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[quote] Thank you for the comments. I would like to respond to some of the points you have made. You think that the author has committed gender discrimination even in his expression by not bifurcating between the genders In this connection you write:

â€œWhy dont you say "she" and also mean "he'????â€

I am afraid there is not much to do in this regard. We need to communicate our message to the people who already use the word individual for a human being irrespective of their gender. Therefore one who goes for using â€˜sheâ€™ instead of â€˜an individualâ€™ will not be able to communicate with the rest of the world for the whole world has the same usage. I donâ€™t understand that roots of this style of expression lie in intentional gender discrimination. Therefore, you have to wait for the time when this usage and implication is replaced with the one you desire. Man has been always using the male gender in their communication in the oldest known literature and historical and religious records.

Some of your remarks are really heart rendering and not befitting in academic world. Of course every one has the right to disagree with others but please consider the fact that we have presented our viewpoint duly argued not on the basis of our status etc. Therefore you can very rightly oppose and reject these and present a counter opinion, which we are supposed to analyze on the yardstick of the religious sources with true intent using the faculties of our sense and reason.

You write:

â€œWomen are head of households and were the head of households during the time of the Prophet Mohammad, May peace be upon him. Just read history, the the history that is written in the way that you have written about the "human individual" as a man, but history that is sensitive to women and gender. I dont have time to go into it, but if you search -- as a true Muslim with a conscience -- you will find enough examples of women being responsible for their husbands.â€

This is sure to negate the Qurâ€™anic and historical evidence in this regard. Apart from the historical account the fact has been transmitted down to us through generation-to-generation mode of transfer and Muslims have always been clear on the issue over the history that they are made responsible to provide for the family. The fact that some women are reported to have entered into business does not mean that the women were considered the head of the families. You need to prove that whether the fact we present is an established reality. Or I need to understand what you say is a proven fact and what the world knows is distortion of facts?

I would request you kindly to give your explanation of the Qurâ€™anic exhortations in this regard. I would love to know your interpretation of the following verses of the Holy Qurâ€™an.

1.	Men are the guardians of women because Allah has given one superiority over the other and because they [--- men ---] support them from their means. (4:34)
 2.	As for those from whom you fear rebellion, admonish them [first] and [next] refuse to share their beds and [last] beat them. Then if they obey you, take no further action against them. (4:34)

How would you explain the family structure that has existed ever since the conception of human civilization on earth? If we suppose for the sake of argument that Qurâ€™an does not consider the element of physical and psychological set up of members of different genders then how can we explain that women are excused from attending the congregational prayer and are not obliged to offer obligatory prayer and observe fasts during menstrual periods etc. Do you have me believe that the Qurâ€™anic statement given in number two above is a directive not a factual statement? If yes then does the Qurâ€™an give a statement in general term that is bound to be proved false in another culture and time?

We try to present our views duly argued and expect you to do the same. Otherwise all this exercise will be meaningless. I assure you that we will be reluctant to accept the truth even when it runs contrary of our views. This in fact is binding upon us and we will never fail to acknowledge the truth in any circumstances.

I pray to the Almighty that he guides us the right path and bestows us with the courage to remain steadfast in the truth.

[b] Tariq Mahmood Hashmi [/b]

[/quote]

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