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From: rached@ee.eng.ohio-state.edu (Rached Zantout)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam
Subject: Status of women in Islam
Message-ID: <1991Apr23.153534.14606@wpi.WPI.EDU>
Date: 23 Apr 91 15:35:34 GMT
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Organization: The Ohio State University Dept of Electrical Engineering
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Assalamu alaykum nrothers/sisters
In the Muslim Student Association of Ohio State University (Columbus,
Ohio), we have a Daawa Committee. This committee has the primary purpose
of seeking ways to spread the din of Allah and make daawa to muslims and
non muslims.
One of our activities is to set a table every thursday in the Union (the
place where most of the people go) of the OSU. Recently we got a
suggestion from one sister that is to let sisters (and not only
brothers) sit on the daawa table. 
When this suggestion was discussed, a very knowlegeable brother objected
to it claiming that it is not the duty of the women to make daawa and
even if they want to do it we should prevent them from doing it since
this was not done at the days of the prophet PBUH. He is a very
knowlegeable brother and highly respected in our community, also he had
his proof ready on the spot, anaya from the Quran (Sura Al-Imran)
telling women to stay at home. He also gave many examples from the Sirah
of the prophet (that I don't remember now). 
I amwriting this because we agreed that we should ask for more opinions
about this sensitive issue. The questions to answer are:
1. What are women allowed to do in islam ?
2. Are they allowed to go out of their homes ?
3. Are they allowed to have their own businesses and to run them ?

I know the answers to those questions (or at least I thought I knew) but
I don't recall the proofs that will refute the ones of the above
brother. I had a discussion with many other brothers about that and I
know those proofs exist. I will do my part of researching this subject
inshallah but I am posting this for you to think about it and reply to
me. I will inshallah summarize the replies in an article (whether I am
right or wrong since we are seeking the truth here) but please remember
to include your PROOFS from QURAN and SUNNAH and not give me the logical
and not logical argument because in islam to say that something is or is
not halal or haram we have to supply the proof.
I hope that this subject will simulate good and fruitfull discussion
that will make us all learn more about OUR religion and make non muslims
also learn more about it.

yours in Islam
Rached

-- 
"I bear witness that there is only one god, and that Muhammad is his
messenger"