The Winds Of Change

In the heartland of Saudi Arabia, our nation stands at the precipice of significant social, cultural, and economic transformations. These palpable shifts permeate every facet of our daily lives, manifesting a direct influence on both citizens and residents alike. At times, these transitions evoke feelings of renewed hope and jubilation, while occasionally imposing newfound intellectual and emotional challenges, previously unfamiliar in our collective psyche.

Adapting to this fundamental shift from conventional routines to fresh, evolved ways, invariably poses challenges. It brings forth undeniable disturbances to the human behavioral patterns, lifestyles, and philosophies ingrained within us over the years through education, habits, and key concepts that drive our actions.

A quick glance might suggest that these transformations could be swiftly affected with the powerful stroke of a King's ruling or a government decision. However, the reality recalls the countless complex narratives of human history, replete with difficult experiences, victories, defeats, and even wars in pursuit of change. Negotiating this path is indeed daunting and protracted, yet it is an innate part of human existence and life's cyclical nature.

Life, in its essence, is a dynamic entity, ceaselessly evolving. It is often quipped that change is indeed life's only constant. With this understanding, we must train our minds not to resist this inevitable development and change. Instead, we should strive to adapt and derive learning and benefit from this transition, as we gracefully navigate our way through the flux of life.

Nothing That It Seems

In this whirlwind of transformation and rapid evolution, many individuals find themselves adrift, their perceptions distorted by those who cunningly reinterpret the purpose of change for their personal gain. These manipulative entities, dwelling in political and institutional realms, strive to influence decision-making processes and sway the collective mindset of society, angling for control and dominance. A subject worthy of in-depth discussion, I aim to bring focus to one particular group — women's and feminist's rights movements in Saudi society.

It's crucial to understand that a distinct boundary exists, which complicates notions of fairness from individual or religious viewpoints. This is the primary nexus between women's & feminist's rights movements and liberal movements, advocating a shift in sacred constants to align with their ambitions and ideologies.

Many struggle to comprehend that Islam is the only faith that guides its followers on leading their lives, establishing firm rules for interaction with the world. Due to a lack of robust understanding of Islam, many are unable to distinguish between the laws of the Quran and contemporary edicts or share laws, significantly influenced by individual thinkers, political ideologies, and social trends rather than religious legitimacy. For instance, feminist rights and women's organizations advocate for complete gender parity, even in inheritance laws, wherein the Quran dictates a different share for each gender. Altering such a law signifies a rejection of the Quran, which equates to abandoning the faith.

There has always been a contentious struggle between religion and intellectualism since time immemorial, with each side needing followers and believers to consolidate their social standing and influence. The easiest targets for such manipulation are those in distress or need — people more predisposed to believe and be manipulated — their circumstances used to twist their beliefs unknowingly until they are ensnared in a web of deceit.

Moving forward, each week I plan to dissect a topic raised by such organizations, exposing their goals, purposes, and ulterior motives, supported by rational reasoning and evidence. I aspire to guide those searching for truth, aiming to arm them with knowledge before they unwittingly become prey.

End Male Guardianship Campaigning

This incendiary topic, the issue of guardianship over women, is often the fodder of numerous organizations. It's a theme that attracts human rights bodies, women's rights groups, feminists, liberals, and religious figures. Are we accurately grasping the underlying essence of guardianship in Islamic tenets and the implications therein? For a Westerner, the term "guardianship" elicits thoughts of legal proceedings instituted when an individual can no longer safeguard themselves or their belongings, or when said individual is considered vulnerable to exploitation or manipulation. In this context, it is perceived as a constraint on personal freedoms. However, within the Islamic context, guardianship operates within familial structures: it speaks to a mother's care of her children or a husband's responsibility towards his family, ensuring their welfare and safety.

Some societies perpetuate tribal structures and laws that, if ignored by their governments, can render the governance of these tribes difficult, if not impossible. As a result, tribal norms and cultural codes often infiltrate governmental regulations. These entrenched norms cannot simply be overturned for the benefit of a few without causing widespread conflict. Unfortunately, these customs can mean that uninformed women are susceptible to manipulation and control by men who use the guise of religion for personal gain.

The law prohibits women from traveling without a "Muharram" — a male relative to whom marriage is forbidden, such as a brother, father, or husband. This rule can vary depending on certain circumstances, but there is no specification that a guardian's permission is required. Yet, due to cultural norms, such consent is often demanded by local laws.

