Page 52 - Character Types of the Unbelievers

CHARACTER-TYPES OF THE UNBELIEVERS
according to the best of what they did. (Surat an-Nahl, 97)

The Character of the Male in a Society of Ignorance
The false customs of a society of ignorance also have their influ-
ence on the perception of the role of male. Although a definition of this
identity is not written, nearly every member of the society of ignorance
knows its features well. Even before children are born into a family,
the parents have already imagined how they will instill this character

into a baby if it happens to be a boy. Above all, in such a society in
which people abide by such a morality, having a male child brings a
great deal of pride.
The foremost quality of a man, as far as they are concerned, is that
he be of strong character and superior to women. These expectations
lead of course to a stronger personality in a man than a woman.
Having a strong character is of course a good thing, but the con-
cept of strength referred to in the society of the ignorant is a far cry
from the strong character described in the Qur’an. Ruthlessness and

strictness, far removed from affection and compassion, and even an
understanding of superiority and strength that is rooted in violence is
regarded as natural in the male character in the society of the ignorant.
Other factors in the society help to support this notion of male superi-
ority. Women in the society of ignorance usually adopt a defeatist
character and regard themselves as second-class. In such a society,
there is none superior to the male. This creates the idea that male self-

sufficiency is absolute. For this reason, men are generally not open to
suggestions and criticism from anyone else, particularly women.
In addition, every man feels he must conform to what the society
expects of him, and so expends every effort not to depart from the

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