Women’s Social Presence in Nabawi Society
One of these changes was in the field of women’s rights and status in society.
Obviously, the era of Jahiliya (before the advent of Islam), included special features and behaviors that had been formed due to various factors such as the geography of Arabia.
Women had a small role in the Jahiliya society and were considered second-class. They did not have a status equal with men.
When there is such a view about women, naturally there are differences in behaviors and laws regarding women and how their needs were met.
One of the things that was seen in the Jahiliya society was killing new born girls by burying them alive, which was not common but was seen in a number of tribes.
It happened due to tribal prejudices and beliefs and fears that girls may be taken prisoner, etc. There were some people who would buy these girls (whose parents wanted to kill them) and raised them. So burying girls alive was not a practice that existed in all tribes.
Violence against women in the Jahiliya society was manifested in cases such as forced marriages, lack of economic independence, lack of inheritance, physical punishment, men’s polygamy, and leaving one’s wife alone so that she neither was supported by her husband nor would be able to get married to someone else.
As for women’s presence in society, those living in desert areas had more freedoms that those living in urban areas.
Being a mother was source of pride and those who had many sons were called Umm al-Baneen (mother of many sons).
The era after Bi’that (appointment to prophethood) is one in which the way women were viewed changed. God revealed verses of the Quran in which the equal creation of men and women is emphasized. One of such verses is Verse 13 of Surah Al-Hujurat in which one can find many intricate lessons and points.
All of a sudden, how the society view women changes and woman becomes equal to man in status and value.
God reprimands some Arab groups that buried girls alive in such a way that the practice soon disappears. The law of inheritance changes and women can inherit.
The law of inheritance changed and women could inherit from then on.
All of these are in accordance with the verses of the Quran and women achieve a legal status that can have certain behaviors.
Part of the way the Holy Prophet (PBUH) confronted the Jahiliya was reforming the beliefs and behaviors and part of it was destroying them from the base.
As an example, in the first one, restrictions are set about polygamy and in the second one, an end is put to idolatry, polytheism and burying girls alive.
