সদালাপ: দেশী-বিদেশী বাংলাদেশীদের ই-জার্নাল

বাইবেলের আলোকে নারী

রায়হান

ইসলামে নারীদের মর্যাদা ও অধিকার নিয়ে মূলতঃ দুটি ধর্মের বিশেষ দুটি গ্রুপ থেকে প্রপাগান্ডা চালানো হয়। তাদের মধ্যে একটি হচ্ছে মিশনারিজ গ্রুপ, যারা বিভিন্ন রকমের প্রতারণা ও কলাকৌশলের আশ্রয় নিয়ে গরীব ও অজ্ঞ লোকজনকে ধর্মান্তরিত করার জন্য সদা-সর্বদা তৎপর থাকে। এরা ইসলামের অতি তুচ্ছ কিছু বিষয় যেগুলো যুক্তি দিয়ে সহজেই ব্যাখ্যা করা সম্ভব সেগুলোকে রং-চং দিয়ে হাইলাইট করে তার সাথে মুসলিম পরিবারে সংঘটিত বিচ্ছিন্ন কিছু ঘটনাকে যোগ করে বার বার মিডিয়াতে প্রচার করে। হাতিকে ছেড়ে তার লেজের কিছু চুল নিয়ে এমনভাবে প্রপাগান্ডা চালানো হয়েছে যে, অনেকেই তাদের প্রপাগান্ডার দ্বারা ব্রেনওয়াশড হয়েছে। কারণ এই প্যাগান মেন্টালিটির যুগে বেশীরভাগ মানুষ হলিউড ও পশ্চিমা বিশ্বের নারীদের ‘ফ্রীডম’ দেখে বাইবেলকে বিচার করে! কিন্তু ব্যাপারটা যে ঠিক তার বিপরীত সেটা বাইবেল না পড়লে কারো পক্ষেই অনুমান করা সম্ভব নয়।

যদিও বাইবেল থেকে সবকিছু কোট করা সম্ভব নয় তথাপি এই লেখাতে নারীদের উপর বাইবেলের কিছু বিষয় উপস্থাপন করা হচ্ছে। বাইবেল থেকে সরাসরি ভার্সগুলো কোট করা হয়েছে। নিরপেক্ষ মন-মানসিকতা নিয়ে পাঠকদেরকে লেখাটি পড়ে দেখার জন্য আহবান জানানো হচ্ছে। বিষয়গুলোকে যুক্তি দিয়ে ডিফেন্ড করা সম্ভব কি-না সেটাও কিন্তু দেখতে হবে। আর্টিকলটি মনোযোগ দিয়ে পড়ে ভেবে দেখুন, এই মডার্ন যুগে বাইবেল ফলো করা আদৌ সম্ভব কি-না। আর এ কারণেই এরা বাইবেলে বিশ্বাসী হয়েও ‘সেক্যুলার’ সেজে ইসলামকে আক্রমণ করে! এই ধরণের স্ট্যান্ড-কে ভন্ডামো ছাড়া আর কি-ই বা বলা যেতে পারে? একটি গ্রন্থকে ‘গডের ইনফ্যালিবল বাণী’ হিসেবে বিশ্বাস করি কিন্তু ফলো করতে লজ্জা লাগে – এ আবার ক্যামন গড! তারা নিজেরাই প্রমাণ করেছে যে, বাইবেল আসলে গডের বাণী নয়। কিন্তু অন্য কেহ বলতে গেলেই দোষ! এরা একদিকে বাইবেলে বিশ্বাস করে, বাইবেলকে ‘গডের ইনফ্যালিবল বাণী’ বলে দাবি করে, বাইবেল ব্যবহার করে মানুষকে ধর্মান্তরিত করে; অন্যদিকে আবার মুসলিমদেরকে ব্যাকওয়ার্ড বলে প্রপাগান্ডা চালায়! একটি গ্রন্থ হয় গডের বাণী, না হয় গডের বাণী নয়। ‘গডের বাণী’ হলে সেভাবেই বিশ্বাস ও ফলো করা উচিত। অন্যথায় সত্যকে স্বীকার করা উচিত। কিন্তু একই গ্রন্থকে সকালবেলা ‘গডের ইনফ্যালিবল বাণী’ বলে দাবি করবো আবার বিকালবেলা অন্যদের সাথে ডিবেটে ‘সেক্যুলার’ সেজে তাদের ধর্মগ্রন্থকে আক্রমণ করবো – এ আবার ক্যামন ভন্ডামো! অন্যান্য ধর্মাবলম্বীরা এই ভন্ডামোটাই করছে। তারা কেহ ‘সেক্যুলার’ কেহবা আবার ‘নাস্তিক’ সেজে ইসলামকে আক্রমণ করছে এবং সেই সাথে মুসলিমদেরকে উল্টোদিকে ব্যাকওয়ার্ড, ফান্ডামেন্টালিস্ট, ইত্যাদি বলে হাসি-তামাসা করছে। এর চেয়ে বড় কৌতুক আর কী হতে পারে!   

