A Fascinating Glimpse into the Lives of Muslim Women

This article offers a truly captivating exploration of the lives of Muslim women. It presents a detailed history of women within the Muslim faith, which I found to be extremely interesting. Through this account, it has become much more evident to me why Muslim women may not necessarily perceive their status within their culture as something negative. While Western women might view their lives as being unliberated, the role and dictates of women in Muslim cultures run far deeper. They are firmly entrenched not only in religion but also in the political and social fabric of the society. It is truly an eye-opening read that I wholeheartedly recommend. It provides a unique perspective that challenges our preconceived notions and broadens our understanding of different cultures and the experiences of women within them.

This expanded version delves further into the significance of the topic, highlighting the depth of the cultural and religious aspects that shape the lives of Muslim women. It emphasizes the importance of this read in promoting cross-cultural understanding and breaking down stereotypes.

How does one begin to review this book without highlighting the obvious? *Sighs*.

She is an Australian who hasn't even bothered to learn the language of the Quran, and easily provides distorted translations, which undermines her credibility. I also wish she had been more cautious in her choice of words and her presentation in many parts. For example, I don't want someone who knows nothing about Islam to read this and think that Muslims visit shrines and offer "prayers to saints" (we only offer prayers to God, for/on behalf of people. There is a huge difference, and as a writer myself, not paying attention to details like this makes your work seem weak and careless).

But for the most part, this book was quite informative. It was interesting to read her account of experiences and her observations. I was curious to see what a woman who had a taste of the Middle East would say, hoping that I wouldn't encounter the mainstream "women in Islam are oppressed, omg we need to save them" narrative, and I wasn't disappointed, at least not by about 65% of the book (which is more than average for any Western commentator writing about the East). Actually, when I read the first few pages of this book, I thought, "GOOD GOD, THIS REAKS WITH EUROCENTRIC STEREOTYPES!" It made me so angry that I didn't even want to read the rest of it. I slammed it shut and tried to return it because I felt like I had wasted my money. But I came here and found some controversial reviews (noting that most people who gave this book high ratings were outsiders, and we all know that everyone loves a good heartbreaking story about the injustices of the developing world, no matter how distorted it is). So, in an attempt to understand what all these people were being told about the Muslim world, I decided to give my curious nature another chance, and I'm truly glad I did. You should too, even if the first few pages and some pages in between are rubbish.

She tried to be neutral, I guess, and many of the contrasts she drew were unfortunately true (as much as any human hates to have an outsider criticize their culture and norms, I must admit she makes valid points). I just wish she would revise and republish this for accuracy. We really have enough misconceptions and generalizations associated with Islam, and it's a pity that I can't give this a higher rating because it does have some valuable substance. Moreover, if she had tried to balance the book a bit more, without presenting outliers and extremes as representatives of the whole region, I would have readily said this was a great read.

She also seems very bothered by the fact that many Middle Eastern women were relatable to her. Sorry we turned out to be normal, Brooks. I do wish more of us were oppressed, backward, and orientalist, so that you could have realized more of your expectations of the Muslim world.

So should you read this? Yeah, definitely! Just be skeptical, and by no means make any general assumptions about the Muslim World based on it.

I was truly looking forward to reading this book.

As an American expat residing in the region, I had high expectations. However, I was extremely disappointed.

I absolutely detested the author's voice in this book. She is incredibly judgmental and充斥着偏见. There are brief moments when she explains things, and I found those parts somewhat interesting.

But then she would immediately contradict her own ideas, which was very confusing.

I especially loathed her chapter on veiling. She speaks condescendingly about the practice, and I found her discussions to be quite rude.

I know many Muslim women who choose to cover their heads, and they are strong, beautiful, and fierce women.

I read other reviews that claimed this book is outdated, but what bothered me more was her lack of objectivity in reporting something outside of her home culture.

Absolutely do not read this book.

I had an extremely difficult time making my way through this book, and there were two main reasons for that.

