Spirituality in Muslim women’s lives

For many Muslim women, their relationship with Allah provides them with an important means of coping with ongoing violence (Hassouneh-Phillips, 2003). Coping mechanisms include listening to Koranic recitation, prayer, and meditation. For many women, Allah is a sustaining force when they have no one else to turn to. Through prayer, participants felt that they could appeal to Allah directly for help and guidance. For many women, Allah was their only source of support.

“Allah was the only one who was saving me” (Hassouneh-Phillips, 2003).
Women’s spirituality is a source of both strength and vulnerability as they endure the effects of domestic violence. In a study of American Muslim women, while some women found strength in their relationship with Allah, others found that their spiritual beliefs promoted passivity and compliance. In this latter sense, women were susceptible to believing that they should stay in violent situations through a belief that this life does not matter (Hassouneh-Phillips, 2003).

Islamic teachings and law clearly condemn any form of violence towards wives. According to Islamic teachings, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) demanded respect and kindness to women. He said:

“Fear Allah in respect of women”

“The best of you are they who behave best to their wives”

“The more civil and kind a Muslim is to his wife, the more perfect in faith he is”
Understanding the significance of women’s spiritual beliefs, and harnessing this to help women resist and recover from abuse, is an important aspect of working with survivors.