Muslim women not allowed to drive

[imrano]

I was talking with a non muslim who was saying that muslim women don't have any rights. He give the exemple of muslim women not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia and i can't manage to argue that. What is the reason Behind this prohibition?

[Kittygyal]

humm never heard this but maybe cause she is a women and it's allowed but i gurantee it's something like that buit then again like in USA womens were not allowed to drive back then but now they are, but we need evidence to back this up bro we can't just say this.

[Halima]

Well see in Saudi, the woman's head covering is very different with the niquab and veils they were, hence it would be so hard for them to drive.

Women that wear the niquab under various types of material, may have such hardship around them therefore they are prohibited from driving.

I wonder though, since women in America here are allowed to drive while wearing the niquab why not in Saudi then? Have you ever wondered that?

[Far7an]

The restriction placed on women in Saudi is not on safety grounds, so it has nothing to do with the niqaab.

[Fishman]

I heard a Muslimah say that she wouldn't want to drive in Saudi arabia (or any other Middle-Eastern country for that matter)!

[Halima]

I heard a Muslimah say that she wouldn't want to drive in Saudi arabia (or any other Middle-Eastern country for that matter)!

Well, it could very well be the population of pedestrians that are on the streets therefore she may feel intimidated to be driving. I can very well understand her circumstances.

[REPSTER]

Saudi people are cleaver by stopin women from drivin (less accidents)

They kno women cant drive thats why just to not make it look bad
4 women they hav banned women from drivin
(No offence only jokin):brother:
Women are cool drivers

[Halima]

The restriction placed on women in Saudi is not on safety grounds, so it has nothing to do with the niqaab.

Then what does it have to do with?

[Fishman]

Well, it could very well be the population of pedestrians that are on the streets therefore she may feel intimidated to be driving. I can very well understand her circumstances.

My dad has driven in Jordan, and he thought the roads there were just terrible, with nobody obeying the rules. This is probably what Batool was talking about.

[kadafi]

The kibaar al-'ulemaa never outlawled that women are forbidden to drive because the issue was never brought them.

News article:

Ulema Council Never Discussed Women Driving


Saad Al-Matrafi, Arab News, 6/6/2005 (28, Rabi` al-Thani, 1426)

JEDDAH, 6 June 2005 — Sheikh Abdullah ibn Munee, a member of the Council of Senior Ulema which is the Kingdom's highest religious body, said the council had not discussed the issue of women driving in its past sessions.

"The issue was never brought up in any of our sessions," Sheikh Ibn Munee said in an exclusive statement to Arab News. The scholar stated that those who have announced either through the Internet or in leaflets that women driving is religiously forbidden — haram — were not telling the truth.

"We never said it was haram for women to drive," said Ibn Munee. He clarified that some members of the committee had, however, expressed their own personal views. "We do not say it is haram but we say that it is for the good of our daughters not to drive."

Sheikh Ibn Munee did say that Saudi society was not yet ready for women to drive. Al-Madinah newspaper, however, stated that the council may discuss the issue officially at one of their sessions in two months.

Sheikh Alfowzan, another member of the Council of Senior Ulema, stated in a reply to the Shoura Council member, Mohammed Al-Zulfa, that the financial cost of bringing foreign drivers was much less than a loss of honor. The sheikh was referring to the possibility that women driving could lead to immorality and a loss of honor.

A number of female voices have raised questions reflecting their confusion about the situation. Khowla Al-Khaldi, a teacher from Jeddah, said, "If the Ulema Council were not going to discuss the issue, and the vice-chairman of the Shoura Council said that the matter was for the Ulema and the Minister of Interior, Prince Naif, said that the matter is social rather than religious, then to whom shall we look for answers?"

Manal Tashkandi said that she had been searching for years for someone to rule on the issue. "I am not keen on driving but for God's sake, when will this hassle end?" said Tashkandi who has a British driving license.

