Malaysian women launch `The Obedient Wife Club`
June 03, 2011

A member of Malaysia`s “Ikhwan” Polygamy Club, Mohd Nizamuddin Ashaari (C), 48, poses with his four wives during a gathering to commemorate Prophet Muhammad`s birthday, in Rawang outside Kuala Lumpur February 27, 2010. The wives from left are, Laila Ahmad, 45, who is the second wife, Sukainah Hamzah, 47, is the first wife, Nizamuddin, Nur Sakinah Rahmanuddin, 45, is the fourth wife, and Umaimah Majid, 42, who is the third wife. They have 24 children in total, from three to 24 years old, who live in a five-room bungalow outside the capital of Kuala Lumpur. REUTERS.

A group of Malaysian Muslim women say they will fight divorce, domestic violence and other problems — by appealing to wives to be more obedient, one of the organisers said Friday.

Maznah Taufik said “The Obedient Wife Club” being launched Saturday is aimed at drawing women who will be taught how to please their husbands better to prevent them from straying or misbehaving.

“We just want to ask all the wives to be obedient wives so that there will be fewer problems in our society,” such as infidelity, divorce and domestic violence, she told AFP.

“Obedient wife means they are trying to entertain their husbands, not only taking care of their food and clothes,” Maznah said. “They have to obey their husbands. That`s the way Islam also asks.”

Malaysia is a Muslim-majority country, with some 60 percent of the population practicing the religion, alongside large ethnic Chinese and Indian communities who are mostly Buddhist, Hindu and Christian.

According to local media, the country`s divorce rate doubled from 2002 to 2009, with rates higher among Muslims than non-Muslims.

Maznah said it was also the men`s responsibility to teach their wives to be obedient.

“Some wives, they just want to get married for leisure but they don`t know the responsibility,” she said.

“To entertain their husbands is compulsory. If she doesn`t do this, the husband will look for another woman… and the house will break down.”

Saturday`s launch near the capital Kuala Lumpur will include speeches and a show to demonstrate to women how to be good wives, Maznah said, adding that a similar club was set up in Jordan last month.

Maznah is already involved in another controversial venture — the Ikhwan Polygamy Club, which was launched in 2009 to promote polygamy. Muslim men in Malaysia can take up to four wives.

She is herself in a polygamous marriage, as the second of her husband`s two wives.

In 2010, a study by a Muslim activist group found men in polygamous relationships find it difficult to meet the needs of all their wives and children, and that the result is often unhappy and cash-strapped families.

Dreams of the Obedient Wives Club

The Jakarta Post
June 22, 2011

 A member of Malaysia`s “Ikhwan” Polygamy Club, Mohd Miqdad Ashaari, 30, shows a picture of his father Ashaari Muhammad with his three wives while he was sick in bed, during a gathering to commemorate Prophet Muhammad`s birthday, in Rawang outside Kuala Lumpur February 27, 2010. Miqdad himself has three wives with six children. REUTERS

After causing a stir in neighboring Malaysia, the much-maligned Obedient Wives Club (OWC) has arrived in town on a mission to proudly flaunt its moniker.

One of the club`s leaders, Siti Fauzah, said during an interview at the club`s headquarters in Sentul City, Bogor, that the members` mission was simply to be obedient to their husbands as part of their devotion to the Almighty.

“We would not need to be obedient to our husbands if it were not for Allah,” Siti said. She said that total obedience to one`s husband was one of the four conditions of a Muslim woman to reach happiness in the afterlife.

The other criteria are praying, fasting and covering one`s body, she said.

She said that the OWC had 300 members who are also members of Global Ikhwan Indonesia, a local branch of Global Ikhwan, which previously had its headquarters in Malaysia.

Global Ikhwan describes itself as an Islamic organization that “approaches people through business”.

Last year, Global Ikhwan Indonesia caused a stir when it launched a polygamy club.

Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has called the polygamy club “misguided”.

Global Ikhwan Indonesia runs several businesses — minimarkets, production houses, mineral water factories, travel agencies and hotels — all of which are managed by its members.

“The company is like a big family,” Siti Fauzah said.

In the neighborhood, Global Ikhwan Indonesia set up a minimarket, a dental clinic, a film production house, a restaurant, a mineral water production center and a school.

Global Ikhwan has relocated from Malaysia to Haramain in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. This year the organization has opened offices in Jordan, Malaysia and Indonesia.

The OWC has become a target for criticism after advocating its members to be like “first class prostitutes” in bed with their husbands.

Siti said that teaching women to “serve their husbands like prostitutes” could in fact prevent husbands from looking outside of their marriage for ways to fulfill their desires. “We hope we can curb prostitution in this way,” she added.

