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Prior to the commission of Allah's Messenger Mohmmad ibn Abdullah (PBUH) as a Prophet and Messenger, women suffered great injustice, unfair treatment and were exposed to humiliation of all kinds. Women were not entitled to inherit from their parents, husband or other relatives because Arabs believed inheritance should only be granted to those who could ride a horse, fight, gain war booties and help protect the tribe and territory. In fact, more humiliation was even applied to women, in that she herself could be Women were treated like material items of this world. If a woman's deceased husband had adult sons from other marriages, the oldest son amongst them had the right to add the wife of his deceased father to his household, exactly as such a son inherits the wealth of his deceased father. This widow, the wife of the deceased, was unable to leave the house of her stepson unless she paid a ransom for her life and liberation.
Women, also were forbidden to remarry if a husband divorced them. Women had no right then to choose, or even consent, to their marriage. Man, on the other hand, had the freedom to acquire as many wives as so desired, with no set limit. Moreover, there was no justice system that may forbid a man from practicing anything unjust or unfair to his wives.
Arabs, during the pre-Islamic era, never liked or welcomed the birth of a female baby into their family. They hated such a birth, and considered it an evil and bad omen. A father who received the news of the birth of a female baby was usually extremely sad, disappointed and depressed. Allah the Almighty, described the father's situation when receiving the news about the birth of a daughter in the family in the pre-Islamic era:
When the news of (the birth of) a female (baby) is brought to any of them, his face becomes dark, and he is filled with inward grief! He hides himself from the people because of the evil of that whereof he has been informed. Shall he keep her with dishonor or bury her in the Earth? Certainly, evil is thdecision (7)
Women even were not able to practice some natural rights, such as eating certain types of foods for instance. Some specific types of food were allowed only for males. Allah the Almighty, stated in the Glorious Quran 6:139:
And they say: 'What is in the bellies of such cattle (milk or fetus) is for the male alone, and forbidden from our females (girls and women), however, if it was born dead, then all have shares therein
In fact, the hatred of female baby girls reached the extent of burying them alive at a very early age. Some Arab tribes were well known for burying their newborn girls alive at a very early age. The reasons for burial of young females alive varied, however, according to the social status of the family. Some families, or ratherthe head of the family, the fathe, buried their daughters at a very early age fearing a shame that girls may bring to the family (if they are indulged in any shameful practices, i.e. adultery or fornication or even prostitution). Allah the Almighty, stated in the Glorious Quran 81:8-9 with reference to the Day of Judgment:
And when the female (infant) buried alive [as the pagan Arabs used to do] shall be questioned; for what sin she was killed?
Other fathers used to bury alive their female child at a very early age if the child was leprous, lame or had any other major handicap or birth defect. Those were the poor Arab pagans. Allah the Almighty, stated in the Glorious Quran 17:31,
And kill not your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and you. Surely, the killing of them is a great sin
The only thing women could be proud of during the pre-Islamic era was the protection of the man and his revenge against others who humiliate or dishonor her in an attempt to maintain her dignity and honor in the tribe.
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Women were treated as maids or slave-girls in the Indian society. Women had no will or desire of their own. (8) They followed their husbands fully with no questions asked. Women were easily lost in a gambling game played by the husband. (9) They were never allowed to remarry after the death of their husbands. In fact, women were not even entitled to live after the death of their husbands as both usually were burned in the same funeral pyre. (10) The widow had to be buried on the same day of the death of her husband. (11)
This practice lasted until the end of the 17th century when this custom was outlawed in spite of the dismay caused to the Hindu religious leaders. In fact, in certain areas of India, women were brought as a sacrifice to the Hindu gods in order to please them or to seek the fall of rain from heaven. Some Hindu laws declare that;
The predestined patience, the blowing wind or tornadoes, death, hellfire, poison, snakes and fire are no less worse than women (the female) (12)
It is also stated in Hindu religious books, (13) 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 attitude, behavior and conduct." (14) In the teachings of Manna Herma Sistra (15)concerning women, one can read:
A woman may live without any 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 actually own, or possess anything, as whatever she may gain or acquire shall go straight and immediately to the ownership of her husband(16)
In fact, in some, maybe rare cases a woman may have several husbands at the same time. (17)This made her look like a prostitute in the society.
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Women in the Chinese society occupied a very low place. She used to be assigned the most despised and least important jobs and positions. The male child, however, was treated and looked upon as a "gift" from God. As for the female child, nobody cared for her, but rather they would be pleased to see her die. A Chinese proverb says: "Listen to your wife, but never believe what she says." (18)Therefore, we notice that the status of women in the Chinese society was not much better than that of the pagan Arab pre-Islamic society.
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The woman in the Roman society was looked upon as a minor who could not run her own affairs. Men directed all of women's affairs. All authorities were in the hands of men. Men enjoyed full rights over their family's affairs. Men had the authority to sentence their wives to death in certain cases in which a woman was accused with certain crimes.(19) Similarly, men, as fathers, had the authority to run their daughters-in-law's affairs (the wives of their sons and grandsons). The authority of man over woman in the Roman society included, but not limited to the following: Selling the woman, torturing her, sending her into exile or killing her. The woman in the Roman society had to listen, obey and execute fully what the man says or judges. Women were deprived of the right of inheritance. In the meanwhile, the heir of the deceased father was his eldest son. In fact, Roman society permitted the man to add to the family members any person who might not belong to that specific family. Similarly, men had the right to kick out or sell any member of the family. (20)
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Women in the Greek society did not enjoy any better status. (21)Women were deprived of the right to education. In fact, women were very discerned in the Greek society to the extent that man claimed that "Women are nothing but all evil." (22)There was no system to protect women in this society. Women were sold and bought like any other commodity. Women were deprived of the right of inheritance as well. Moreover, women in this society were considered minors who had no right to make any transaction with their own wealth. Women, throughout their lives, were subjected to the will of men. Women had no right to seek divorce. Divorce was an absolute right of man that led some Greek thinkers to say, "Women's name must be locked up in the house, as it is the case with her body." (23)
Women in the Greek society therefore were in the lowest position.
Gustave Le Bond, the French thinker, stated in his book Arab Civilization (24)
"Greeks, in general, considered women as the lowest creatures of the low. They were useful for nothing other than reproduction and taking care of the household affairs. If a woman gave birth to an 'ugly, retarded or handicapped' child, the man could take the liberty to kill the (unwanted or undesirable) child."
Demosthenes, the well-known Greek speaker and thinker even said:
We, Greek men, enjoyed the company of prostitutes for sexual pleasure, 'girl-friends', sweet-hearts, to care for our daily needs and we marry to get 'legitimate' children (25)
So, we can see what fortune women had in such a society based on the statement issued by one of their best and well-known thinkers!
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