A few women expressed satisfaction about women not being allowed to drive.

Nahla Al-Swailih, a banker in Riyadh, said that she was not interested in driving in the Kingdom although she has an international driving license. "I can never imagine myself driving in these streets which are filled with lunatics driving madly," said Al-Swalih.

Muna Bukhari said that she agreed with Ibn Munee's comment about society. "Unfortunately, our young men need to be taught proper behavior and respect before we women can be allowed to drive," said Bukhari. She added that one could sense what problems women drivers would face by simply being aware of the harassment they are subjected to in malls.

[Rabi'ya]

any restrictions on women driving have no basis in Islam...unless you can show me the proof where it sez women cannot drive....

Just because one so-called "muslim country" has restricted women from driving does not mean that it is an islamic law.

in response to the man who claimed this i would say that women in Saudi have less rights and not women in Islam...



Rabi'ya:rose:

[S_87]

Saudi people are cleaver by stopin women from drivin (less accidents)

They kno women cant drive thats why just to not make it look bad
4 women they hav banned women from drivin
(No offence only jokin):brother:
Women are cool drivers

funny you say that saudi arabia is known for one of the worse countries in driving worldwide

but anyhow its saudi social climate, scholars in saudi have given reason why they want women being banned from driving and to be honest if they want it that way thats up to them.

[scentsofjannah]

I was talking with a non muslim who was saying that muslim women don't have any rights. He give the exemple of muslim women not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia and i can't manage to argue that. What is the reason Behind this prohibition?

you dont have to defend that..theres no justification..this is again a distortion of God's Beautiful Religion..that is Just, Wise and Logical..

this law applies to our poor sisters in SaudiArabia..Sharia law is mixed with arab customs and practises and then those in power present that as 'authentic Islam'.

totally disgusting.

[mujahedeen2087]

their is no true islamic goverment on earth at this moment. only a few nations have adopted some sharia and mix it with local customs or other ideals. the west takes advantage of this and shows islam in a bad light based on these nations.

inshallah when the state is established we will be an example for the world.

[syilla]

maybe someone should design a car specially for woman wearing niqab...

that will be nice

[lolwatever]

I guess if it's a cultural thing and they're sauid's are happy with that, then that's upto them lol... one saudi sis was saying "I'm a Saudiyyah, and i don't drive, I'm a Queen, and since when does a Queen drive?"


lol i must say i love the line

Disgraceful that they kicked the Imam of Madinah out of his position because he disagreed though.. he's a scholar afterall and should be allowed to voice his opinion.
salamz

[Snowflake]

I came across this question about women drivers in Saudia before. After some research I found that the reason they aren't allowed to drive is in case they begin to abuse the freedom that comes with this form of independance. But that could apply to men too. They obviously don't trust women enough. Talk about double standards.

[Tania]

I was talking with a non muslim who was saying that muslim women don't have any rights. He give the exemple of muslim women not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia and i can't manage to argue that. What is the reason Behind this prohibition?

I knew in Saudi the bedouin wive are allowed to drive. Even trucks, if i remember correctly. Lot of car accidents are caused by camels-it seems the camel is not big enough to can be avoid by the driver

[Malaikah]

Actually my friend who lives in saudi said that they are allowed to drive now, but most choose not to because its just in their culture.

[lolwatever]

^^ yeh but it's veery very disgraceful and humiliating that they kick out the Imam of Madeenah from his post just because he disagrees with that! Even if his opinion is not correct (which very well may be), it's just wrong!

i mean.. where's the freedom of speech and freedom of difference of opinion?

don't get me wrong, i'm not saying that it's haram for women to drive, i havnt seen any evidence to back that up.. it's not like its a fitnah if a woman drives, otherwise you migth as well she's not allowed to ride on a car or more so a camel or any form of transport at all. (and probaby not even allowed to walk too lol)

but if they have any evidence, let them bring it on.. there's absolutely nothign wrong about that..