By Muneeb Nasir
I attended a forum on the topic of domestic violence this past weekend that was organized by the Canadian Council of Imams and the Canadian Council of Muslim Theologians. The program titled - ‘Domestic Violence: Myth or Reality? - was held at the Islamic Information and Da'wah International in downtown Toronto.
The small group of attendees listened to presentations by a police officer and an Imam on the topic and engaged in discussions.
While this is a commendable awareness raising endeavor by the organizing groups, I was especially disappointed by the turnout of Imams from both groups, given that they were the ones putting on the event (only three were there).
Given the seriousness of the issue of domestic violence, I would have thought that there would be a platform of Imams who, by their presence, would have shown that they are indeed righteously indignant and concerned about the welfare of vulnerable members in our society.
The event did raise for me some points that I feel need to be clarified and recommendations for going forward.
In trying to deal with domestic violence in families, it is important not to appropriate the issue and give the impression that it is more prevalent in Muslim communities or to conflate it with Islam.
Domestic violence occurs across all ethnic, racial, religious, age, social and economic groups. It is one of the most serious issues affecting family relationships.
While domestic violence is usually equated with violence against women, it also includes violence against children, the elderly and, to a lesser extent, against husbands.
However, it is statistics about the violence against women that is the most daunting - women continue to outnumber men nine to one as victims of assault by a spouse or partner.
As such, Imams, Muslim religious leaders and mosques should be joining with other initiatives, campaigns and programs in the wider society that are addressing this problem as the underlying factors do not stem from religious values or ethics.
Having said this, in the diverse Muslim community there are remnant cultural practices from the old countries that sometimes use religion to justify questionable actions - upholding ‘honor’ and striking one’s wife for disobedient behavior are extreme examples.
Therefore, it would be a priority for Councils of Imams and theologians to identify and list all of these retrograde practices that may be using Islam as a justification.
Then, they would need to step up and issue clear positions (fatawa) for Canadian Muslims, such as hitting women is against Islam and not simply to explain such a practice away with that all two familiar apologetic stance of ‘multiple interpretations’.
Beyond this, there are the other related and deeper issues that must be raised, however uncomfortable they are – firstly, the competence of Imams, not as social service providers which they are not expected to be, but in dealing with women, children and the elderly when they are approached with complaints of domestic abuse (‘Arts’ of an Imam); and secondly, the education being imparted by unskilled teachers and Imams which may be perpetrating understandings of the religion that are incorrect with regard to the treatment of women, respect for the elderly and nurturing of children.
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