Women In Indian Society

In Indian society women were treated generally as maids or slaves as
if they had no will or desire of their own. They had to follow their
husbands in all matters. Women were given as payment for loss to a
gambling opponent. To show devotion, they were forced to burn
themselves alive by jumping ontothe funeral pyre of their husbands
after their death. This practice, called "sutti" continued until the
end of the 17th century when this custom was outlawed in spite of the
dismay it caused the Hindu religious leaders. Although outlawed
formally, "sutti" was widely practiced until the end of 19th century
and still continues in some of the remote areas of India.
In certain regions of India, women are offered to the priests as
concubines, or as prostitutes to be exploited. In others, they were
sacrificed to the Hindu godsto please them or seek rain. Some Hindu
laws even declare that: "The predestined patience, the blowing wind or
tornadoes, death, hellfire, poison, snakes and fire are no less evil
than women". It is also stated in Hindu religious books, that"When
Manna [the Hindu god of creation] created women he imposed onto them
the love of bed, seats, decoration [make-up],filthy lust (of all types
and kinds), anger, rebellion against honor and dignity and evil
attitudes, behavior and conduct".
In the teachings of Manna Herma Sistra concerning women, one can read:
"A woman may live without a choice regardless of whether she is a
little girl, a young lady or a mature woman. A young girl is under the
command and choice of her father. A married woman is under the command
and choice of her husband. A widow is under the command and choice of
her male children, and she may never become independent (after the
death of her husband). A widow may never remarry after the death of
her husband, but rather, she must neglect all that she likes in terms
of food, clothes, and makeup until she dies. A woman may not own or
possess anything, as whatever she may gain or acquire shall go
straight and immediately to the ownership of her husband".
Refer to 'Hindu Inter-caste Marriage in India", Chapter 3 [Forms of
Marriage] part 2 [Polyandry], by Haripada Chakraborti.
In some rare cases, a woman hadseveral husbands at the same time. (1)
No doubt this made her as a prostitute in society.
1. Refer to 'Hindu Inter-caste Marriage in India, & Chapter 3 [Forms
of Marriage] part 2 [Polyandry], by Haripada Chakraborti. - -
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Women in the Pre-Islamic Societies and Civilizations

Women suffered great injustices in the pagan Arab society and were
exposed to diverse kinds of humiliation prior to the mission of the
Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon Him). They were treated like
material property to be disposed of at the whim of the male guardian.
They were not entitled to inherit from their parents or husbands.
Arabs believed inheritance should only be granted to those who had
martial abilities, like being able to ride a horse, fight, gain war
booties and help protect the tribe and clan territory.
Since women in the pagan Arab society did not generally have these
qualities, they were themselves inherited like any moveable commodity
after the death of an indebted husband. If the deceased husband had
adult sons from other marriages, the oldest son amongst them had the
right to add her to his household, just as a son inherits other
chattels of his deceased father. She was unable to leave the house of
her stepson unless she paid a ransom. As a general practice, men had
the freedom toacquire as many wives as they desired with no set
limits. There was no system of law and justice that would forbid a man
from committing any injustice towardshis wives. Women had no right
tochoose, or even consent to being chosen as a partner for
marriage;they were simply given away. Women were forbidden to remarry
if a husband divorced them.
In the pre-Islamic era of Arabia, fathers commonly became extremely
angry and disgraced with the birth of a female child into their
family. Some considered it an evil omen. Allah, the Exalted, describes
the father'sreception of the news about the birth of a daughter:
(When the news of (the birth of) a female is brought to any of them,
his face becomes dark, andhe is filled with inward grief! He hides
himself from the people because of the evil (and shame) of that which
he has been informed. Shall he keep her with dishonor, or bury her in
the dirt? Certainly, evil is their decision...)
[16:59]
Women were not even able to practice some of the most natural of
rights. For instance eating certain types of foods was allowed only
for males. Allah, the Exalted, records this in the Glorious Qur'an:
(And they say: What is in the bellies of such cattle (whether milk or
fetus) is for the male alone, and forbidden from our females, however,
if it was born dead, then all have shares therein...)
[6:139]
The hatred of female babies prompted Arabs to bury them alive. Allah,
the Exalted, states in the Glorious Qur'an with reference to the Day
of Requital:
(And when the female buried alive shall be questioned: for what sin
was she killed?)
[81:8-9]
Some fathers used to bury their female children alive if the child was
leprous, lame or with birth defect. Allah (The Almighty) states in the
Glorious Qur'an:
(And kill not your children for fearof poverty. We provide for them
and you. Surely, the killing of them is a great sin.)
[17:31]
The one honor afforded to women during the pre-Islamic era was the
protection of her person, family and tribe, and the revenge against
any who humiliated or dishonored her, but even this was more for male
pride, dignity and tribal honor than a concern for the female gender.
This situation of women in the Arab society led Umar ibn al-Khattab,
the second Caliph of the Muslims (may Allah exalt theirmention) to
say, as reported by Muslim:
"By Allah, we didn't use to think that women had anything until Allah
revealed about them what He revealed in the Qur'an, and distributed to
them what He distributed..."
[Bukhari #4629 & Muslim #31]

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Fathwa, - • Marriage and Engagement • Women Dancing At Weddings

Question:
What is the ruling of women dancing amongst themselves during a
wedding or other than that? May Allaah reward you.
Answer:
There is no harm in the dancing of women on the ocassion of
marriageand the beating of the duff (a simple drum) along with some
singingof virtuous songs (not containing sinful speech) - because this
is from the announcement of the marriage that has been commanded by
thesharee'ah - However with the condition that this is done in the
company of women only, with voices that are not raised so that they
pass outside of the venue, and with the condition that there is
complete seclusion and screening. Also that the awrah (the areas of
the body that should be concealed) are not revealed whilst dancing,
such as her legs, or her arms or her upper arms -and that which is
shown from these is in accordance with the customs/habits of the
Muslim women in the presense of (other) women. - - ▓███▓
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Fathwa, - • Marriage and Engagement • Who will be the Guardian for the Marriage of the Orphan Girl?

Question:
To His Eminence, the Shaikh : Who will take charge of contracting the
marriage of a girl whose father has died, in order of preference? may
Allaah reward you.
Answer:
If she has no guardian, then her grandfather - her father's father -
if heis alive. If she has no grandfather, then her full brothers - the
sons ofher father and mother, then her brother from her father's side,
then her full brother's son, then the son of her brother from her
father's side, then the full paternal uncle, then the paternal uncle
from the father's side and so on. However if her father is present, he
has preference. - - ▓███▓ Translator:->
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