Page 34 - Character Types of the Unbelievers

CHARACTER-TYPES OF THE UNBELIEVERS
entirely different personality after she marries. The week before her
marriage she may have been a lively and outgoing person but, sud-
denly, when she takes on the role of housewife, she may assume an
identity that her former friends not longer recognize.

It is the corrupted notion of marriage in a society of ignorance
that makes them adopt such a personality. This is important to keep
in mind as we examine the personality of the housewife. In the for-
mation of this identity, which we will explore in detail in the follow-
ing pages, the fact that marriage is “ignorant marriage,” that is, that
it is a component of the society of ignorance, is of important signifi-
cance.

Under the influence of all such factors, this specific identity is
formed according to all the corrupting influences of the ignorant
system. We must also add that a society of ignorance does not re-
gard these distortions as unusual, nor does it regard the identities it
produce as undesirable. On the contrary, they consider them nor-
mal and legitimate. It is the society in which they live that deter-
mines the character of individuals, and so it is to be expected that
they would tolerate and accept the expectations placed upon them
and that they should comply by them.

Display of Emotion

A trait considered natural among ignorant women is their emo-
tionality, though such behavior is totally at odds with the moral
teachings of the Qur’an. And, according to the expectations of a cul-
ture of ignorance, a woman must be meek and needs to be protected
and looked after by a man.
For this reason, whenever a housewife is confronted by some

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