It is often assumed that domestic violence is permissible in Islam. While it may be a problem in the Muslim community as much as it is in other faiths, it is by no means allowed in Islam.
Over 200 Muslims from across the continent responded to this 2009 Sound Vision survey, which indicated that 70 percent of respondents knew of a person who had experienced some kind of domestic abuse.
Spouse abuse is described by The Family Violence Prevention Fund as "a pattern of purposeful behaviors, directed at achieving compliance from or control over the victim." Muslim families are not immune from this social ill. Stop the hurt now!
Fighting domestic violence cannot be tackled in isolation. It requires an approach that involves our families and communities in a systematic, hands-on manner. Here are ways Muslim families and communities can start.
It tends to be a hush-hush topic, but let's face it: the Muslim community is not immune to domestic violence. In fact, domestic violence transcends all demographics and can be found in your own backyard.
Hate never limits itself to one stop. It keeps looking for the new targets. Just as KKK targets were not limited to African-Americans as it attacked Catholics, Jews and other immigrants, the current phase of hate, ethnic bigotry and religious intolerance is looking for new targets.
After the 9/11 attacks, at the request of churches, Sound Vision issued a guide on how they could help their Muslim neighbors during that difficult time. Since then, we have not felt the need to do that again - until now.