Siti said a similar club for husbands would be unnecessary because “husbands know their obligations and what to do”.

Indonesian OWC chairwoman Gina Puspita told the Post that Global Ikhwan “educated” its male members, husbands of OWC members, to be faithful Muslims. “Only faithful male Muslims can teach their wives to be faithful,” she said.

Ruhaini Dzuhayatin, an expert on Islamic law from Yogyakarta State Islamic University (UIN) said that the club might have based its thinking on a misguided interpretation of the hadits (words and deeds of Prophet Muhammad).

“Hadits reflect the spirit of the age in which they were formulated. Interpretation of it should always be contextualized,” she said.

Ruhaini suggested that people should be careful when interpreting hadits because most of them were “very misogynistic”.

“Islam promotes gender equality and surely prohibits women from “unusual behavior; well, you know where,” Ruhaini said.

Ruhaini also alleged that Global Ikhwan was the incarnation of Al Arqam, also known as Darul Arqam, which was banned in Malaysia in the 1990s for being “anti-government”.

he organization, founded by the late Abuya Syeikh Imam Ashaari Muhammad At-tamimi, was part of a transnational group, which was well-known for being highly ideological, conservative and anti-Western politics and culture, she added.

Ruhaini said that the public should not give them more attention as it could increase its popularity. “More reaction from the public is just advertising for the club and also for Global Ikhwan,” she said.

Obedient Wives Club not taking off in Singapore

Yen Feng
Straits Times
July 19, 2011

Just 20 families asked to join, despite its popularity in region

THE Obedient Wives Club has not gained widespread public support in Singapore, despite its growing popularity in the region.

About 20 families have asked to join the club – which encourages women to submit to their husbands and meet their sexual needs – since a proposal was made last month to set it up here, said its Singapore representative Azman Ari.

The 45-year-old businessman said that this number was `on the low side`. But, he added, it was not reflective of the club`s popularity worldwide.

`We have had a lot of support from the Muslim community in Jordan, Malaysia and Indonesia,` he said.

`Rather than ask who would support such a club, why not ask, `Which husband would not want his wife to be 100 per cent obedient to him?“

Founders of the club, which was launched in Kuala Lumpur last month, claim its ethos is in line with Islamic teachings for building strong families.

They say sexually fulfilled men are less likely to stray. Therefore, marriages are less likely to break down.

The club now has about 1,000 members worldwide. It was founded by the Malaysia-based business group Global Ikhwan, which also supports polygamy. Branches in Paris, London and other parts of Europe are reportedly scheduled to open by the end of the year.

Despite its apparent appeal elsewhere, the club has not gained a significant foothold in Singapore, where 15 per cent of the population is Muslim and where the divorce rate among Muslims is declining.

In 2006, there were 1,944 cases of Muslim couples splitting up compared with 1,626 last year.

So far, the majority of Obedient Wives Club members in Singapore are the friends and family of Mr Azman. He heads the club with his sister Hamidah Ari and a professor of literature, Dr Darlan Zaini, 70. Most are also men, he added.

Anyone can join the club – even non-Muslims. Activities planned for members include talks, seminars and counselling workshops for couples.

Since news of a possible branch here broke last month, the Association of Women for Action and Research and the Singapore Muslim Women`s Association have denounced the club for having what seems to be a regressive stance on women`s rights.

Some wonder if the club reflects a growing religiosity among Muslims.

The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) said last month that the club`s views were `simplistic`. It said in a statement to the media: `Happiness in a marriage goes beyond receiving sexual fulfilment from one`s wife.`

The club`s Singapore representatives disagree, however. Dr Darlan argued in an e-mail message to The Straits Times last week that `complex human problems can be solved by simple means and ideas`.

Rather than demean women, he believes the club will make husbands more aware of their responsibilities as leaders of the household.

This was the view taken by the club`s supporters.

Accounts manager Abdul Rab Taib, 48, who has been married for 20 years, said that submissive wives encourage husbands to be more loving and caring.

He added: `It`s about having the right intention. If the intention is to be kind and protect our wives, then I think joining the club can benefit my family.`

Madam Kamaliah Ismail, 52, a housewife, said it was her obedience that kept her by her husband`s side for the last 30 years. He was paralysed from a stroke many years ago.

`God sees what is in my heart. Because I am obedient, my family is blessed,` she said.

Muslim leaders contacted by The Straits Times mostly declined to comment, saying that Muis – the nation`s top Islamic authority – has already made clear its stand against the club`s views.

Ustaz Abdul Rahman Sahid of the Darul Aman Mosque in Jalan Eunos said that until the club made its plans clear, he saw no real benefit to Muslim women.

He added that the club`s founders might consider changing its name: `What do you mean by `obedient`?

