Muslim Women Are The Diamonds Of Islam

chapter 1

women in pre-islamic arabia

In pre-Islamic Arabia, women's status varied widely according to the laws and cultural norms of the tribes in which they lived in. In places, like the city of Mecca, and other neighbouring cities , there was no single definition of the roles played and rights held by women prior to the arrival of Islam.

Before Islam, women were considered shameful, female children were buried alive, prostitution was widespread, divorce was only in the hands of the husband, inheritance was only for the strong, and oppression was widespread. Islam came and eliminated all these practices. Even now, in "developed countries", women are not granted respect, dignity and honour, let alone equal pay for equal work. Islam, however, regards women as precious and valuable, not to be disrespected or disgraced. The mistreatment of women in some Middle-Eastern countries or Muslim families is due to cultural factors that some Muslims wrongly follow, not because of Islam. Why would many women around the world willingly enter Islam if Women in Islam are thought to be dominated, degraded, oppressed - but are they really? Are millions of Muslims simply that oppressive or are these misconceptions fabricated by a biased media?

women were killed before islam just because they were dishonourable and shameful.

In pre-Islamic times, the Arabs used to be disheartened and annoyed with the birth of girls, so that a father, when informed his wife had given birth to a girl, said, "By Allah she is not as blissful as a son; her defense is crying and her care is but stealing!"

" her defense is crying and her care is but stealing", He meant she could not defend her father and her family except by screaming and crying, not by fighting and carrying her fathers honour her a son would . She also cannot be good to them and care for them except by taking from her husband's money to give to her family. Their traditions allowed the father to bury his daughter alive for actual poverty, or for expected poverty, or out of fear of a disgrace she might bring upon them when she grew up.

The Qur'an says, "And when the girl-child who was buried alive is asked. Upon what sin was she killed for." [Surah al-Takweer, Verses 8-9]

The Qur'an also describes the condition of fathers when daughters were born:

"And when one among of them receives the glad tidings of a daughter, his face turns black for the day, and he remains seething. Hiding from the people because of the evil of the tidings; "Will he keep her with disgrace, or bury her beneath the earth?"; pay heed! Very evil is the judgment they impose!" [Surah al-Nahl, Verse 58-59]

When Islam was revealed, it decreed a daughter - like a son - was a gift from Allah, to be granted to whomever Allah wishes of His worshipers

"For Allah only is the kingship of the heavens and the earth; He creates whatever He wills; He may bestow daughters to whomever He wills, and sons to whomever He wills. Or may mix them, the sons and daughters; and may make barren whomever He wills; indeed He is All Knowing, Able." [Surah al-Shoora, Verses 49-50]