Women, Restrictions, and Slaves

This is another post as part of the S.I.Q. series (Sarah Interprets the Quran).

I am only 80/354 pages into the Quran, and what started off as awkward verse reading is now becoming much more familiar diction.
So far there have been many themes that have jumped out at me, but only three in particular I will touch upon for now...

Women

I found some beautiful passages about women and "honourable rights" we deserve (2: 230). For instance, there is the surprising subject of divorce of which the Quran speaks quite favourably in terms of the right of women to enter and exit marriages of their own accord:

"When you divorce women, and they have reached/ their turn, then retain them honourably/ or set them free honourably; do not retain them/ by force, to transgress; whoever does that/ has wronged himself" (2: 328-242).

"When you divorce women, and they have reached/ their term, do not debar them from marrying/ their husbands, when they have agreed together/ honourably" (2: 248-251).

I suppose I find this surprising because of the large Catholic influence in my upbringing (social and familial) where divorce is a big no-no.

However, despite the fact that the Quran attributes what I would call great freedoms and respect for women, there is still one thing that makes it all relative, and it's the one thing that always gets Fundamentalist Muslims in trouble: the hierarchy of the sexes.

"Women have such honourable rights as obligations, but their men have a degree above them; God is/ All-mighty, All-wise" (2: 216-219).

And so it is that I will never subscribe myself to this Book.
And some where along the way this also got me thinking, there is a definite need for the female equivalent of the Books. Our voice needs to narrate, too.


Restrictions

So far, the Quran has spoken much of things we probably should do and probably should not do to retain the favour of God. But all these proscriptions seem to be fairly relative for, we are reminded time and verse again, "God is All-forgiving, All-clement." Which means, you should probably not, for instance, lie with women during their period... but if you should blunder and find yourself bedridden with one at the wrong time we are reminded that, "God loves those who repent..." (2: 220).

The only things I have come across so far that are strictly forbidden (I know this because it says so, "These things only has He forbidden you (to eat)..." (2: 165)) are: "carrion, blood, the flesh of swine, what has been hallowed to other than God."

Do Not Eat:
1. Carrion: dead/decaying flesh
2. Blood: sorry Bella
3. The Flesh of swine: i.e. pigs, boars, hogs-- basically anything with thick skin, stout body, short neck, and moveable snout (or just really brutish Englishmen).
--> There are historic reasons for this-- swines have been responsible for many diseases. However, it says here only the flesh... and not the meat. This is interesting because Muslims don't eat pork, whether that be pork skin, chop, or ribs. Implication?
4. What has been hallowed to other than God: i.e. what food has been consecrated or dedicated to other than The God.

Anyways, so far I know that these things I must not eat and that to other gods, I must not pray.
But aside from that, the do's and don'ts of God's words of advice often get lost, confounded, or forgiven. Which is not all too far off the mark of God's intentions. Indeed, as he says quite befittingly given the nature of my personal pursuit:

It is He who sent down upon thee the Book,
wherein are verses clear that are the Essence
of the Book, and others ambiguous.
(3: 5).

So, basically God, like my 3rd year Bible and Quran study professor, has given me a license to interpret, and be judged come finals.

Slaves

God tells us not to marry idolatresses/idolaters-- they are the worst of the worst because they are unbelievers in the one and only God (Although, you can admire them from a distance) (2: 220). According to God, if you are tempted by an idolater/ress, you are better off marrying a slave girl/boy, for at least the slave is likely to be a believer in God.
This caught my attention because it is a major reason why Islam was able to spread so quickly and openly in South Asia. Hindus practicing the caste system often felt subjected to lower rungs of the social hierarchy. When Islam came, it preached that slaves (or those of lower social standing) were actually far better than idolaters (i.e. those worshiping figures other than God; i.e. Hindus). So, verses like these actually served to be a form of emancipation and protection for Hindus in South Asia who, seeking a life outside of the bounds of the caste system, would often gladly convert to Islam.


Anyways, so far God has given me a lot to think about. Let me know what you think. Until then, it's time for me to grapple immaculate conception, Quran-style.