chauffeur taking them everywhere they wanted to go. The highest of dignitaries get this type of treatment why wouldn’t a woman want that Royal treat. Aren’t we considered royalty so why dumb it down? The principles of the Shariah is to protect the believers from the prohibitions set by Allah. The Shariah is put in place to protect the honor and lives of the people. There is nothing wrong with the Women driving they just have to realize that some protections are there for a purpose to prevent an awkward situation and protect the honor of women
As Allah the All Mighty Says
17:32 And come not near to the unlawful sexual intercourse. Verily, it is a Fahishah [i.e. anything that transgresses its limits (a great sin)], and an evil way (that leads one to Hell unless Allah forgives him).
Im making point which Allah tells us to not commit zina and go not near it. Now the Sharia is put in place for rules that prevent us from coming near this unlawful act.i.e not mixing with men/women, not showing our forbidden parts, carrying ourselves in a proper manner according to the Quran and Sunnah etc. So women drive isn’t a bad thing its just things were put in place to prevent other things from happen.
to be Cont…
As Salaamu Alaaykum Sisters
ReplyDeleteThis is very sad and unfortunate that these types of comments are coming from this part of the region. I understand people have their bad sides but there should be some kind of appreciation for where u are in the world [not too far from the two Most beloved Cities {Mecca & Medinah} By Allah the exalted]. These types of comments sound like women with no deen at all. We must realize the truth from the Prophet (saas}
Most of hell is populated by women – Sahih Bukhari 4, Book 54, Number 464: Narrated 'Imran bin Husain: The Prophet said, "I looked at Paradise and found poor people forming the majority of its inhabitants; and I looked at Hell and saw that the majority of its inhabitants were women."
This situation is serious but we sit and laugh about it and think its funny. Actually if you think about who wouldn’t want a chauffeur taking them everywhere they wanted to go. The highest of dignitaries get this type of treatment why wouldn’t a woman want that Royal treat. Aren’t we considered royalty so why dumb it down? The principles of the Shariah is to protect the believers from the prohibitions set by Allah. The Shariah is put in place in to protect the honor and lives of the people. There is nothing wrong with the Women driving they just have to realize that some protections are there for a purpose to prevent an awkward situation and protect the honor of women
to be continued...
so? wait. is this article suggesting that women breastfeed men to make them permissible to be alone with them in a car if they themselves are unable to drive? is there another way to go about this? how do we define the limits of Allah (swt) this way? will she pull out her breast? will she pump? will she give it to every driver she encounters? where will it end? Allah (swt) knows best and He will guide us all in the way He would have us go.
ReplyDeleteWith this fatwa I’m not sure if I read it right but actually a person is not supposed to consume mother/foster mother breast milk after about 30 months that’s like 2.4 yrs.
ReplyDeleteAllah says in his book
2:233.. The mothers shall give suck to their children for two whole years, (that is) for those (parents) who desire to complete the term of suckling, but the father of the child shall bear the cost of the mother's food and clothing on a reasonable basis. No person shall have a burden laid on him greater than he can bear. No mother shall be treated unfairly on account of her child, nor father on account of his child. And on the (father's) heir is incumbent the like of that (which was incumbent on the father). If they both decide on weaning, by mutual consent, and after due consultation, there is no sin on them. And if you decide on a foster suckling-mother for your children, there is no sin on you, provided you pay (the mother) what you agreed (to give her) on reasonable basis. And fear Allah and know that Allah is All-Seer of what you do.
46:15….And We have enjoined on man to be dutiful and kind to his parents. His mother bears him with hardship and she brings him forth with hardship, and the bearing of him, and the weaning of him is thirty (30) months, till when he attains full strength and reaches forty years, he says: "My Lord! Grant me the power and ability that I may be grateful for Your Favour which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and that I may do righteous good deeds, such as please You, and make my off-spring good. Truly, I have turned to You in repentance, and truly, I am one of the Muslims (submitting to Your Will)."
And symbolic or reality this is unacceptable for any Muslim to say we are really imitating the disbelievers full force. MashaAllah this is the type of stuff that divides the believers from the fasiq(the rebellious ones). Alhamdulilah may Allah guide the ones he know that are true to him and follow his command and believe in his Prophets and believes in the hereafter and know that the angels are there recording everything we do and believes in Allah’ s decree and honestly follow His most Beloved book the Holy Quran. Ameen. As- Salaamu Alaykum wa Rahmatuallh wa Baraktu
first of all, the imam has to think of it from every aspect.breastfeed to drivers is big problem.why should women breast feed the drivers..
ReplyDeletein order to make relationship..........ah......frankly i did not agree with that decree.
huu. i'm stunted about this issue. from my islamic studies class, based on sirah, i've learnt that elder people may give man their breast milk, but it's a kind of illogical matters. all of us are laughing when this matter rises. finally, out mu'allim said that this not yet been practised nowadays :)
ReplyDeletehudaidris, malaysia:)