November 23, 2011

Islam and Honor Killings

Islam is always inscribed with a solemnest charge of killing women who are found in dishonoring their families indulging themselves in dating or sexual relations with men. The phenomenon is known as honor killings. Honor killings are truly un-Islamic and are never considered as legitimate act in Islam.


Qur’an doesn’t encourage Muslim men to kill their women in any circumstances. Although adultery and fornication are strongly forbidden in Islam and have strict punishments but they are only applicable after the confession of the culprits and testimony of four eye-witnesses.
Now question arises that what is the origin of honor killings? Most of the people will agree with the fact that honor killings are outcome of backward cultural customs and traditions that are prevalent in non-Islamic and men dominating society.

There is no mandatory punishment of dating in Islamic law; it doesn’t mean that dating is allowed in Muslim society. Any woman found guilty of such offenses doesn’t comply with the punishments of adultery. The killing, in result of this will be considered as cold-blooded murder.
True Muslim societies are free from such practices, although they do endure in some parts of the Middle East and South Asia. According to statistics released by the United Nations in 2000 there are approximately 5,000 deaths annually from “honor” killings. Even if one death occurred due to such barbarity, it would be one too many, as the Qur’an emphasizes that whoever takes an innocent life without sanction it is as if the murderer has slaughtered the entirety of humanity.

Islam honors women and protects feminism. Honor killings are committed by pathetic individuals who are not aware of the teachings of Islam. We should eliminate this backward tradition from our society to show the true image of Islam to the world.

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Tu Zinda Hai Wallah - Owais Raza Qadri