আগেই উল্লেখ করা হয়েছে যে, কোরান কেন হাদিসেও সম্ভবত নিরপরাধ নারীদের হত্যা তো দূরে থাক এমনকি কোনরকম শাস্তির কথাও লিখা নেই। এমনকি হাজার হাজার হাদিসের মধ্যে মাত্র গোটা কয়েক হাদিস আছে যেগুলো পড়লে মনে হবে যেন নারীদেরকে ইনসাল্ট করা হয়েছে। তবে সেই হাদিসগুলোতেও কোনরকম পার্থিব শাস্তির কথা লিখা নেই। কিন্তু এ ছাড়াও যে ডজন ডজন হাদিস আছে যেখানে নারীদেরকে অত্যন্ত উঁচু আসন ও মর্যাদা দেওয়া হয়েছে সেগুলোকে বেমালুম চেপে যাওয়া হয়। ফলে মুসলিমরা কোরানে বিশ্বাস করেও অন্যান্য ধর্মের সমালোচনা করার মত নৈতিক ও যৌক্তিক অধিকার রাখে। তারপরও কিন্তু তারা অন্যান্য ধর্মের বিরুদ্ধে প্রপাগান্ডা চালায় না। যাহোক, বাইবেলে নারীদের অবস্থানটা ভাল করে একবার দেখে নিন :

Man was created first, then woman:

"For Adam was first formed, then Eve." (1 Timothy 2:13) 

Man was not created for woman, but woman for man:

"For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man." (1 Corinthians 11:8-9)

Eve was created from Adam's rib:

"And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man." (Genesis 2:22)

Wives should submit to their husbands as they submit unto the Lord:

"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord." (Ephesians 5:22)

Eve was deceived, and not Adam:

"And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression." (1 Timothy 2:14)

"And the man (Adam) said, the woman (Eve) whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the woman, what is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, the serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the serpent, because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." (Genesis 3:12-15)

Pregnancy and childbirth is a kind of punishment or curse:

"Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee." (Genesis 3:16)

Man is the image and glory of God; woman is the glory of man:

"For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man." (1 Corinthians 11:7)

The head of woman is the man:

"But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." (1 Corinthians 11:3)

Female birth gets penalty:

"If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days...but if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks." (Leviticus 12:2-5)

Women must keep silent in Churches. It's shameful for them to open their mouths therein. They should learn in silence from their husbands with all subjugation. They should not teach, and they are not permitted to have authority over men:

"Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church." (1 Corinthians 14:34-35)

"Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence." (1 Timothy 2:11-12)

Daughters inherit nothing when there is son:

"If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter." (Numbers 27:8)

Unjust honor killing:

"And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire." (Leviticus 21:9)

"And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt." (Genesis 38:24)

"For God said, 'Honor your father and mother' and 'Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.'" (Matthew 15:4)

