Understanding Abuse
It is important to understand why a cycle of violence continues in a Muslim household
regardless of clear guidelines in Islam against oppression. There are multiple reasons
behind the behaviors of abusers, victims, families and communities at large. A good
first step to becoming equipped to help stop any cycle of violence is to understand
the reasons behind it. Although it takes time to become sensitive to the signs of
an abusive relationship, it is important for us to learn to recognize them. Some
of the more obvious signs may be as simple as one family member insulting the other
in front of people, or a person becoming isolated from friends and family.
The Muslim Wheel of Domestic Violence will help you
understand abuse in Muslim Families. This section also provides information to assist
you to learn to recognize the signs of domestic violence, and to understand more
about:
Why Abusers Abuse and
Why Victims Stay;
Why the Family Keeps Silent about it, and
Why the Community Ignores It.
It is difficult to acknowledge when someone you care about is in an abusive relationship.
But the more of these warning signs sound familiar, the more crucial it is to help
before it gets worse.