Somebody posted this in another thread. I don’t think Islamic finance is the answer. However, I have no problem with Islamic finance. If somebody wants to set up an Islamic bank in USA or Canada, nobody is stopping them.
However, one has to be careful here. Islamic bank is OK, Islamic practices are questionable. If it is set up by Muslims, there may be a great temptation to treat a woman as half a man and to discriminate against her, to treat her like Koran and Sharia say a woman must be treated.
Thus, if the bank says that a woman will be entitled to only half the loan of a man (one man is equal to two women), or it mandates that a woman must get her husband’s written permission before bank would give her a loan (or her father’s, her brother’s or even her son’s signature), then the law much bear down upon the bank and bear down hard.
However, as long as the bank behaves within the constitution and does not discriminate, I don’t see a problem with Islamic finance. More options, more choices are always good.
Cut the effin bigotry already. The Qur'an does not grant women equality with men, true. But it certainly does not equate women with animals as you seem to be implying. Though it does validate a male witness to two female witnesses in certain specific judicial contexts, it says nothing about men being worth two women across the board. Nor does it say anything about men having to sign for women for loans.
I don't profess Islam myself, but have read the Qur'an and understand it within its historical context. It by no means treats women the way you're portraying it. If you want to say that Islam does not guarantee full equality to women, fine. But at least be honest and don't start adding things to it that aren't there. If what you say is true (and I've read the Qur'an a number of times), then please quote it.
As far as the way some or perhaps many Arab men treat their women is concerned, that is a purely cultural issue having nada to do with their religion. Sure some Mullahs make silly fatwas, but that's but their interpretation, often politically motivated, and have nothing to do with Islam per se.
So please cut your ignorant bigotry for once.
I've known many Muslims in my life. I'd met Ahmad Rassam once before, not realising what he was to do later of course, and will say that there are alot of crazy so-called Muslims out there, but same for any religion and atheists too. And I've met some wonderful Muslims who love their sons, daughters, wives, husbands, mothers, fathers, and friends, and don't treat them the way you ignorantly and hatefully seem to be trying to protray here.