`If women choose not to join, does that mean they are disobedient?`

© 2011 Singapore Press Holdings Limited

Persian Press: Majles Official Calls Polygamy `Pride of Islam,` Hits Opponents

Hamshahri
Sunday, September 14, 2008

In this Sept 2, 2009 photo, polygamist Mohammad Ikramullah Ashaari is shown holding a picture of his four wives at Sepang, south of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Polygamy is legal for Muslims in Malaysia, though not widespread. The Ashaari clan believes it should be. Last month, the sprawling family launched a Polygamy Club that seeks to promote plural marriages for what it says are noble aims, such as helping single mothers, prostitutes and older women find husbands.

From the “Viewpoint” column, commentary by Ali Motahhari, member of the Cultural Committee of the Majles: “Commotion by the Westoxicated”

The commotion which has been raised over the government`s Family Support bill is a reminder of the similar commotion which broke out in 1345 (1966) over the alteration of certain articles of Civil Code in the newspapers and magazines.

Then, Martyr Ayatollah Morteza Motahhari was forced to enter the battleground and he defended Islamic tenants regarding the rights of women in the best way possible, and the result of that debate is today available in the form of the book “Order of Women`s Rights in Islam.”

At that time the critics imagined that since the Western world is more advanced in industry and technique, so too their family system is also better, and therefore they criticized some of the family laws of Islam like marriage portion, right of divorce of the man and polygamy harshly; but of course faced with the reasoning and logic of Martyr Motahhari they had not much to say, and even when the chief critic and principal claimant passed away after some time of debate and polemical discussion with Master Motahhari, he was freed from the hard task of debating and answering the latter forever.

Sadly, today the same plague and disaster has befallen the Family Support bill and the Westoxicated elements, because polygamy has been named in this bill, raised a commotion; and the eighth Majles that has called itself principle-ist first retreated but again recuperated, and now it is still not known whether it is steadfast and resolute in the defense of Islamic family tenants or not.

The fact of whether the government should have added certain articles and provisos to the bill compiled by the Judiciary, or whether the action was contrary to law, is another issue and is not the topic of this article. The important issue is that after 30 years of Islamic Revolution, Westoxication is still present in the deep layers of the thoughts and beliefs of many of us.

The issue that has raised the most controversy and commotion is the question of polygamy, which is an absolute and inalienable tenant and the pride of Islam.

In every society, the number of women prepared and available for marriage is usually more than the eligible men; this is due to more casualties of men and the stronger resistance of women against illnesses and other reasons.

To cancel this proviso from the family system is tantamount to prescribing corruption and prostitution. Eradication of this tenant means that a number of women in every society will remain without a husband, and it is obvious that these ladies would not sit calm and do nothing; rather they would use their appeals and destroy many families.

The Western world that is opposed this ruling has replaced it with nothing except vice and prostitution. It is interesting to know that after the Second World War, due to the significant reduction in the number of men in society, the German government legalized polygamy, because there was no other solution for it.

In actual fact and contrary to the popular belief, polygamy is among the rights of women and not men. By canceling this ruling, we would deprive a number of women from the right of marriage.

Of course it is evident that monogamy is the best form of marriage, and polygamy is only necessary for solving a social dilemma under certain circumstances, and the conditions and prerequisites that Islam has stipulated for polygamy, like practicing justice, show that renewed wedlock is not the work of every man.

Only a religious judge could ascertain the eligibility and qualification of volunteer men and issue them the needed permit for the second marriage, thus closing the door to abuses of this tenant.

Article 23 of amended government bill has done exactly this and has in fact restricted the practice of polygamy and not expanded and eased it. Whereas the opponents have falsely advertised that the government is after facilitating and expanding polygamy.

At any rate the crucial issue about this ruling is the manner of practicing it; otherwise by itself the tenant is the pride of Islam and the world today has not succeeded to bring a better alternative for this social dilemma and replace it with a better law and they will certainly confess to the correctness of this ruling in the future.

Governments can never take the place of husbands for widows and unmarried women, because the latter are human beings and not machines and their needs are not limited to material necessities, but instead they have many emotional and psychological needs as well and they need a spouse and intimate friend.

Of course this ruling can be implemented and exercised only by men who have wives that enjoy a very high level of Islamic gnosis and understanding and appreciate fully the rationale of this tenant, and therefore willingly make sacrifices for solving a social dilemma. Let us hope that the eighth Majles would deal with this bill far and free from Westoxication.

(Description of Source: Hamshahri (Fellow Citizen) in Persian — Owned by Tehran Municipality, its politics have changed with the mayoralty. Originally reformist, it became conservative after local elections in 2003. One of the best selling dailies with a circulation of about 350,000.)

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