Mernissi

Mernissi makes the claim that "Any man who believes that a Muslim


woman who fights for her dignity and right to citizenship excludes


herself necessarily from the umma...is a man who misunderstands


his own religious heritage, his own cultural identity" (Mernissi


viii).   She goes about supporting this claim by delving into the


very detailed documentation of Islam history.   She attributes


misogyny in the past and present Muslim culture to the male


elite.   She gives many examples of how Muhammad and Islam have


only supported equality of the sexes and also how the male elite


used false hadiths and very narrow interpretations of the Koran


and true hadiths for their purpose.




She begins by describing how the male elite started running things


right from the onset of Muhammad's death.   When a successor to


Muhammad was picked, it did not involve the people of the


community at all or any women.   It was done by a small group of


followers which were very close to the prophet, a sort of elite


group.   This sort of leadership in Islam continued in the same


manner as only the elite were involved.   This helped preserve what


they thought was essential and according to the interests of the


participants the essentials varied.




The fabrication of false hadiths by the male elite was probably


the first and most popular way for them to protect their


interests.   The people governing knew how important it was to


"seek legitimacy in and through the sacred text" (Mernissi 43).


Mernissi talks about al-Bukhari, who methodically and


systematically collected and verified true Hadiths.   He was exiled


from his native town because he refused to bring the knowledge of


the Hadith to the governor of the town and have it corrupted.   He


knew that the invitation from the governor was made only for...