Suryakusuma, Wieringa, and Doorn Harder (in Qibtiyah, 2010: 154) explain that the word “feminist” is even stigmatized as a label associated with “left” (communist) or “liberal”, which supports individualism, selfishness, and immoral behaviour such as relationships. Sex outside of marriage. Feminists are also considered against nature, Islamic principles (aqidah), and Islamic law (sharia). Because of this negative stigma, many women activists refuse to be called feminists.
Criticism of Indonesian Muslims against feminism is usually based on an assessment that feminism values are deemed very inconsistent with Islamic views, especially when it comes to wearing the hijab, polygamy, career women, inheritance law, and female circumcision. In fact, in general, feminism opposes all forms of violence against women.
In general, the Indonesian Islamic community’s perspective on feminism can be grouped as follows: First, the group argues that Islam is a faith, while feminism is a secular understanding, so the two cannot be combined. The term “Islamic feminism” was even rejected by this first group because it was considered a paradox in the Islamic world. This group also argues that Muslims do not need Western values to be applied in the lives of Muslims. This is because Muslims already have religious texts that are more relevant and culturally appropriate than those obtained from the West.
Second, some groups argue that Islam and feminism are harmonious. Academics who agree with “Islamic feminism” include Laila Ahmed, Riffat Hassan, Fatima Mernisi, Siti Musdah Mulia, Siti Ruhaini Dzuhayatin, Ratna Megawangi, and Kiai Husein Muhammad. They argue that feminism is compatible with Islam. Islam itself encourages equality between men and women. However, in practice, this principle is then distorted to justify the subordination of women. Majid (1998) also agrees that Islam and feminism are not contradictory things. They even criticized those who restricted the term “Islamic” (Qibtiyah, 2010), also generally criticizes patriarchal interpretations of Islamic texts such as the Qur’an and Hadith; because it’s impossible for Allah SWT, who has the justest nature, to say something unfair to women and men then.
Therefore, the claim that feminism was born in the West and is a product of Western culture is inaccurate. Feminism is held in every inch of this earth: where there is injustice and resistance, there is feminism born. Feminism in no way teaches women to fight against men or to outperform men. On the other hand, feminism departs from respect for humans (including women and men) who are all equal and have fundamental rights.
Allah SWT created humans, both male and female, equally. Since birth, women have been human beings whose humanity is given by Allah SWT, not by men or fellow human beings. Therefore, all humans, including women in it, have equal access to Allah SWT.