Sisters in Islam
Encyclopedia
Sisters in Islam is an organization of Muslim women in Malaysia which seeks to articulate women's rights in Islam
by emphasising the need to interpret the Qur'an
and the hadith
in their proper historical and cultural contexts. It also advocates for the right of women to hold public office. One of the more prominent leaders of SIS is Zainah Anwar
who was the head for two decades.
jointly founded a fledgling movement to look into the problems Muslim women had with the Syariah courts. In 1990, the movement formally became known as SIS. Its focus was to challenge laws and policy made in the name of Islam that discriminate against women. Eventually, SIS areas of work expanded to emcompass larger issues of democracy, human rights and constitutionalism.
Said Zainah Anwar in an interview with The Star
:
Aghast at what was being taught in the ceramahs (sermons), the founding sisters turned to the Quran to find out for themselves what the verses say, as opposed to various interpretations. What they discovered was a revelation. On polygamy, the Quran says: “If you fear that you cannot treat them the same, then marry just the one.”
SIS has been at the forefront of NGOs influencing amendments to Islamic Family Law. It has espoused equality and justice for women, discussed dress and modesty, the right to guardianship, women as judges, fundamental liberties in Islam, and apostasy and freedom of religion.
The organisation has exposed the diversity of interpretations of Islam
, and through its research and discussions with local and international authorities, sifted through these to determine “which opinions we want to follow and codify”.
SIS works in the areas of research, advocacy, legal reform and services, public education and publications. It is currently undertaking a nationwide survey on the "Impact of Polygamy on the Family", interviewing first and second wives, husbands and children on the emotional, financial and social impact of this form of marriage. It is also advocating reform of the Muslim Family Law within the framework of equality and justice and works closely with the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality in Malaysia to reform all laws that discriminate against women and to raise public awareness on women's rights.
, berated ther organisation’s lack of formal Islamic credentials and there have also been attempts to get the association banned. On the plus side, some of the more liberal mufti
(chief clergy in respective states) have addressed SIS seminars.
At one point, SIS was taken more seriously abroad than at home in Malaysia. Women from Iran
who listened incredulously to Malaysian Muslim officialdom defend polygamy
, found common ground with SIS on this issue.
A group called the Malaysian Association of Mosques Youth (MAMY) has brought a lawsuit against Sisters in Islam, contesting the use of the word "Islam" in the organization's name; the suit is based on the technical argument that Sisters in Islam was registered as "SIS Forum" with the Registrar of Societies, and therefore has no legal title to the word "Islam". Other groups have accused the Sisters in Islam of misinterpreting religious principles
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
by emphasising the need to interpret the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
and the hadith
Hadith
The term Hadīth is used to denote a saying or an act or tacit approval or criticism ascribed either validly or invalidly to the Islamic prophet Muhammad....
in their proper historical and cultural contexts. It also advocates for the right of women to hold public office. One of the more prominent leaders of SIS is Zainah Anwar
Zainah Anwar
Zainah Anwar is a prominent Malaysian non-governmental organisation leader, activist and Muslim feminist. She was the head of Sisters in Islam for over two decades before stepping down.-Background:...
who was the head for two decades.
History
In 1987, a clutch of women lawyers, activists, academics and journalists including Zainah AnwarZainah Anwar
Zainah Anwar is a prominent Malaysian non-governmental organisation leader, activist and Muslim feminist. She was the head of Sisters in Islam for over two decades before stepping down.-Background:...
jointly founded a fledgling movement to look into the problems Muslim women had with the Syariah courts. In 1990, the movement formally became known as SIS. Its focus was to challenge laws and policy made in the name of Islam that discriminate against women. Eventually, SIS areas of work expanded to emcompass larger issues of democracy, human rights and constitutionalism.
Said Zainah Anwar in an interview with The Star
The Star (Malaysia)
The Star is an English-language, tabloid-format newspaper in Malaysia. It is the largest in terms of circulation in Malaysia, according to the . It has a daily circulation of between 290,000 to 300,000...
:
Aghast at what was being taught in the ceramahs (sermons), the founding sisters turned to the Quran to find out for themselves what the verses say, as opposed to various interpretations. What they discovered was a revelation. On polygamy, the Quran says: “If you fear that you cannot treat them the same, then marry just the one.”
Contributions
SIS has opened public space for debate and given a public voice to women to air their concerns about their rights under Syariah law. Through its fora and education programmes, SIS has shown that the concerns of Muslim women are “not the monopoly of religious scholars. Everyone has the right to speak”.SIS has been at the forefront of NGOs influencing amendments to Islamic Family Law. It has espoused equality and justice for women, discussed dress and modesty, the right to guardianship, women as judges, fundamental liberties in Islam, and apostasy and freedom of religion.
The organisation has exposed the diversity of interpretations of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, and through its research and discussions with local and international authorities, sifted through these to determine “which opinions we want to follow and codify”.
SIS works in the areas of research, advocacy, legal reform and services, public education and publications. It is currently undertaking a nationwide survey on the "Impact of Polygamy on the Family", interviewing first and second wives, husbands and children on the emotional, financial and social impact of this form of marriage. It is also advocating reform of the Muslim Family Law within the framework of equality and justice and works closely with the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality in Malaysia to reform all laws that discriminate against women and to raise public awareness on women's rights.
Criticisms
SIS has drawn criticism from Muslim ulama because the women leaders are atypical of the image of the “good Malay-Muslim lady”. Many Muslim leaders, from the Islamic Development Department (JAKIM) to state religious bodies to PASPAS (political party)
The Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party commonly known as PAS or Pas, is an Islamist political party in Malaysia and is currently headed by Dato' Seri Abdul Hadi Awang...
, berated ther organisation’s lack of formal Islamic credentials and there have also been attempts to get the association banned. On the plus side, some of the more liberal mufti
Mufti
A mufti is a Sunni Islamic scholar who is an interpreter or expounder of Islamic law . In religious administrative terms, a mufti is roughly equivalent to a deacon to a Sunni population...
(chief clergy in respective states) have addressed SIS seminars.
At one point, SIS was taken more seriously abroad than at home in Malaysia. Women from Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
who listened incredulously to Malaysian Muslim officialdom defend polygamy
Polygamy
Polygamy is a marriage which includes more than two partners...
, found common ground with SIS on this issue.
A group called the Malaysian Association of Mosques Youth (MAMY) has brought a lawsuit against Sisters in Islam, contesting the use of the word "Islam" in the organization's name; the suit is based on the technical argument that Sisters in Islam was registered as "SIS Forum" with the Registrar of Societies, and therefore has no legal title to the word "Islam". Other groups have accused the Sisters in Islam of misinterpreting religious principles