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Al Jahiliyya Women

Modern Arab Women

Understand the Background

Reforms throughout

the period

What comes to mind

when the word 'Jahiliyya'

is mentioned?

Modern Arab Women

throughout the Ages

  • Tribal customs and traditions dictated a woman's role and position
  • Each tribe consisted of clans, and within these clans were families.
  • Clans were interconnected via blood relations, with one "sheikh" leading them.
  • Loyalty was greatly valued & other tribes were considered enemies.
  • One of the tribal concerns was marriage, in which the bride-to-be was not given much choice.
  • What was once regarded as a dowry (or bride price) became a nuptial gift kept by the wife as her personal property.
  • Marriage, under Islamic law, was not a "status" anymore but a contract.
  • A woman;s consent in marriage was necessary.
  • Such laws for marriage, divorce and inheritance had not been implemented in the Western world until centuries later (this being the 7th century)

Economic Situation

  • Ignorance, Age of Darkness
  • The Reign of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH)

  • Prominent aspect: the Way in which Women were treated.
  • Women had no rights & were treated as slaves.
  • Albeit this is true, one must examine the time period before coming to conclusions.

The Different Kinds

of Marriage

In Muslim history, several respectable female leaders have arisen - Shajar al-Durr (13th century Egypt), Queen Orpha (d. 1090, Yemen) & Razia Sultana (13th century, Delhi) to modern era examples in Bangladesh, Pakistan & Turkey.

"Mot'aa" Marriage

After the Advent of Islam

  • In wealthier Arab countries (e.g. UAE), the amount of female business owners grows rapidly according to the economic development of the country.
  • Women work with family businesses and are encouraged to work and study overseas
  • Arab women are estimated to have $40billion of personal wealth to themselves.
  • A man and woman would agree on a marriage without any interference or law
  • It was temporary

Arranged Marriages

The most Prominent Practice recognized during the Al Jahiliyya Period

Divorce was usually arranged between the husband and father, with no interference from the woman herself.

  • Parents arranged it entirely
  • Women must leave home to live with husband
  • Her children were considered property of tribe

Marriage by Purchase

  • A woman's family would sell her off at a certain price, similar to a dowry.
  • Both Men & Women have the same duties in their worship of God
  • The Qur'an rejected the idea of infanticide
  • Tradition of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH): hellfire is prohibited against he who undergoes trials and tribulations due to a daughter and yet does not hate her and behaves well towards her
  • Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), by instituting rights of property ownership, inheritance, education and divorce, considerably improved the state of women's rights and provided them with safeguards

Education

  • Infanticide: killing of infants/babies
  • Female babies were immediately killed
  • Practiced due to fear of poverty or disgrace
  • Common saying: The burial of daughters is a noble deed
  • One of the largest indications of discrimination against females

Marriage by Capture

  • Common during wartime
  • Revolves around idea of capturing a woman during war and selling them into either slavery or marriage
  • The husband was the woman's 'lord' or 'master'

Islam encouraged equality between genders, as well as equality within educations.

Since the 1960s, Arab boys and girls get a full highschool educations and usually continue to get a Graduate diploma

Women were also excluded from inheritance in the family tree, as tribes were more concerned with war & such.

Women were considered physically inferior to men, and therefore money went to men who would invest in wars and such.

Traditional / Cultural Dress

Depending on the country, women may or may not don the traditional garments of their culture. E.g. KSA is very strict and conservative, whereas Egypt is much less so.

In certain countries, such as Saudi Arabia, wearing the abaya is mandatory, whereas in others, such as Tunisia, the veil is banned.

Women in Al Jahiliyya Period

compared to

Modern Arab Women

ARA 101 Presentation

Crispina Behrmann & Rana Safwat

An Introductory Clip

regarding the mindset

on Women in the

Pre-Islamic Period

The Pre-Islamic mentality

still exists in some areas of

the Middle East, but activists

and girls themselves are

beginning to speak out about

it and progress is being achieved.

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