It's distressing that some individuals, trapped in unfortunate situations, bear the brunt of a misinterpretation of guardian laws, twisted by convention rather than based on Islamic principles. In fact, according to a report by Human Rights Watch, on April 21, 2008, titled "Perpetual Minors," Saudi Arabia was criticized for its "guardianship" system, which was, and still is, considered oppressive towards women. However, one begs the question of the metrics and standards used by the Human Rights Watch to assemble their conclusions.

The definition of human rights varies across societies and cultures because the notion of such rights is inherently tied to our perceptions. If ethical principles and social norms that underline human behavior are accepted as fundamental rights, then Islamic or tribal laws could also be seen as human rights, based on their societal norms. Yet, such a perspective might cause a schism when perceived from a perspective outside these societies.

Sensible Saudi men support measures that ensure the rights of their female counterparts — sisters, wives, mothers, and daughters — as long as those measures align with the immovable precepts of Islam. The prevalent ignorance of these teachings, unfortunately, often leads individuals to align with misguided institutions that aim to disrupt societal harmony in the name of change and women's rights.

One interesting fact that isn't widely recognized is that if a guardian fails to perform daily prayers, he loses his qualification as a guardian. If a woman can prove before a court of law that a man fails to adhere to Islamic teachings and perpetrates sinful acts, he is deemed unfit as a guardian. Islam permits a woman to act as her own guardian if she has no suitable male relatives or if she's not a minor.

However, the quest for untamed freedoms — unrestricted parties, relationships without marital commitment, gay rights, freedom of dress or expression, and the liberty to criticize Islam — can never be condoned in a conservative Islamic nation. Such liberties advanced by organizations mask under the banner of protecting victimized individuals, using their grievances to disseminate their ideologies. It's vital to empathize with those who, clouded by ignorance of their religious doctrine, yearn for respite from the hardships of daily life. Regrettably, they often serve as pawns in a political game, manipulated by figureheads who exploit their pain. May they find the divine guidance they need.

Choose Your Own Path

Many advocates of traditional Saudi customs, predominantly women, express concern over the influx of Western influences, particularly in terms of religion. They argue that the West should respect religious distinctions. Despite exhibiting little interest in participating in electoral matters, these women maintain a perspective deeply rooted in authentic Islamic traditions. They perceive the spread of Western values in their society as a threat, fearing that Saudi women may become objectified, replicating the status of various Western women, rather than preserving their dignity and identity as women of their faith.

In the Global Gender Gap Report of 2009, Saudi Arabia placed 119th out of 134 countries for gender parity in facets such as employment, education, and political engagement. Remarkably, it was the only nation to score zero in the political empowerment section in 2008. However, in the years following, the nation has made considerable strides, even outperforming several Arab countries, prompting gender equality advances worldwide. The progress continues as of the first half of 2018, largely in the aspect of political empowerment.

The fraught journey towards these changes, driven by individual objectives or pursuits of personal freedoms, has incited substantial societal debates, from both a conceptual and spiritual standpoint.

Turning to the topic of personality, this is usually characterized by consistent behavioral tendencies, thought processes, and emotional responses, which are nurtured by both biological and environmental elements. The bulk of theories lean towards motivational and psychological interactions with one's situation, though there are some behaviorally-based approaches which mainly view personality as a product of learned behaviors and habits. That said, most theories consider personality traits to be relatively unchanging.

Consequently, your knowledge, habits, and environment continually shape your personality. For instance, if you identify as a liberal, it'd be near impossible to condone any legislation inherently against that mindset, and the same holds for religious individuals.

A shared foundation is imperative to facilitate dialogue and forge relationships between the needs of rights associations and those of religious laws. On the other hand, proponents of unrestricted living argue that religious rules or regulations should not confine life.

Immersion in religious or liberal ideologies can lead to confusion, given the profound clashes in their fundamental principles - this is a given, as these ideas form the bedrock of their respective groups or organizations.

My sincere advice to my loved ones, irrespective of personal convictions, is not to affiliate with any political movements or groups, as their honesty is often found lacking. Rather, avoid taking sides, and be cautious not to be exploited, or allow anyone to trample on your aspirations and convictions to fulfill the agendas of other organizations, regardless of their nature.

It's essential to bear in mind that freedom, though vital, isn't a panacea. Your freedom swings to a halt where another's freedom commences.

When Asking Feminists: Women’s Rights or Islam?