The status of Pre-Islamic Arabian Women
The status of Pre-Islamic Arabian women in the so-called Jahiliyya period:
Jahilliya period is coloured in such a way to flatter Islam, through unsubstantiated accusations which we only hear of through Muhammad.
We find that pre-Islamic women enjoyed more rights, as illustrated in the ahadeeth and pre-Islamic poetry, despite the latters' polemic.
Poor tribes buried females alive mostly during periods of famine. Some feared their daughters would be captured & forced into concubinage.
Muhammad didn’t stop this out of mercy, he ordered his followers to plunder the wealth of unbelieving tribes, giving him financial advantage
As for Khadija, who allegedly personifies how liberated Muslim women were, she enjoyed her rights BEFORE the advent of Islam:
She was twice married & proposed to 15 yrs younger Muhammad(inconceivable of Muslims today who fetishise virgins) w/o permission from a male.
Unlike women under Islam, where their silence is considered full consent:
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith - 9.101 ,Narrated Aisha
Allah's Apostle said, "It is essential to have the consent of a virgin (for the marriage). I said, "A virgin feels shy." The Prophet; said, "Her silence means her consent." Some people said, "If a man falls in love with an orphan slave girl or a virgin and she refuses (him) and then he makes a trick by bringing two false witnesses to testify that he has married her, and then she attains the age of puberty and agrees to marry him and the judge accepts the false witness and the husband knows that the witnesses were false ones, he may consummate his marriage."
Khadija was an independent merchant who inherited a bulk of her fathers wealth, despite her two brothers (re: Islamic inheritance laws).
She financially propagated Muhammad's message after introducing him to monotheism, convincing him that he was a prophet, not a madman.
There were numerous female poets during the Jahilliya such as Asma bint Marwan, Mahd al-Aadiyya, Umm Jamil Bint Harb, Al-Khansa, etc.
Pre-Islamic women accompanied men in battles,supporting them through their poetry. They were renowned for their bravery, honour, & humour.
Women in pre-Islamic Arabia were able to circumambulate the Kaaba naked if they so wished.
Pre-islamic Arabia also recognised matrilineal arrangements, granting women the right to marry whoever they wanted to.
Polyandry was commonly practiced: ‘’Children aren't bastards & the mothers aren’t a disgrace nor punished for their unchastity’’ - Robertson.
They were free to adorn themselves w/o fear of molestation, since this led to wars of honour which the Jahilliya Arabs were known to start.
They were able to travel in caravans, dance, sing, and drink wine.
There were no cases of punishing adulterers unlike Sharia which condemns women even when she's been raped to be stoned to death.
These women also enjoyed political power and played an integral part in political decision-making processes.
It’s important to note that the status of women in pre-Islamic Arabia was dependent on their tribes. Some were more empowered than others,women in Islam are considered sexual objects for a mans pleasure, and can be sexually violated in any manner.
Quran addresses women in third person; one Surah allocated to them. A snippet of Quranic verses on the status of women in Islam:
Jahilliya period is coloured in such a way to flatter Islam, through unsubstantiated accusations which we only hear of through Muhammad.
We find that pre-Islamic women enjoyed more rights, as illustrated in the ahadeeth and pre-Islamic poetry, despite the latters' polemic.
Poor tribes buried females alive mostly during periods of famine. Some feared their daughters would be captured & forced into concubinage.
Muhammad didn’t stop this out of mercy, he ordered his followers to plunder the wealth of unbelieving tribes, giving him financial advantage
As for Khadija, who allegedly personifies how liberated Muslim women were, she enjoyed her rights BEFORE the advent of Islam:
She was twice married & proposed to 15 yrs younger Muhammad(inconceivable of Muslims today who fetishise virgins) w/o permission from a male.
Unlike women under Islam, where their silence is considered full consent:
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith - 9.101 ,Narrated Aisha
Allah's Apostle said, "It is essential to have the consent of a virgin (for the marriage). I said, "A virgin feels shy." The Prophet; said, "Her silence means her consent." Some people said, "If a man falls in love with an orphan slave girl or a virgin and she refuses (him) and then he makes a trick by bringing two false witnesses to testify that he has married her, and then she attains the age of puberty and agrees to marry him and the judge accepts the false witness and the husband knows that the witnesses were false ones, he may consummate his marriage."
Khadija was an independent merchant who inherited a bulk of her fathers wealth, despite her two brothers (re: Islamic inheritance laws).
She financially propagated Muhammad's message after introducing him to monotheism, convincing him that he was a prophet, not a madman.
There were numerous female poets during the Jahilliya such as Asma bint Marwan, Mahd al-Aadiyya, Umm Jamil Bint Harb, Al-Khansa, etc.
Pre-Islamic women accompanied men in battles,supporting them through their poetry. They were renowned for their bravery, honour, & humour.
Women in pre-Islamic Arabia were able to circumambulate the Kaaba naked if they so wished.
Pre-islamic Arabia also recognised matrilineal arrangements, granting women the right to marry whoever they wanted to.
Polyandry was commonly practiced: ‘’Children aren't bastards & the mothers aren’t a disgrace nor punished for their unchastity’’ - Robertson.
They were free to adorn themselves w/o fear of molestation, since this led to wars of honour which the Jahilliya Arabs were known to start.
They were able to travel in caravans, dance, sing, and drink wine.
There were no cases of punishing adulterers unlike Sharia which condemns women even when she's been raped to be stoned to death.
These women also enjoyed political power and played an integral part in political decision-making processes.
It’s important to note that the status of women in pre-Islamic Arabia was dependent on their tribes. Some were more empowered than others,women in Islam are considered sexual objects for a mans pleasure, and can be sexually violated in any manner.
Quran addresses women in third person; one Surah allocated to them. A snippet of Quranic verses on the status of women in Islam:
Collection of ahadeeth on women in Islam, clearly demonstrating how liberated they ought to be:
To conclude, here’s very interesting hadeeth unintentionally confirming that Pre-Islamic women enjoyed more sexual freedom than Muslim ones
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