The Arab region shows a wide gulf and irreconcilable differences in the areas between Islam the religion and Islamic civilisation allegedly founded on its tenets and ethics. Paradoxically, the true values of Islam appear much brighter and more appealing in non-Arab communities than in the Arab region, which is the seat of Prophet Mohamed's message. The prosperity of the values of Islam in non-Arab countries should be attributed to the absence of tribal culture in these societies. The pioneers of Muslim expeditions launched overseas from the Arab Peninsula in the year 640 A.D. downwards used the appeal of the new religion to spread their tribal culture, which, in many areas, conflict with the tenets and ethics stated in and stressed by Islam. These pioneering Muslim explorers travelled overseas carrying with them faqihs (experts in Islamic law and in interpretation of the Holy Qura'n), who dishonestly and deliberately distorted and compromised the meanings of the holy text and Prophet Mohamed's sayings (Hadiths) to serve the ruler's wishes and those of his cronies and army commanders. It was also that insincere interpretation of the meaning of the holy text and Prophet Mohamed's teachings, which helped Muslim rulers in Arab and non-Arab kingdoms to deepen the seat of their power and exact brutal revenge on their opponents and insurgents. According to the distorted meaning of the holy text, these Muslim rulers were (and many of them still are) given a divine status – ruling the people in the name of Allah and are given the authority to coerce Muslim worshippers and punish obstinate non-believers. To acknowledge their great and indispensable role in the ruler's enduring palace presence, the insincere faqihs were rewarded immensely and generously. They were also offered the nearest seats to the ruler's in the royal diwan (courtyard). That is why these Muslim pioneers were more interested in a Muslim civilisation, which should give rise to bigger numbers of grand and small mosques everywhere; laying the foundations of justice, social equality and freedom came second – or went missing amid frenzied efforts to stalk the ruler's foes. The Muslim woman could suffer injustices done to her by Muslim civilisation because it was founded on Arab tribal culture. In Arab countries where tribal culture – not Islam – is the rule, the Muslim woman is lowered to the status of being merely a piece of man's property, kept nearby to quench his sexual desire at will when he – not she – feels the urge. She should be veiled from head to toe; she reveals herself only when her spouse snaps his fingers, calling her to the bedroom or sending her to the kitchen. A female president in an Arab country is unthinkable and unimaginable under any circumstances. More unfortunate, the woman is heavily insulted by fundamentalists, who go around warning that women in general are biologically (or physically) and intellectually weak creatures who cannot attain a mature understanding or practice of Islam like men. On the other hand, women in foreign countries that adopted Islam and frowned upon Arab tribal culture, fully enjoy the status they are given in Prophet Mohamed's religion. For example, a woman in Indonesia, which has the largest Muslim population in the world, was elected the President of the nation. Mrs Megawati Sukarnoputri, daughter of Indonesia's first president Sukarno, served as the president from July 2001 to October 2004. In Bangladesh, one of the best exports this country offers overseas is the image of the Muslim woman in Islam. Men in this Muslim-dominated nation of more than 160 million people trust their women to lead the political life for more than four decades now. For example, the nation's Prime Minister is Sheikh Hasina, the opposition leader is Sheikh Khalda, the Foreign Minister is Dr. Depu Moni, and the Speaker of the Bangladeshi parliament is Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, who was the State Minister for Women and Children Affairs. Moreover, Sheikh Hasina's Cabinet is studded with many female ministers, vice ministers and advisers. In the meantime, women and children are given top priority in PM Sheikh Hasina's Vision Paper 2021. The Bangladesh government has implemented different programmes and projects to ensure women's advancement, their empowerment, equal access to resources and active participation in socio-economic activities. Bangladeshi women are also more fortunate than their counterparts in different countries. In addition to welfare and socio-economic programmes, Sheikh Hasina's government has initiated programmes chiefly suggested to prevent violence against women. A central cell for the Prevention of Women's and Children's Repression fosters the opportunities to render all kinds of support to women and children who have been the victims of torture, and ensures co-ordination activities for preventing violence against women and children. Pakistan, is another Muslim nation, which elevated the status of women. The late Benazir Bhutto served as the Pakistani Prime Minister in two non-consecutive terms.
