Summary of the Issues

Jakarta, Indonesia. 2005. Muslim women protest outside the presidential palace calling for the government to protect women from abuses including domestic violence. Photo Credit: Tatan Syuflana/AP Images.

Domestic violence, also known as “intimate partner violence,” is a form of violent or oppressive domination over a family member or partner. It occurs in families and relationships around the world and across culture, religion, race, and geography. Domestic violence manifests in various forms, most commonly as physical violence, but also as emotional abuse and financial control. Many of those who suffer from domestic violence fear for the safety of their lives and are thus reluctant to come forward. Although domestic violence victimizes both men and women, the majority of the victims are women.

Two widespread myths permeate discussion of this issue: first, that domestic violence is more common in Muslim communities than in other religious communities; and, second, that such violence is acceptable in Islam. We need only examine domestic violence statistics in the United States to debunk the first myth – for example, an average of three women a day are killed by their intimate partners in the United States. In addition, in California alone, more arrests for domestic violence were made in one year than arrests for all other crimes combined.

As to the second myth, Islam not only condemns violence, but scriptural evidence from the Qur’an and the Hadith consistently place high value on maintaining a healthy and peaceful family. The writings of Islamic scholars in the fiqh also condemn abuse of women. Domestic violence occurs regardless of religious, ethnic, racial and socio-economic classes and groups.

Despite Islamic condemnation of domestic violence, many Muslims mistakenly assume that Islam permits domestic violence. This attitude is a result of numerous factors, including cultural norms, tribal practices, lack of knowledge of scriptural interpretations empowering women, and illiteracy. Such factors lead to male community leaders and men in the community incorrectly and self-servingly interpreting Islamic scripture to justify domestic violence against women and the family.

Several Muslim countries and non-Muslim majority countries have established, or have begun to establish, a legal framework to provide abused women with preventative measures and legal security measures. However, many countries have yet to acknowledge the destructive reality of domestic violence and have not taken such steps.

By issuing the WISE Women’s Shura Council’s Jihad Against Violence statement, WISE is working to raise awareness of domestic violence issues, as well as to condemn those who accept domestic violence on the basis of “Islam.”