Jay-Z and Beyonce, Islam, the perception of women.. and how they all fit together!

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Just some quick thoughts I had. No matter how integrated or disconnected we are from mainstream media, undoubtedly, we will have all have heard of Beyonce. And Jay-Z. And now Blue Ivy Carter, their little girl, born a few days ago. Congratulations to them, she is of course a blessing from Allah.What’s actually interesting is Jay-Z announced in a poem he wrote that he is going to stop using the word ‘b!tch’. My first thought was how in Islam (read: Islam, not in practice/culture) for a women to ever be regarded in this way would be a great sin. After all, some of the most pious people in Islam have been women – everyone from Maryam, the mother of Jesus (peace by upon him), Khadijah, the wife of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), Asiyah, wife of the Pharoah, and Fatima, daughter of the Prophet.


We’ve had female scholars, we’re taught that heaven lies at the feet of our mothers and we’re taught not to flaunt our bodies and assets for the world to see, but instead to preserve and protect ourselves. We're taught that we are equal to men, that we can have our own lives, our own incomes, careers and more.


I can appreciate in today’s world and when culture has to some extent overtaken Islamic principles, women are not always seen in this light, but still, when I compare what Islam teaches about how to treat women and what we see in the rest of the society, I can honestly say I am glad we have an alternative view. 

But going back to my original point, Jay-Z realising the status of a woman and publically announcing this is a great thing – as it’s announcing to the entire world something we as Muslims already know and realise. The hip-hop world (and as hip-hop has grown, the rest of society too) has long been known to undervalue woman. Jay-Z's made mistakes in his past when talking about women in his music, referring to them in derogatory terms, but the fact he has now matured enough to make this assertion can only have a positive impact on society going forward. I sincerely hope that as a cultural icon this is the case (whether we should be following Jay-Z as much as we do is another issue entirely).

Anyway, that was just a point of realisation for me… to appreciate what we are taught about women and to smile at the fact the rest of society is finally catching up =)


Read the full poem:
“Before I got in the game, made a change, and got rich,/ I didn’t think hard about using the word B—-./ I rapped, I flipped it, I sold it, I lived it/now with my daughter in this world/ I curse those that give it./ I never realized while on the fast track/ that I’d give riddance to the word bitch, to leave her innocence in tact./ No man will degrade her, or call her out her name/ the women won’t despise her and call her the same./ I know it’s gonna miss me/ cuz we been together like Nike Airs and crisp tees/ when we all used to hang out front/ singing 99 problems but a lady ain’t one./ Excuse me miss, can I be your mister/ cuz I can tell the difference from a little girl and a sister,/ She never grew up, her father left her alone/ I promise not to talk like we used to/ until Kingdom Come./ I’m so focused on your future,/ The degradation has passed/ I wish you wealth, health, and insight/ forever young you may pass./ Blue Ivy Carter, my angel.”