First and foremost, it was outrageously repetitive. It continuously delved into the same topic of the subjugation of women in Muslim countries, which made it rather tiresome to read.

Secondly, I grew increasingly frustrated with these very same issues. In fact, I found myself seething with rage. This was mostly because I observe so many of these exact things transpiring in our own country within the radical right's war on women.

The religious fundamentalists of all persuasions seem to harbor an irrational fear of women as an educated and equal part of society.

This book was penned in 1995, and an Afterword was added after 9/11. Astonishingly, the issues remain unchanged. If anything, they have become even more extreme. It is truly disheartening to see that despite the passage of time, these problems persist and show no signs of abating.

We must continue to raise awareness and fight for the rights and equality of women, both domestically and globally.

Compelling, at times horrifying, and thoroughly readable non-fiction awaits readers in this work by the author of March. It delves into the modern Islamic world and the man who set it all in motion. I often find myself excited about book-length fiction, yet seldom manage to finish it completely. In this case, I actually had to force myself to put the book aside to ensure I had a great read for my trip to New York. The only drawback I can identify is that it was published in 1995. As a result, I was left pondering what the most recent developments are in these countries. It makes one wonder how much has changed in the Islamic world since then. Are there new leaders, new movements, or new challenges? Despite this minor criticism, the book remains a fascinating exploration of a complex and often misunderstood part of the world.

I am truly grateful to have been fortunate enough to be born in a land that offers me the precious gift of freedom to make my own decisions. In this land, I am not burdened by the archaic观念 of misguided male relatives who view my actions as a yardstick for their honor. It is a place where religious fanaticism does not hold sway over my every waking moment, dictating what I can and cannot do, or even which body parts I am allowed to keep.

Brooks' book provided an eye-opening account that shed light on the sorry state of women in the Islamic world. It painted a vivid picture of the numerous challenges and limitations that women face in that part of the world, from restricted freedoms to cultural and religious norms that often suppress their individuality and rights. Reading this book made me realize just how lucky I am to live in a society that values and respects the autonomy and equality of women.

It also made me more aware of the importance of advocating for the rights and freedoms of women everywhere, regardless of their cultural or religious background. We must strive to create a world where all women can live freely and without fear of oppression or discrimination.

I have perused at least 10 volumes regarding the history of Islam. Astonishingly, I have never encountered the assertion that Ayesha took up arms against the Caliph himself, nor that Fatima never gave her approval to one of the Caliphs. Both of them are undisputedly among the most prominent women in Islam. Surprisingly, even Mom, a woman well-versed in Islamic history, was unaware of these claims.

I suspect that we, the Islamic scholars, have a tendency to pen history while overlooking any incident that might sully the otherwise spotless canvas of Islam. Regrettably, however, history reveals that it has its own share of blemishes.

For the majority of the book, the author details the status of women in various Islamic countries. How wretched they all seem, and what a dismal existence they are leading. Although mostly accurate, one can sense a certain bias in the reporting. Or perhaps it was just my perception. She hits the nail on the head, though, when explaining why the status of women is as it is. Indeed, it is our hypocritical society and the fact that men hold dominance.

Nearly everything that is amiss with Islam is superbly encapsulated in the concluding chapter of the book. "It becomes insufficient to merely gaze at Islam on paper or in history and dwell on the undeniable improvements it brought to women's lives in the seventh century. Today, the far more pressing and relevant task is to scrutinize the manner in which the faith has served as such fertile soil for almost every anti-women custom it encountered during its grand march out of Arabia. When it discovered the veil and seclusion in Persia, it assimilated them; when it found genital mutilation in Egypt, it absorbed them; when it encountered societies where women had never had a say in public affairs, its own traditions of lively women's participation withered."

Yes, this is precisely the problem. A significant portion of the Islamic world can no longer distinguish between the customs adopted due to geographical expansion and those that were actually mandated in Islam. The same holds true for the non-Islamic world. They too must study and understand that not everything a Muslim does is necessarily what the Quran has commanded. It could have originated from the land in which he was raised.