Woman is a snare, her heart is a trap, and her hands are chains. The man who pleases God will escape her, but she will ensnare the sinner. While it is possible to find one upright man in every thousand, it is impossible to find even one single upright woman in every thousand:

"And I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a trap and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner she will ensnare....while I was still searching but not finding, I found one upright man among a thousand but not one upright woman among them all." (Ecclesiastics 7:26-28)

Injustice against animal and woman:

"If a man has sexual relations with an animal, he must be put to death, and you must kill the animal. If a woman approaches an animal to have sexual relations with it, kill both the woman and the animal. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads." (Leviticus 20:15-16)

Menstrual women are considered to be untouchable:

"And if a woman have an issue (her period/menses), [and] her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even. And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean. And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe [himself] in water, and be unclean until the even. And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe [himself] in water, and be unclean until the even. And if it [be] on [her] bed, or on any thing whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even. And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean. And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she [shall be] unclean. Every bed whereon she lieth all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her separation: and whatsoever she sitteth upon shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her separation. And whosoever toucheth those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe [himself] in water, and be unclean until the even. But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean. And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtles, or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And the priest shall offer the one [for] a sin offering, and the other [for] a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for her before the LORD for the issue of her uncleanness." (Leviticus 15:19-30)

Do not approach unto a woman during her monthly period: 

"Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness." (Leviticus 18:19)

Kill all except virgins for yourselves:

"They fought against Midian; as the LORD commanded Moses, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him. But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves." (Numbers 31:17-18)

Cut off her hand unjustly:

"When men strive together one with another, and the wife of the one draweth near for to deliver her husband out of the hand of him that smiteth him, and putteth forth her hand, and taketh him by the secrets. Then thou shalt cut off her hand, thine eye shall not pity her." (Deuteronomy 25:11-12)

Rape victim must marry the rapist and must be with him for all days:

"If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found. Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he hath humbled her, he may not put her away all his days." (Deuteronomy 22:28-29)

Jesus will kill children:

"Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works." (Revelation 2:22-23)

Daughters are sold as slave:

"And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do. If she please not her master, who hath betrothed her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her." (Exodus 21:7)

Women are spoils of war:

"Have they not sped? Have they not divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of divers colours, a prey of divers colours of needlework, of divers colours of needlework on both sides, meet for the necks of them that take the spoil?" (Judges 5:30)

Divorced woman cannot remarry:

"But I say unto you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery." (Matthew 5:32)

"And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery." (Matthew 5:32)

The woman he (the priest) marries must be a virgin:

"And he shall take a wife in her virginity. A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, or an harlot, these shall he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife." (Leviticus 21:13-4)

Witches must be put to death:

"Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death. He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed." (Exodus 22:18-20)

Rip up pregnant women and their infants for rebellion against God:

"Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up." (Hosea 13:16)

You must hate your father, mother, wife, etc. to be a disciple of Jesus:

"If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:26)

Women's strict dress code:

"I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes." (1 Timothy 2:9)

"A woman must not wear men's clothing, nor a man wear women's clothing, for the LORD your God detests anyone who does this." (Deuteronomy 22:5) 

A woman should neither pray nor profess with her head uncovered. If a woman prays with her head uncovered then she might as well shave her head:

"But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head - it is the same as having her head shaved. For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head." (1 Corinthians 11:5-6)

"Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God (with her head) uncovered?" (1 Corinthians 11:13)

Stoning to death:

"If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel. If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her. Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour's wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you." (Deuteronomy 22:22-24)

Father offering his daughter to mobs:

"Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing. But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go." (Judges 19:24-25)

Slaves submit to masters, even masters who are harsh:

"Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward." (1 Peter 2:18)

Solomon had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines:

"And he (Solomon) had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart." (1 Kings 11:3)

David had multiple wives and concubines:

"After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him." (2 Samuel 5:13)

More on polygamy:

