The state of women and family in the Jahiliyyah period

Civilization has come a long way. From the age of ignorance we have entered the modern age. We are trying to be humane by avoiding inhumanity. With the touch of technology, we have removed the darkness of the night and lit the torch of light. The question is, how far have we really come? How far has our society progressed? Take a look at modern society. Then take a look at the picture of a little ignorant society. One of the purest of the Sirat books, R-Rahikul Makhtum, paints a picture of the ignorant society (Jahiliyyah): 

what status did women have in pre-islamic arab society

The Arab people lived in different classes. The condition of each class was different than that of the other class. The relationship between men and women in the elite class was quite advanced. This class of women had a lot of freedom. Their words were valued. They were so respected and protected that when they went out on the road, swords were drawn for their safety. If necessary, there would be bleeding. When someone praised himself for his generosity and heroism, he usually addressed women. If the women wished, they would start a war and bloodshed among them. Despite all this, men were considered the head of the family and their words were taken seriously. In this class the relationship between men and women was determined by marriage and the marriage was consummated by the guardians of the women. Women had no right to marry without a guardian.

The condition of the elite was like this but on the other hand the condition of other classes was different. The relationship between men and women in those classes is nothing but wickedness, shamelessness, arrogance, obscenity and adultery. Ayesha (RA) said, ‘There were four types of marriage in the age of ignorance. The first was similar to the present. For example, they used to send messages to each other for the marriage of their daughter. After the message was granted, the marriage was consummated by the collection of mohrana.

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The second was taking children from others despite having one's own husband. After a married woman is cleansed from menstruation, her husband would tell her to send a message to such a person and commit adultery with him. At that time the husband remained away from his wife. He could not go to his wife. The husband would not go to the wife until the man who was committing adultery found evidence of a child in her womb. After the onset of pregnancy, the husband would go to his wife if he wished. There was reason to do so so that the child could be beautiful, elegant and full. Such a marriage is called 'Estebada' marriage. This marriage is also common in India.

Third, less than 10 people would commit adultery with a woman in one place. When a woman became pregnant, she would call all the men. There was no way anyone was missing at the time. When everyone was present, the woman would say, "You know what you have done. Now this child has been born in my womb." hey you, this child is yours. Then she would name anyone she wanted. The newborn baby would be accepted by the guy who was chosen by the women.

Fourth, many people would go to a woman together. The woman would not turn away any willing man. These were prostitutes. They used to place a flag in front of their house. As a result, they could be approached without any hindrance. When such a woman became pregnant and gave birth to a child, all those who met her would show up. Then an expert would be called. The expert would, in his opinion, name the child after someone from them. Later that child would grow up to be the child of the declared person. That person could not deny the child. After the arrival of the Prophet (peace be upon him), Allah abolished all types of marriage in the ignorant society and introduced the current Islamic marriage system. '(Sahih Bukhari, Kitabun Nikah, Volume 2, p. 69)

There was nothing wrong with having more than one wife in the pre-Islamic era. Many also kept two siblings at home at the same time as wives. Son would marry his stepmother after father's death. The right to divorce was the prerogative of men only. No number of divorces was fixed. (See Abu Dawood, Tafsir Books, At Talaq Marratan)

Adultery was prevalent in all walks of life. No class of men and women was free from the ugliness and filth of adultery. Of course, there were some men and women who refrained from this filth because of their egoistic superiority. The condition of independent women was comparatively better than that of maids. The condition of the maids was the worst. Most men in the pre-Islamic era did not feel guilty or ashamed of associating with maids. It is mentioned in the Sunan Abu Dawood, once a man stood up and said, Oh Messenger of Allah, such and such is my son. In the age of ignorance, I met his mother. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, there is no scope for such a claim in Islam. The child is now in the possession of the person whose wife or husband the woman is known for, and for adultery there is the death penalty of stoning. The quarrel between Hazrat Saad bin Abi Waqqas and Abd bin Jamir over Abdur Rahman bin Jamir, the son of Jamir's maid, is well known. (Sahih Bukhari, Vol. II, pp. 999, 1075) In the pre-Islamic era, the father-son relationship was also different. There were some people who said, our children are a piece of our heart. On the other hand, there were some who buried their children alive for fear of humiliation and poverty. They used to kill children in their childhood.