How Mohalla System Can Improve The Life Conditions Of Muslim Women?

By Grace Mubashir, New Age Islam 6 April 2024 The Mohalla System, A Community-Based Approach To Governance And Social Organization, Has The Potential To Significantly Improve The Life Conditions Of Muslim Women In Several Ways Main Points: 1. Increased Community Support: The Mohalla System fosters a sense of community and solidarity among residents. By promoting mutual support and cooperation, it can provide a safety net for Muslim women who may face various challenges, including economic hardships, domestic violence, or discrimination. 2. Empowerment and Participation: In many traditional societies, women may have limited opportunities for participation in decision-making processes or community affairs. However, the Mohalla System emphasizes inclusivity and grassroots democracy, offering avenues for women to actively engage in local governance and community initiatives. By involving women in decision-making bodies and leadership roles within the Mohalla System, their voices can be heard, and their perspectives considered in shaping policies and programs that affect their lives. 3. Access to Resources and Services: Muslim women, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds, often face barriers in accessing essential resources and services, such as healthcare, education, and employment opportunities. Through the Mohalla System, community members can collectively address these challenges by mobilizing resources, advocating for improved services, and implementing community-based programs tailored to women's needs. This can lead to better access to healthcare facilities, educational institutions, vocational training programs, and other support services that enhance women's quality of life. 4. Promotion of Women's Rights and Gender Equality: The Mohalla System can serve as a platform for promoting awareness and advocacy on women's rights and gender equality issues within Muslim communities. By fostering dialogue, education, and awareness campaigns, the Mohalla System can challenge harmful norms and practices that perpetuate gender-based discrimination and violence. Community leaders and members can work together to promote gender-sensitive policies, enforce legal protections for women, and create a culture of respect and equality within the community. 5. Social Cohesion and Solidarity: Strengthening social cohesion and solidarity within neighborhoods through the Mohalla System can contribute to the overall well-being of Muslim women. By building networks of support, fostering positive social interactions, and celebrating diversity, the Mohalla System can create a more inclusive and cohesive community environment where women feel valued, respected, and empowered to lead fulfilling lives. ------ (Representative Photo) In Islamic history, mosques were more than just places for worship. They were also places where people learned personal, family, educational, economic, and social issues and where community problems were talked about and solved. People could no longer use the Mohalla system, which had clear and precise legal protection and redress processes for individuals, families, and communities, after it lost its power and vitality. When the Mohalla system was limited to officiating at certain ceremonies, like weddings and funerals, the community lost its leadership and a place to talk about Islamic solutions to its issues. The women of the Muslim society paid the most. Because problems with women are the community's biggest problems that can't be solved. Marriage Problems People in the neighbourhood mostly use the Mohalla system when they are married. Getting permission for marriages, collecting money for girls' weddings, and holding ceremonies are the only things that most Mohalla groups do. What does it mean from an Islamic point of view for mosque imams to be ready to watch expensive weddings with lots of guests? Tens of thousands of girls cry because of people who silently allow the evil practice of dowry to happen in the Mohallas. If the Mohallas are brave enough to say that cash marriages and expensive weddings will not happen, it will be a revolutionary move and the most important religious service of our time. Part of the deal is that the wedding price is set, and the father of the girl is asked to pay it. On the other hand, whatever is seen as Mehr is given to the girl as a gift, regardless of how good the girl is or how good the man is. Mehr is not really kindness. A woman should be able to get it when she gets married. Due to the fact that her Wali (parent) can ask for the amount that is fair and appropriate for her, there should be a way for him and the Mohalla officials to agree on and purchase the Mehr that is hers. Mohallas should also help people get married by setting up pre-marriage counselling. A lot of young women in our community get married without having any clear ideas or plans for their new life together. As a result, more and more educated people are getting divorced these days. So, pre-marriage training should happen in the Mohallas so that people can get a good idea of what married life is like. Just Divorce With the understanding of the Mohallas, divorce and having more than one wife are very common today. In Islam, Talaq is not as easy or smooth as it is in the West. There are many steps that need to be taken to