By Omayma Al-Jalahma(Ph.D.Religions)

History tells us that in a lot of the Arabian tribes women have been mistreated. But for the record, this mal-treatment was not spread in all the tribes. Some women were treated well, in some well-known families, such as the women in the Tribe of Quraish, such as “Hind” the wife of “Sufyan” and “Khadija Bint Khuwailid” the prophet Muhammad’s wife.

Islam has changed the status of women in general, and changed the outlook of men to women ,and thus all Muslim women have received rights ,women in the West have not yet attained, not even in modern times.

These traditions that have been followed in the “Jahiliya” days,and the Arabs had no problem following them,have now been replaced by Islamic laws and also there was no problem following them.

The traditions then were:

1-A lot of them did not welcome the female newcomer(baby)so they buried them alive,in the Quran in Surat Al-Nahl,Aya 58-59)

“When news is brought to one of them,

Of the birth of a female(child),

His face darkens,

And he is filled with grief.

With shame does he hide

Himself from his people,

Because of the bad news he has had

Shall he retain it

On (sufferance)and contempt

Or bury it in the dust?
Ah, what evil (choice)

They decide on.”

2-Then came the burial of girls for fear of poverty or of shame:

where the quran has mentioned it in (Surat Al-Takweer aya 8-9)

“When the female (infant),

Buried alive,is questioned-

For what crime she was killed;”

And they kept on doing this horrible thing until the Quran banned that in Surat Al-Israa aya31, and surat Al-Ana’am,aya 151):

“Kill not you children

For fear of want: We shall

Provide, sustenance for them

As well as for you.

Verily the killing of them

Is a great sin.”

“…..kill not your children

on a plea of want;-

We provide sustenance for you

And for them;-…..”

4-When her husband died the woman was not allowed to leave the family’s holding,for as soon as he dies one of his kin throws his clothes over her and she is inherited by him and becomes his property.She cannot leave unless she pays to ransom herself.

5-If a woman is divorced ,she is not allowed to leave ,but is kept in his hold, just to spite her. The man is allowed whatever number of wives he wished .

6-The maternal relatives were of no importance,only the paternal family prevailed and held importance.