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The Dark Ages
of Pre-Islamic Women’s Fate
The topic of
discussion about women since ancient times is still being discussed. The main
thing is about relations (relationships) between men and women, equal rights in
various fields (economic, political, social, cultural, and so on).
The fate of
women before the advent of Islam, was like an object that was free to be
treated by men. And his position became a second class group. Women’s job is
only to serve men and must be ready whenever needed. This condition is of
course very worrying. In fact, the impression of misogynist (hatred of women)
was so thick that it colored human life in the jahiliyah era.
As stated by
Caliph Umar Ibn Khattab RA. Before he embraced Islam, the birth of a daughter
in a family was like a ‘disgrace’ for the family. Especially if they have a
respectable position in the community. Therefore, in order to cover up her
disgrace, the newly born daughter had to be killed.
If saved (not
killed), girls in pre-Islamic times were only to satisfy men. He is obliged to
serve the will of men, even his father. And girls are not allowed to work
outside the home. They are enough to cook in the kitchen, serve the husband
(male) at night and do the laundry. It is not surprising that later there was
an adage that a woman’s job was only in the kitchen, in the well and on the
bed.
In ancient
Greece, the dignity of women was very low. Women are only seen as a means of
successor generation and a kind of housemaid as well as releasing men’s sexual
desires. The philosopher Demosthenes argued that wives only functioned to give
birth to children, Aristotle considered women to be equal to slaves. Another
philosopher, Plato considered, the honor of a man in his ability to rule, while
the ‘honor’ of women according to him is in his ability to do simple and
despicable jobs while being silent without speaking.
The same
situation occurs in Europe. In 586 AD (before the arrival of Islam), religious
leaders in France were still discussing whether women should worship God or
not. Can they also go to heaven? The discussions ended with the conclusion:
women have souls, but they are not eternal and she is tasked with serving men
who are freely trafficked.
Throughout
pre-Islamic times, the position of women never changed, their main task was
only to be ‘servants’ of men. According to the caretaker of the Aziziyah
Islamic Boarding School, Denanyar, Jombang, KH Aziz Mayshuri explained, there
are at least four stages of women, namely women as children, as wives, mothers
and members of society who in pre-Islamic times were treated arbitrarily.
In the first
phase of being a child. In the era of Jahiliyyah (ignorance), parents who had
daughters would bury them alive. ”Girls born at that time were considered a
disgrace to their families. Because, girls are considered useless and when they
grow up, they are only used as lust to satisfy men,” he said.
Because of that,
they were then killed. Before converting to Islam, the caliph Umar Ibn Khattab
RA also did the same thing and buried his daughter alive.”When one of them is
informed with the (birth of) a daughter, his face becomes black (red) and he is
very angry. Then he hid from the crowd, because of the bad news he received.
Will he nurture him with (bear) disgrace or will he bury him in the ground
(alive)? Remember, how bad (decision) they set.” (Surah an-Nahl [16]: 58-59)
This is
different with boys. They make sons as potential leaders who give honor to
family members. Therefore, the Arab community in this jahiliyyah era, was so
proud to have a son.
The second
phase, when the daughter becomes the wife. In this era of ignorance, women can
be inherited either voluntarily or forced. ”A husband who is not happy with
his wife can give his wife to someone else, whether she wants it or not. And if
her husband wants to remarry, then his wife is accused of cheating,” said
Aziz.
As is known,
according to the Arab Adat of Jahiliyah, a guardian (male) has full power over
the women who are under his care and the assets he owns. If the woman is
beautiful, then she will be married and her wealth will be taken, if she is
ugly, then her marriage to other men is prevented. The goal is that his
guardian can control all his property. This kind of thing is opposed by the
Qur’an as stated in Surah An-Nisaa’ verse 127).
The third phase,
when women become mothers. During the period of ignorance, a mother cannot get
an inheritance if her child dies. In Islam, if a child dies and he has an
inheritance, then his mother can inherit it according to the division that has
been determined by the Qur’an.
The fourth
phase, continued Aziz, is when women become members of society. In the
jahiliyah period, a woman had limited movement of steps. She is positioned only
to be the caretaker of her husband and is not allowed to do other things.
Because of this excessive discrimination, Islam as a religion that gives mercy
to the universe (rahmatanlil ‘alamin), opposes unfair treatment of women.
As the word of
Allah in the Qur’an Surah Al-Hujurat verse 11 which emphasizes, the glory of a
person is not measured by the amount of responsibility or rank and position,
but is measured by his devotion to Allah SWT. Likewise in Surah An-Nisaa ‘verse
124, whoever does good deeds, be it a woman or a man and believes in Allah SWT,
then indeed they will enter heaven and they will not be wronged in the least.
Inequality
between men and women is strongly condemned by Islam. For thousands of years,
women positioned as second-class beings
who served only their husbands. With the advent of Islam, all slavery and
murder of girls was abolished. This just view of Islam then ignited the spirit
of the movement to demand equal treatment between men and women.
The Degree of
Women in Islam
O all mankind
(male and female), We actually produced you from (lovebirds) a man and a woman
(Surah Alhujuraat verse 13). In this regard the Prophet Muhammad SAW said: the
Women are biological relatives of men. (HR Ahmad Abu Daud and at-Tirmidhi).
The Coordinator
of Da’wah for PP Fatayat NU, BadriyahFayumi, said that before Islam arrived
(the era of ignorance) the role of women was very low. After Islam arrived, it
was balanced (raised) in rank.
If Islam
stipulates that the rights and obligations for men and women are the same and
some are different, it does not question their role, but their use and duties,
he explained.
For the
teachings of Islam, basically Allah SWT produces humans, both male and female,
just for the purpose that they are able to devote themselves to serving Him.
The word of Allah SWT in the Qur’an, And, I do not make the jinn and humans but
let them worship Me (Surah Adz-Dzaariyat [51]: 56).
Islam is a
complete and perfect religion that was brought by the Prophet Muhammad to
control human life and life in order to get happiness and prosperity in this
world and in the hereafter. So, the roles, rights, and obligations of women are
the same and some are different from men.
DR
MashitohChusnan, Head of PP Aisyiah said that from the very beginning, Islam
did not discriminate between men or women. Both in terms of worship, work and
so on. Many verses of Koran that explain
this role. One of them is a holy verse of Qur’an which means: Actually I (Allah
swt) do not waste the deeds of those who do good among you, whether a man or a
woman (Surah Ali Imran [3] verse 195).
What makes the
difference, said the Chancellor of the University ofMuhammadiyah Jakarta (UMJ)
is the physical and psychological aspects. Physically, women are given the
advantage to give birth and breastfeed their children, an activity that men
cannot try. And psychologically, children are born and breastfed by women
(mothers), have intimacy with mothers (women). But the position that women try
is as significant as the position that men try. Islam does not suppress women’s
creativity and activities.
Chancellor of
the SyarifHidayatullah Islamic University Jakarta, Prof. Dr. HjNabilahLubis,
emphasized that Islam never differentiates between men and women. What rights
are given to men, whether in education, economy or otherwise, these rights are
also given to women.
Prof Nabilah
also denied accusations that Islam was ‘cruel’ towards women. ”The accusation
was expressed by those who do not understand the real Islam. The accusation is
clearly very unfair, because Islam really loves and protects women,” he said.
Nabilah then
gave an example of the hijab case, which some called an attempt to suppress
Muslim women. ”For Muslim women, the hijab really protects women. Because we
respect ourselves so that other people respect us,” he explained. Meanwhile,
the Muslim scholar DrMuslimin Abdurrahman said that there are two systems that
cause oppression of women, namely the patriarchal and capitalist systems.
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