"If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated: Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn: But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.." (Deuteronomy 21:15-17)

"If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall her not diminish." (Exodus 21:10)

Woman is like sexual object:

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matthew 5:27-28)

Woman worth less than man:

"And thy estimation shall be of the male from twenty years old even unto sixty years old, even thy estimation shall be fifty shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary. And if it be a female, then thy estimation shall be thirty shekels." (Leviticus 27:3-4)

All non-Jews should be put to death, whether man or woman:

"That whosoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman." (2 Chronicles 15:13)

Daughters are unwanted:

".... the birth of any daughter is a loss." (Eccles. 22:3)

The wicked woman:

"Give me any plague, but the plague of the heart: and any wickedness, but the wickedness of a woman." (Eccles. 25:13)

"Of the woman came the beginning of sin, and through her we all die." (Eccles. 25:22)

"Women are the source of sin and death. If she go not as thou wouldest have her, cut her off from thy flesh, and give her a bill of divorce, and let her go." (Eccles. 25:26)

"The whoredom of a woman may be known in her haughty looks and eyelids. If thy daughter be shameless, keep her in straitly, lest she abuse herself through overmuch liberty." (Eccles. 26:9-10)

"A shameless woman shall be counted as a dog; but she that is shamefaced will fear the Lord." (Eccles. 26:25)

"For from garments cometh a moth, and from women wickedness. Better is the churlishness of a man than a courteous woman, a woman, I say, which bringeth shame and reproach." (Eccles. 42:13-14)

The saints of Christianity view of women (based on the light of the Bible):

"Woman is a daughter of falsehood, a sentinel of Hell, the enemy of peace, through her Adam lost Paradise." (St. John Damascene)

"Woman is the fountain of the arm of the devil. Her voice is the hissing of the serpent." (St. Anthony)

"The Bible and the church have been the greatest stumbling blocks in the way of woman's emancipation." (Elizabeth Cady Stanton)

এ ছাড়াও আরো কিছু থাকতে পারে। পাঠক! এই হচ্ছে বাইবেলে নারীদের অবস্থা। এমনকি কোরানকে সিন্ধুকে রেখে দিয়ে শুধু হাদিসের সাথেও যদি বাইবেলের তুলনা করা হয় সেক্ষেত্রেও কিন্তু মিশনারিজদেরকে লেজ গুটিয়ে পালাতে হবে। অথচ এরাই আবার উল্টোদিকে ইসলামের বিরুদ্ধে সবচেয়ে বেশী প্রপাগান্ডা চালায়! কথায় বলে না, চোরের মায়ের বড় গলা! এরা নিজেদের ধর্মের বর্বরতা, অমানবিকতা, ও অসারতাকে ধামাচাপা দেওয়ার জন্য ‘আগ বাড়িয়ে’ এই কাজটি করে।

পশ্চিমা বিশ্বের নারীরা তাদের তথাকথিত ফ্রীডম এর বুকে পদাঘাত করে ইসলামের দিকে কেন ঝুঁকছে তার যৌক্তিক কারণ ইতোমধ্যে নিশ্চয় পরিষ্কার। আর সেই সাথে বিশেষ দু-তিনটি ধর্মীয় গ্রুপ বিভিন্ন প্রতারণা ও কলাকৌশলের আশ্রয় নিয়ে মুসলিম নারীদের ‘গার্ডিয়ান’ সেজে ‘ইসলাম ও মুসলিম ওয়াচ’ শুরু করেছে কেন এবং কেনই বা মুসলিম ব্যাকগ্রাউন্ডের নারীদেরকে ইসলামের বিরুদ্ধে লেলিয়ে দেওয়ার চেষ্টা চলছে তার কারণও পরিষ্কার হওয়ার কথা।

সবাইকে ধন্যবাদ।

সদালাপ পড়ুন, সদালাপে লিখুন

Published on: July 28, 2008 

Cite as: shodalap.com/R_women_in_the_Bible.htm

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