Islam directs treatment of women to be just, compassionate, humane, speaker tells Interfaith Tea

YOUNGSTOWN

About 80 people attended the 69th annual Interfaith Tea Tuesday afternoon hosted for the first time by the Islamic Society of Greater Youngstown at Masjid Al-Khair mosque, 1670 Homewood Ave.

The tea promotes understanding among various religions and the program fulfilled that goal by sharing some information on the faith.

Keynote speaker was Mustansir Mir, professor of Islamic studies and director of Center for Islamic Studies in the department of philosophy and religious studies at Youngstown State University. He spoke on “Women in Islam; Rethinking the Issues.”

Mir said the key word is “rethinking, which relates to a larger rethinking of issues in Islam that is going on.”

But, he cautioned that “interpretation of religious text is extremely complex.” He noted, “Scholars look at the foundation of religion and in the context of their times.”

Islam provides a “code of life,” Mir said. “It’s principles of laws and rules to live by.”

Mir said Islam directs that the treatment of women be “just, compassionate and humane.” Those are standards expressed by other religions.

Islam speaks of equality, Mir said. “All humans are descended from one man and one woman, Adam and Eve.”

Read more about the program in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.