Any time things take a wrong turn in the Middle East, women bear the brunt first. A fundamentalist revolution may not be able to instantly revive a national economy, but it can force women to don the veil.

In Nine Parts of Desire, foreign correspondent Geraldine Brooks relates the disheartening and astonishing tales of women caught in the ebb and flow of political, religious, and cultural forces that impede and shatter the progress of women in the Middle East.

Brooks spent numerous years reporting from Arab countries. Her complete immersion in the local culture enabled her to gather some incredibly personal accounts of life as a woman in these nations.

Brooks devotes a significant amount of time to setting the context, telling stories from the Quran and Islamic history. The stories of the women themselves cover a wide range of topics that are particularly challenging for women in the Islamic world, such as education, marriage, sex, athletics, and politics. And of course, she discusses the rarer topic of female genital mutilation and the more common practice of veiling.

The overarching message of this book is that although the Quran contains a significant number of misogynist principles and practices, the greater part of the struggle women face today stems from the men who have distorted those messages to create a world and culture that is even more inhospitable to women.

Even though Brooks is an extremely talented writer, I found this a very difficult read. The practices and actions of the Islamic culture, in many cases, are so illogical and brutal that I can't fathom why anyone would tolerate such nonsense. It is truly mind-boggling.

Nine Parts of Desire is not only an excellent glimpse into the struggles of a people with very little voice, but it also serves to expand one's perspective on the struggles of others in the world. While 4th wave feminists are grappling with issues like inclusivity and body positivity, there are women in the world who cannot show their faces and risk being stoned to death for dishonoring their families.

Trusting that Brooks’s research and experience as a journalist working in several Arab countries over many years, her access to actually see the private lives of many Muslim women, and her own tolerance for differences in beliefs and see without judging or causing offense, I believe that the author has given us a thorough, comprehensive, and dismal look at the lives of Muslim women.

Brooks delves into a wide range of topics. She explores education, where the opportunities for Muslim women may be limited. Marriage and divorce are also examined, highlighting the complex dynamics and often challenging situations these women face. Sexuality is a sensitive area that she touches upon, shedding light on the cultural and religious norms that govern it. Autonomy, athletics, politics, and economics are further aspects that she covers, painting a vivid picture of the various aspects of Muslim women's lives.

We are introduced to the prophet, his wives, and the hadith, which are the sayings attributed to him or his contemporaries about his teachings. It becomes evident that many of the prophet's and the Koran's principles have been distorted by misogynist mullahs and the influence of money and power, such as that of the Sauds. Additionally, the syncretism with local tribal and cultural practices has further deviated from the prophet's original intent.

Fundamentalism, regardless of the religious creed or dogma, that oppresses large segments of society, allows for hypocrisy and injustice, and gives a free pass to fanatics based on a corrupted understanding of religious history, makes the world a much more difficult and unattractive place than it should be. This book provides evidence or at least offers commentary on one such religion.

Some of the content was indeed very difficult to read, as it exposes the harsh realities and inequalities that Muslim women endure.

In Morocco, Fatima Mernissi's Koranic scholarship has presented a powerful argument. She contends that Islam is a religion of equality and human dignity, but its true message has been buried over time by self-serving misogynists in positions of power. However, her work is more widely read in Western universities than in Moroccan mosques. Despite the precision of her research into the hadith, the male-dominated Islamic establishment seems reluctant to listen to the scholarship of a Muslim woman who doesn't veil or flaunt her piety.

This situation reflects the 'lesser than' treatment of almost all women in most Middle Eastern countries. They are seen as so distracting to men that they must hide behind walls, wear head-to-toe dark garments, speak in whispers, and are constantly suspected of doing something wrong. The conditions women endure today are far worse than what Muhammad intended when he founded Islam. His wives and daughters were advisers, warriors, and business owners in their own right. The current extremist versions of Islam bear little resemblance to the original, which, while not very inclusive by today's Western standards, still offered more rights to women than exist today in Islamic nations.

