Defend what is right!

Assalamualaykum
Sometimes it feels so sad to know that there are so many more people out there who still does not understand the real beauty of Islam.Of what it means to be a Muslim, NOT just by name, but also by real faith and practice. Some may be purely ignorant and absolutely have no intention whatsoever in trying to get to know their religion a little bit more.[hey, cmon, how about a lil' initiative. ya know, a little time spent in this path of Allah really won't hurt..]. and there are also some who just can't stop trying to find faults in this perfect religion, just to suit their own needs and satisfaction.

But no, I wouldn't say the same goes to every single person in this world. Believe me, there's still hope. There are still so many more who are searching for that inner voice, yearning so much for that spiritual well-being, to have all their questions on life answered. And these people are and will be always searching, until they find the real truth of life.

In an encounter back there in the home of the 'whites', I had one of the most interesting experience ever. I was there with a friend handing out flyers of invitation to some of the most amazing talks held in conjuction with the Islamic Awareness Week. A non-believing woman (a law student as she told us later) from Cyprus if I'm correct, was questioning this friend of mine on certain Islamic principles. So, now, just as an exercise, how about some self-test, people? Ready?
OK, What would you answer if someone came to you and said:
- I have studied the Quran. I don't know how you can say it teaches peace, when it allows a husband to hit his wife? Is there any law that states, that it is legal to hit your wife? Do you know any? Why does it seem like Islam is being unfair to the women?? [And with that firm intonation of a lawyer-to-be.. you can imagine!]

Ooookay. It seems like this lady over here, has been taught some teachings of the Quran, but sadly, some facts are manipulated to distort her understanding, perhaps. And it seems that petty things like this have been the target of the people who would do nothing else but to attack Islam based on these.

So, yeah, what would your answer to the above question be, again? What would you say to defend your religion, or.. oh, I don't know, perhaps you too are shaken by the above statement?

The best way to answer these misconceptions of Islam is really simple: ie, tell the truth. And tell what you know of it. And if you don't, just tell them that, ask their contact details and say that you'll contact them as soon as you seek the answer from some wiser people. And do not try manipulating facts yourself just to 'save face'. That's not what Islam teaches, remember?

Alhamdulillah, while we were having that conversation another Muslim sister who was really 'alim, and knows a lot more than us, was also there. She shared of her knowledge of what it meant by that verse in Quran that state that husbands are allowed to hit the wife.
It goes something like this, forgive me if I have forgotten/added some of it:
-the Quran is a book of guidance, and the Prophet helps to explain certain details on the Book that the human mind may not be able to fathom just by reading the Book.
-In this case, on the verses regarding a man is allowed to hit a woman,the reason or hikmah behind to do so is not actually with the intention to hit, but to teach or precisely to 'mendidik.' And this verse has more often than not, been made to be out of context. In actual fact, there are some verses before or after that ayat, which states the strict criteria/condition before a man is allowed to hit the wife. That includes (please correct me if I'm wrong), making sure that the man has done everything to advise the wife for things that the wife has done wrong, to talk things over, and hitting is like, a last resort if the wife still does not want to change her behaviour.
-And surprise surprise! The 'hitting' as explained by Rasulullah is only made by a siwak! A siwak!! That's like a toothbrush used by the Arabs back then, and the way to 'hit' is by a tap on the head or something. I wouldn't really imagine it would actually hurt or anything that much kan. And helllooo.. I probably wouldn't call that hitting. Islam would not allow the hitting to cause any big harm, it's just as a reminder to the wife or a lesson to her, nothing more than that. And the people who don't understand Islam keeps on using that as their 'modal' to attack Islam. *sigh*

But then, perhaps they are also in the quest of finding the truth. Perhaps they too finds Islam an interesting religion and wants some more insights about it. So, I say these kind of dialogs are actually very good things. You, too, get to learn so much more of your religion than you would before. So, come on, let's get to know what Islam is about all over again, think of what you would answer if people were to ask: why do you wear hijab? are you a terrorist and does Islam support terrorism? Why do Muslim men can marry 4 wives? Is there freedom of religion in Islam? How about the Lina Joy case? *panas panas* Hehe.. Sila jawab ye..

OK, till then. Salam...