make it work. If, after all your efforts, you still can't get back together, a third Talaq ends the split. However, this must be done before the shameful and against Islam act of performing Triple Talaq at once can continue unchecked in the community. The Mohallas should be very against acts of defiance that go against what Allah says, and they shouldn't be ready to finish these kinds of divorce procedures. What is the right thing to do about Mata'in (alimony), which is the right of a divorced woman? It is the goal of Islam to protect women everywhere. That she can have Mehr if she gets married and Mata, if she gets divorced, are rights that Islam gave her. In this community, it is usual to say three Talaq at once and send the woman away without giving her anything. It should also be up to the Mohalla to buy a divorced woman fair alimony. Khul’ Khul’ isn't the only marriage dissolution process besides Fasq. In Islam, women can use the Fasq and Khul’ methods, which are much easier and less complicated than Talaq. To get Khul’, a woman doesn't have to go through any of the trouble that a guy does. If her husband doesn't give her the safety, justice, and rights she needs, she can leave him by going to court or giving back the Mehr. Which court will she go to, though? The Mohalla Courts should be used in this case. There are tens of thousands of people who don't even know about this right given to women and live a hellish life of unfair treatment, neglect, and torture. The learned community should remember what the Prophet said to the crowd at Hajjatul Vidah (Farewell Speech): "Beware of Allah when it comes to women." The teachers and leaders who follow the Prophet are in charge of making sure that women have the rights and justice that Islam gives them. Multiple Marriages Today, the law of polygamy is also being abused. This law was made to protect widows and children. "Marry two, three, or four women if you're afraid you won't be able to make things right for orphans." If you think that justice can't be done between them, just pick one. The Qur'an gives very clear and strict instructions on this subject. People who want to get married and say they are descended from the "Prophet's example" should be asked: Is it possible to have a good marriage like the Prophet's first marriage? When Muhammad is young, he falls in love with Khadija, a 40-year-old widow and mother of two. They get married at the age of 25. Khadija was married to Muhammad three times. People who want to stay virgin and say they are doing it to protect orphans are being completely honest when they say they want a second bond while having a happy family life with their wife and kids. In the time of the Prophet, polygamy wasn't secret like it is now. At certain points, they were done while the first wife and family knew about them. In that way, the women of those times were smarter than the men. Because they got the same justice from their believing husbands. Otherwise, there was a court and a way to file complaints and get justice. Mohalla courts should be set up to protect women who are being denied justice in divorce and marriage cases. How to get into the mosque The mosque is in the middle of the Mohalla, so getting into it is the first right that a Muslim woman should set up and get. History shows that women used to speak up for their rights, air their complaints, and get them fixed in the mosque congregations during the time of the Prophet and the Caliphs. Another place where a woman asked Umar (RA) about Mehr was in the mosque. The women learned about the past of the prophets and felt like they had a right to be there through worship in the mosque, the congregation of knowledge, and the Khutbahs. Because they were able to go to these places, men began to admire, respect, and recognize them as well. Women lost places to talk about their problems when they were not allowed to go to church or knowledge rooms. The Mohalla Samiti Following the rules of the Islamic Sharia is safe for a Muslim woman. As things stand, the Muslim Personal Act in India does not give her that security. For women to get equal justice through Sharia law enforcement, it would be better to set up Mohalla Redressal Committees with women as members. When dealing with women's problems, it's important to have female minds that are aware of how serious they are. Don't even bother with the stupid and pointless claims that bad things will happen if women go into the masjid yard. Today, she works as a teacher. She is much smarter than the men in the neighbourhood when it comes to schooling. Mohalla Samitis should use the ideas and opinions of Muslim women who are smart and skilled. In summary, the Mohalla System has the potential to improve the life conditions of Muslim women by fostering community support, empowering women's participation, enhancing access to resources and services, promoting women's rights and gender equality, and strengthening social cohesion and solidarity within neighbourhoods. Through collaborative efforts at the grassroots level, the Mohalla System can contribute to positive changes that positively impact the lives of Muslim women and their communities. ----- A regular columnist for NewAgeIslam.com, Mubashir V.P is a PhD scholar in Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia and freelance journalist. 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