The rational voice of Hasan Mahmud and the infamous Sharia Laws in Islam

I have always maintained that one needs to ‘Unlearn’ more about Islam than ‘Learn’ about it, as there are more prevalent conjectures about Islam than any real knowledge of its basic tenets.

Most people from different countries have their own version and interpretations of their cultures, but Islam is the only religion which experiences a unanimously iniquitous perception about its doctrines due to lack of information. Islam is understood only through evolving in it, and as one goes through the studies one comes across the true meanings and sensitivities of this religion.

For a Muslim what the Qur’anic scriptures say is the only Islam they must believe in, but it has been maligned and quoted so much out of context that the factual voice has been lost in the crescendo of prejudiced debates. Basically it is a rather irrefutable ignorance about the true teachings of Islam that has become the foremost reason why it appears so unacceptable to the xenophobic world. On the other hand the onus also lies on many Muslims who do not understand their own religion properly, and set a bad example by misusing the teachings.

I believe that there are no quick fixes in understanding the concept of being Muslim, and tolerance and open mindedness is the only salvage against such misconceptions, but tolerance is hard to come by and the crusaders have faced more censure than any patient hearing.

In these battles of views and atmosphere of ‘Islamophobia’ I would like to present one such crusader who has taken up the cause of clearing the miasma of radicalism in Islam: Mr. Hasan Mahmud, Director of Sharia Law, Muslim Canadian Congress, Canada. He is a liberal Islamic theologian, writer and playwright who is also a sensitive activist for women’s rights and has been active towards dispelling the myths surrounding many infamous Sharia Laws in Islam.

He has been contributing extensively towards this cause by his writing and has delivered many speeches on Sharia laws in many conferences, seminars and educational institutes in Asia, Europe, Canada and the USA. He has authored books like Islam and Sharia and has made deeply moving and eye-opening documentary movies such as Hilla and a docu-drama on Sharia Law - Law and Justice - and has produced several DVDs on different Sharia issues including Apostasy.

He has brought into light how the infamous Triple Talak (divorce) in Muslims is touted as more of a slander on Islam than a reasonable law, without understanding its true meaning and context.

To those who are not aware of this Sharia Law, the Triple Talak is supposedly the law which says that a Muslim man has to just pronounce ‘I divorce you’ three times to his wife and he is a free man! Whereas in Quran, the holy book of Islam, this law has many conditions and legalities attached to it, which the so-called Islamic scholars have conveniently glossed over to assert their patriarchal autonomy. Many Muslims have not challenged this law, because the fact is that Muslims have been too sensitive to attacks on their faith and their attitude is that of besieged followers, misguided by overstatements.

Mr. Hasan Mahmud has raised his voice against the insensitive Triple Talak system and the following ‘Hilla’ marriage, where a woman has to go through severe mental trauma and humiliation. In the film Hilla he has handled the inciting subject of Muslim divorce with peaceful discussions and has proved without being confrontational how this Sharia Law is anti-Islamic and how it has been abused over the centuries.

Watching this film would provide a sense of security to the many oppressed Muslim women, as it is made with an exceptional sensitivity towards a woman’s emotional predicaments in such situations. Since I dislike to use this word ‘moderate’ Muslim because I feel that it is antithesis to what I am trying to project here, I would just call this post a small contribution from a Muslim, as an effort to throw light on some of the dark and misconstrued issues in Sharia Laws and to spread the voice of reason and sanity amongst this current hysteria of distrust, which is ailing the Muslims and Islam.

I am thankful to Mr. Mahmud, for giving me his consent to promote this educational film, which provides exceptional clarity on an obscure practice such as Triple Talak.