For example, when men and women are accused of the same crime, men often receive a light punishment or none at all, while women may face execution. Sexual mutilation of women and girls, although not as widespread as it once was, is still not uncommon.

This book is a must-read for both men and women who want a deeper understanding of contemporary life (at least as it was 30 years ago) from a woman's perspective. It provides valuable insights into the challenges and inequalities that women face in these societies and helps to raise awareness about the need for change.

Before writing Year of Wonders, Geraldine Brooks, a highly accomplished journalist, worked as a reporter, specifically as a Middle East correspondent for The Wall Street Journal. She spent nearly a decade living in various countries across the Middle East.

Her experiences were diverse and extraordinary. She seemed to have established personal connections with a wide range of people. She had dinners with Queen Noor of Jordan, made casual visits to Khomeini’s daughters in Iran, and even had conversations with a woman who was involved in holding the American Embassy hostages at gunpoint in Iran in 1979. What's remarkable is that she discusses these events in the book with a sense of normality, without any hint of a self-congratulatory attitude.

Throughout her years in these countries, which included Iraq during the first Gulf War, Iran, Israel, Palestine (where she had a unique encounter with a teenager who smashed her windshield and later lived with his polygamous family for weeks), Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, her unwavering goal was to understand the lives of Muslim women. She delved deep into how different cultures within the Islamic world used Islam to explain and justify vastly different treatments of women, despite the fact that the Koran often had little to say on the subject or even contradicted the practices being advocated.

Geraldine Brooks went to great lengths to accurately explain what the Koran actually says. As a speaker of Arabic, she was able to clarify many inconsistent translations. With her extensive reporting skills, she provided a clear overview of Islam's beginnings and how these origins related to current traditions.

She was outraged that many of the worst human rights abuses, such as clitoridectomy (which is not mentioned in the Koran), were being committed in the name of the religion, and its leaders were not speaking out against them. She quoted a female Muslim writer who was angry that people didn't know that clitoridectomy was an African practice unrelated to Islam. Geraldine wondered why those who were angry about the criticism of such practices didn't direct their wrath at the crimes themselves.

Geraldine Brooks was highly skilled at providing an insider's understanding and respect for these cultures while also highlighting the inconsistencies, hypocrisies, and lies. Her work often reminded readers of Krakauer's Under the Banner of Heaven, not only because both writers were talented at explaining a religion but also because the two religions shared some surprising similarities, such as a fear of women's independence, a fondness for polygamy, and child brides.

The conclusion of the book had a tone different from the rest and was very similar to the end of Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. It became clear that Geraldine was trying to warn us. Written in 1995, before Islamic fundamentalists had become a mainstream media concern and before any terrorist attacks were widely known, the book was ahead of its time, seeing the danger that was looming.

The excerpt from the book further emphasizes the issues. A United Nations human rights report found Sudan's Koran-based punishments in conflict with international agreements, and the Sudanese government threatened the report's author with death. In Algeria, two women were gunned down for not being veiled. These incidents, like the Rushdie fatwa, were so unexpected that Westerners had no coherent way to understand them. However, as Geraldine made her home in London, she realized that it was neither possible nor right to ignore the background noise of Islam.

An interesting exploration delves into the diverse groups of Islamic women. It presents a contrast between what the Koran stipulates and what the cultures that practice Islam have ultimately done. There are also other unexpected revelations. This provides a great general overview and is excellent for shattering stereotypes. The work concludes with a useful glossary and an outstanding bibliography. It offers a comprehensive understanding of the topic, shedding light on the often misunderstood aspects of Islamic women's lives. By examining the differences between religious teachings and cultural interpretations, it helps to clarify and educate. The inclusion of a glossary and bibliography enhances the credibility and usefulness of the piece, allowing readers to further explore and expand their knowledge.