Who are the Taliban? Are they proper Muslims?

We have heard news about the Taliban in Afghanistan and the problems that they seem to be involved in.

So who are these guys?  

So far the Taliban has been accused of human rights issues.  Some of these are:

- killing women who do not wear the burqa (the garment that women wear in Afghanistan and other places that covers everything, including the face and eyes)

- killing people who have been involved with America and others who they feel have done something wrong

The problem is that although the word Taliban, actually means "students of knowledge," which should indicate that they carry put atrocities based on some true knowledge and information this is very misleading.

In reality the behaviours that are attributed by the so-called Taliban to Shariah (Islamic law) are not from the true Shariah.  They seem not to have understood  the true Shariah, if they have indeed studied it.

Actually there does appear to be general ignorance in Afghanistan and many things are based on heresay.  I say this as someone who has met with people from Aghanistan and have noticed this problem.

A woman I once met in UK was worried that not marrying her daughter off who had begun menstruating would make her collect sins each month.  

Apparently, this is a widespread belief in Afghanistan that leads to young girls being married off straight after puberty to any person, to make sure that they don't collect sins (as they think).

Another misunderstanding in Afghanistan is that girls should not be educated and especially should not be  taught the Quran.  It is ashame that such a belief  is so widespread in that part of the world.

In fact, we often find similar ideas in India and Pakistan.  

Then there is the issue if women's covering.  This is another misunderstood issue.

Perhaps a person ignorant of Islamic law and not knowing its true reality would assume that the Taliban are better and stronger Muslims than others because they ask women to cover up more and have more severe punishments than others.

They make those of us who simply cover our heads and bodies, while showing our faces and going out to work and study as very bad Muslims or even loose women, right?

But what does Islam really say?  I have completed a degree in Interpretation of Quran and also have studied some of the sayings of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him in the Middle East.

Therefore, I think I am able to comment on this subject and put things straight.

There is no sin on anyone if a woman does not get married (unless they prevent her or she is doing something wrong).  Women are not supposed to be married against their will, but asked.

If a woman refuses to get married to someone, it is not allowed to force her.

So-called honour killings are also not from Islam.  They seem to be a recent thing that did not happen in the early period of Islam.  They are most likely due to ignorance.

In regards to womens dress, women are required by Islamic law to cover their physical body in lose fitting clothes entirely so that only the face and hands are apparent.

Women are not asked to cover their face and hands as this would put them in difficulty when they may need to show them for buying and selling, working in the fields or for identification.

Men are asked to lower their gazes and not ogle at women for this reason.   

Women are supposed to be protected and valued for who they are and not be taken as objects, which they can be when they are put on physical display.

At the same time, women are allowed, even encouraged at times, to take part in society and contribute to building it.

Although it is an Islamic requirement that women cover themselves, there is no punishment in Shariah if she does not do so.

It is not from the major sins.

Rather, killing is from the major sins.  If a person kills an innocent person intentionally he may receive the death penalty himself.

He may not be allowed to enter paradise if he did not repent.

Islam has only one Shariah, even if there are slightly different interpretations.  

Killing people, forbidding education and so forth all go against the Shariah.

Therefore, they should not be attributed to it.

So what can we attribute such behaves towards? 

They are attributed to ignorance and misunderstandings of religion and the true essence of Shariah.

The Taliban, and those like them demonstrate the need for proper education for people in that part of the world.  Perhaps then they will see what they are doing is wrong.

Maybe then they will  repent and correct themselves.