The right to drive

The long drawn out struggle by Saudi women for the right to drive a car seems to be coming to a head. Their struggle has been interesting in many aspects, particularly as the ban is justified from a religious perspective, thereby making it seem indefensible to Muslims in countries where women are allowed to drive.

The issue does not concern me personally as I am not a Saudi national, and it is claimed to be a purely internal Saudi matter, but I find myself deeply drawn to the whole debate and read any news in this respect with great interest.

Indeed, if it had remained only a Saudi internal matter, I would have never written this article. What does concern me, or perhaps perturbs me, are the reactions and the misunderstanding of non Muslim communities in the world about women’s rights in Islam which arise from this issue. I face more and more questions about how Muslim society treats women with restrictions and restraints, and the ban of driving on Saudi women is presented as a living example of this. My defence always begins with presenting the freedom and rights of Muslim women in other Muslim countries in their daily life, and in particular emphasising that they have as much a right to drive as men. If it was an Islamic ban, based on religious considerations, then it would have been universal and most Muslim scholars would have supported it.

While attending a discussion on Islamic issues and issues of mutual concern recently, I was talking to a group of local British people, and some of the women said: ‘We now understand that this is not an Islamic issue but a social issue based on Saudi social concerns and customs, but is being presented as a religious concern and expressed most forcefully by the traditionally conservative establishment’.

I have studied at one of the prestigious Islamic universities in Saudi Arabia. I spent my university time in Riyadh and Al-Qaseem. I loved the tradition and loved the people and listened carefully to the religious opinions of Saudi scholars. In my opinion, the Saudi religious scholarships have come long way since the time of King Abdul aziz al-Saud, in terms of understanding modern issues and in accommodating the needs of their time. However, many Muslims continue to confuse their cultural traditions with religious ones, with the inevitable blurring of the boundaries and differences between them. When I first read a report, presented to the ‘Saudi Majlis al-Shura’ or the high-level Advisory Council, claiming that allowing women in the Kingdom to drive would encourage premarital sex, or spell the end of virginity, I found it laughable and disturbing.

It presents, if it is true, the most outrageous slur on the personal dignity and character of Saudi women, and exposes the authors own sense of self righteousness, suspicious character and self doubting nature. Do the authors of this report have no trust in the goodness of their Muslim women; who are their mothers, wives and daughters? Do they think that women are only playing at being virtuous because they are under their protection? Are the authors claiming that all Muslim and Arab women elsewhere, in the Gulf countries, other Arab countries, other Muslim countries, and other Muslim women in non Muslim countries, are in the same danger? Will they lose their virginity because they drive cars? Muslim women are part and parcel of Islam and its teachings. Do they claim that Islam has failed them? Do the authors of this report claim that women possess no spiritual and moral strength under the guidance of Islam? Islam grants women their independent rights and they are just as responsible for their actions and deeds as men.

Ironically, when we compare this with other news about Saudi women, we find them contributing hugely to their community. They have become teachers, professors, doctors and business women, while many others play major roles in many other professions. In addition, it is reported that Saudi women hold 70% of all bank accounts, and the value of their savings is estimated to be SR43 billion. Ms Amal Tijani, who is a lecturer in the faculty of Economics and business at the King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, also claimed that women held 50% of the existing businesses in the Kingdom, owned 20% of stocks of local joint companies, 15% of sole proprietorship business enterprises and 10% of total land assets.

Saudi women are out there, exercising their rights in the fields of social, educational and economic life and beyond. They are full of confidence and belief in themselves. How can they be accused in such a manner? Men and women, who commit adultery or lose their virginity by their own choice, do so whether they can drive or not. Further such ridiculous justification of this ban on driving can only restrict progress and antagonise all Muslim women.

Religious tradition should not create unnecessary animosity and barriers between scholars and the public. Women are as much guardians of the religious traditions of Islam as men. Society has moved forward and so have women in society. Suppressive measures directed at Muslim women, who strive to achieve something in their lives by becoming successful in their own right, are counterproductive in keeping the fabric of a religious society intact. Instead, we should take an educative and guiding role in a situation which continues to clash with the inspiration and benefits of a modern Muslim society