A page from Arabic manuscript back to the 12th century where a man playing the oud among women.Before Islam, women in the Arabian Peninsula followed the cultural bonds of the tribe. Each tribe had its own laws regarding women. Some were emancipated even in comparison with many of today's standards; others,however, lived in very chauvinistic societies.They were denied their rights to act freely.They were perceived as essentially inferior to men. Correspondingly, they were controlled by male characters within their families. They were under the authority of the father, brother and husband[2]. In some instances, women were chattels and men often buried their newly-born daughters alive.[3] A woman had no share in inheritance because she was regarded as unwise and uncapable of effectively managing her inherited property.
Arab women after Islam
Islam was introduced in the Arabian peninsula in the seventh century. According to the Qur'anic decrees,both men and women have the same duties and responsibilities in their worship of God. As the Qur'an states: "I will not suffer to be lost the work of any of you whether male or female. You proceed one from another".(Qur'an 2:195)
The Qur'an rejected the traditional and cultural practice of killing unwanted female children soon after birth. As it appears in (Qur'an 16:58-59),the religious message states: "With shame does he hide himself from his people because of the bad news he had! (the new-born is a female rather than male) Shall he retain her on and contempt, or bury her in the dust? Ah! What an evil (decision to bury his daughter alive) they decide on?"
Islam is the only religion which gave equal rights centuries ego. When evil practices are spreads.
RE:What wikipedia say
by Secular Indian on Mar 16, 2007 03:10 AM Permalink
How can you then explain MuhamMAD marrying a 6 year old girl when he was 53. Later he married his (ex) daughter-in-law. Here are some more points to ponder:
It is tragic to read news reports of old men marrying children in some Islamic countries, because they seek to follow the example of Muhammad who married a child. Muhammad had such an interest in fondling young girls, he criticized even the lawful marriage union of two grown adults.
Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah: When I got married, Allah's Apostle said to me, "What type of lady have you married?" I replied, "I have married a matron' He said, "Why, don't you have a liking for the virgins and for fondling them?" Jabir also said: Allah's Apostle said, "Why didn't you marry a young girl so that you might play with her and she with you?' Sahih Al-Bukhari Volume 7, Book 62, Number 17.
In the classic history of "The Life of Muhammad" (Sirat Rasul Allah) by Ibn Ishaq, there is an account in which Muhammad expressed a marital interest in a crawling baby. This event seems to have occurred around the time of the Battle of of Badr which would have made Muhammad approximately 55 years old. He had married Ayesha two years earlier, when he was 53 years of age.
(Suhayli, ii. 79: In the riwaya of Yunus I. I. recorded that the apostle saw her (Ummu'lFadl) when she was a baby crawling before him and said, 'If she grows up and I am still alive I will marry her.' But he died before she grew up and Sufyan b. al-Aswad b. 'Abdu'l-Asad al-Makhzumi married her and she bore him Rizq and Lubab...1
So, Muhammad's interest in young girls extended beyond Ai'sha ('Ayesha). Why would anyone think that Muhammad's sexual interest in babies be "the timeless expression of the Will of Allah?"
