What was the status of women in Arabic Society before the birth of Muhammad?

Question

and how did the advent of Islam change the role of women?

Help me!!! i need to figuret this out for school!

and if you can give me the website you used!
thanx!

Answer 1

The interdependency of men and women is recognized in Islam. This is because of the importance of women as a preserver of human species. However, a thorough examination of Qur'an, ahadith and the Islamic Sharia clearly demonstrates the heavy bias of Allah towards men.

Why men are considered superior? It is because of their physical strength, financial ability to pay dower and to spend on women. The Qur'an is very clear about the superiority of men over women.

"Prior to the emergence of Islam, the Arab Peninsula was dominated by values such as the existence of slaves, the low-status given to women and the worship of statues. For instance, women were regarded as property to be inherited after death and baby girls, especially in the low-class society, were soon doomed to death after their birth for fear of disgrace.

And because Islam, the new religion, mainly criticizes such values and calls for a reconsideration of the habits and traditions adopted by people, it seems normal that people living at the time of Mohamed would revolt against the new religion. And it was against this background that Mohamed started to call for the new religion, a matter which took place over several stages".

It seems the status of women were worse before, according to this paper that I think would be relevant to read:

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/courses/mjiyad/forum/messages/27.shtml

On the other hand, this is another opinion:

"Marriage and the Family in Pre-Islamic Arabia. Women might have enjoyed more freedom than in the Byzantine and Sasanian empires. They had key economic roles in clan life. Descent was traced through the female line, and males paid a bride-price to the wife’s family. Women did not wear veils and were not secluded. Both sexes had multiple marriage partners. Still, males, who carried on the honored warrior tradition, remained superior. Traditional practices of property control, inheritance, and divorce favored men. Women did drudge labor. Female status was even more restricted in urban centers."

http://wps.ablongman.com/long_stearns_wcap_4/0,8810,1189691-,00.html

Of what I have read it seems that Mohammed tried to improve the lives of women, but through times the doctrines were altered.

From the material I have I would pay attention perhaps to the second source. It is a good debate so many different opinions, include the different ways of thinking, this always makes a very interesting academic debate

Answer 2

In pre Islamic Arabia the women were treated like dogs. They danced naked in the streets of Makkah and baby girls were buried alive. The women that did escape death were passed around like chattel by their sons to other men after the husband or father died. The Qib'la was defiled by the pagans and their false Gods. Thankfully Muhammad(PBUH*) restored the Qib'la to it's rightful state after he conquered Makkah. Women didn't have the right to inheritance or the right to vote. They couldn't participate in politics. They were forced into arranged marriages to much older men at birth by their fathers and the mothers didn't have a say in what happened to their daughters. Women couldn't get a divorce. The hair and face are the beauty of women so they should be protected from lustful thoughts and looks by men and from themselves. And the Muslim women and girls are respecting and obeying ALLAH's LAWS when they cover everything except the eyes.

Answer 3

You really should go further than that. Women's role before Judaism was a great one. In fact, society was matriarchal and materilienal. For instance, Judaism was responsible for the stoning of women (even if she was raped) - not Islam, as many would have you believe.

A great book for you to read is "When God Was a Woman" by Merline Stone. She's an archeologist and a sculptor who provides valuable evidence for her theories.

Basically, with the coming of Judaism, women became second class citizens. Before that people in the area were praying to female deities, such as Ishtar/Astarte....Isis... etc. Women had business and were priestesses.

Many people in the area started killing their daughters - infanticide since Judaism because of the new status Judaism gave to women (or lack of). Female circumcision was also practiced. Some of the positive changes with Muhammad were laws such as a man could have up to four wives - so they no longer killed their female infants. Also, he was against female circumcision....

If I can think of some more, I'll add... also e-mail me if you want... I used to teach English and took my share of GWS classes.

Answer 4

It kind of offends me to see these types of questions about how muslim women are opressed because it is not true. That is a stereotype and should be completly seperated from the religion itself. According to the Qur'an it is the choice of the woman whether she clothes herself from head to toe. It's un-educated muslims who misinterpret this. My brother-in-law is a muslim and is married to my sister. It was her choice whether she wanted to wear that headdress or not, and she chose not to. Another thing to keep in mind, Iraq and Afghanistan is where you here all these abusing and opressing stories, they have been in war for 40 years with America. There home country has been fighting off America for god knows how long. 100 years ago Afghanistan was the most advanced country in the world, and that is a fact. It WAS beautiful, until America realised there was oil under their country. The role of women in Muslim countries has completly been blown out of preportion as a result of civil strife, think about it.

Answer 5

During the process of the birth of religions, they commonly borrow from past religion and normal secular culture, then sanctify it and wrap it in theology.
Women have indeed had better times outside of organised monotheistic religions, but it generally falls back eventually.

Answer 6

Well he promoted women's right. But then again, he was one man...and look at the Muslims...they have 4 wives, but won't give any of em rights. Gosh!!

Answer 7

They adored a rock... and not a big one, or a whole kind of it, but a 3 pound black rock.

Answer 8

It is exactly the same as is found today:

Women had much privilege and little responsibility.