About the Book
THE HIDDEN HALF: Women and Islam by Dr Stuart Robinson.
Almost half of the global population of 7.2 billion people in 2013-14 was estimated to be female. This book is about women. More specifically, it is about women and Islam.
It does not seek to sensationalize the subject matter, although some information may seem that way to any reader exposed to it for the first time. Nor should it be seen as an attempt to moralize about any practices within Islam or how followers of that religion may regard or treat non-Muslim women. It simply records widespread practice and the authoritative religious texts that validate many of these practices.
It also seeks to motivate the reader to engage with Muslims in society so that God's love can heal and transform their world through practical actions of Christian grace.
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING:
"Stuart Robinson must be congratulated for giving voice to The Hidden Half," VICKIE JANSON, Political Advocate and Author--Australia.
"This book opens a window onto Islam's treatment of women. It is an essential resource for everyone concerned about human rights in our globally connected world," REV. DR MARK DURIE, Political Advocate and Author--Australia.
"The Hidden Half--Women and Islam, addresses gender apartheid in the Muslim world globally," DR PHYLLIS CHESLER, Emeritus Professor of Psychology and Women's Studies, City University NY --USA.
"This book's objective and scientific tone will help to alleviate a major human and social issue. Robinson investigates in-depth this most important problem, the status of Muslim women, now imported in our societies," BAT YE'OR, Author of The Decline of Eastern Christianity; Islam and Dhimmitude; and Eurabia--Switzerland.
About the Author :
Dr Stuart Robinson is the Founding Pastor of Australia's largest Baptist Church. Before that he worked for fourteen years in South Asia where he pioneered church planting among Muslims. He travels extensively as a speaker at Seminars and Conferences. He is the author of ten other books including best selling titles, Mosques & Miracles, Defying Death, The Prayer of Obedience and The Challenge of Islam. He graduated from four tertiary institutions. Stuart was born in Brisbane and is married to Margaret. They have three married children. www.drstuartrobinson.com
Review :
Who does one believe? Does the media give an insight into truth? Or is reality found elsewhere? Stuart Robinson's The Hidden Half: Women in Islam, uses material from the popular press to examine life as a woman from birth through to death in an Islamic context. Alongside that portrayal Robinson has included statements from Muslim clerics and scholars, together with verses from the Qur'an, the Hadith, and Sunnah (the life of the Prophet) which constitute the authority base for Islamic belief and practice. He also includes personal stories and experiences. It's a book worth reading because it reflects numerous aspects of life that many Muslim women experience to varying degrees. DR RUTH NICHOLLS, Arthur Jeffery Centre for the Study of Islam-Melbourne. In our time, when two correlated forces confront Western Judeo-Christian societies - massive Muslim immigration and jihadist terrorism - this book makes us ponder over an important issue: the place and role of women in Muslim societies. Some aspects of the woman and children condition could be found in all ancient patriarchal societies where superstitions passed for medical science and short life required early marriage. With time such practices disappeared and are today obsolete. But other characters specific to non-European cultures, being inscribed in religion and laws are until today in full force, untouched by the passing of millennia and the progress of science. Such is the case of the status of Muslim women. In the unified and fraternal humanity we hope to build, the meticulous and harsh persecution, the degradation and cruelty against women incite hatred and divisions. Robinson's book investigates in depth this most important problem now imported in our societies. Its objective and scientific tone will help to alleviate a major human and social issue. BAT YE'OR, Author of The Decline of Eastern Christianity; Islam and Dhimmitude; and Eurabia-Switzerland. The Hidden Half: Women and Islam, addresses gender apartheid in the Muslim world globally. It is important that Dr. Robinson's information be considered by infidels, feminists, and by dissident Muslims. DR PHYLLIS CHESLER, Emeritus Professor of Psychology and Women's Studies, City University NY-USA. This mosaic of the daily realities that women living in Muslim societies experience, is at once numbingly confronting, and profoundly insightful! Even when describing difficult facts in graphic detail, Dr Robinson doesn't attempt to sensationalise about his subject matter, or to moralise about Muslim and non-Muslim women's experience of Islam. Instead, he draws together a range of women's stories, so we hear their voices. They are from different historical eras, a diversity of socio-cultural contexts, a variety of ages, and a range of faiths - Muslim, Christian and secular. Then drawing from the four key sources for devout Muslims, the Holy Quran, the Hadith, the Biographies of the Prophet and Sharia Law, Dr Robinson describes how these authoritative religious texts validate the widespread practices he graphically documents, that women experience in Islamic contexts. Interweaving women's stories with the declarations and fatwas of imams, muftis and scholars, Dr Robinson relentlessly builds a disturbing profile of 'a woman's place' in Islam, challenging us to re-imagine what life can be like for many Muslim women. This is not a book to read as entertainment, for diversion or even in anger! It's far too important for that! These stories are the voices of real humans, made in the image of a loving Creator, of immense worth, and sacrificially redeemed by their Saviour? Please read this book, only if you are willing to be transformed to be part of Jesus' heart of grace, and hands of mercy amongst the peoples of this world for whom he died! IAN L. GRANT, Vice President Emeritus, Harvest Bible College-Melbourne.
