EVE & Original Sin

Woman in Islam & Arabic Cultures

Dr Muntasir Al-Hamad
ANNS Qatar University
Dec 2014

This presentation is a part of a Seminar Series for the

Australian National University students visiting Qatar
University (Dec 2014 Jan 2015).
This presentation is based on a teaching resource for
Oriental Cultures and Communication and Oriental
Cultures, Language and Media Courses at
Manchester Metropolitan University (2009-2012).

EVE & Original Sin

1.
2.
3.

4.
5.

Crashed my Ferarri
Women Pre-Islam
Arab Monotheistic Prophets
Islam: A New Religion?
A Glimpse into Womans Rights

Is

a good car?

Whose fault is it?

Oooops!!!

I love purple

Is

rubbish?!

Or, is it the drivers fault?

Have a nice ride

manliness or masculinity

1.
2.

1.
2.

Arabs praised a women with unique manly

characteristics as:
Shes manly.
Sister of men.
Arabs also praised and with unique feminine
characteristics as:
Full of femininity.
Other attributes normally attached to a female.

Arab Women in the

Pre-Islamic Period (paganism)

Socially accepted practice of female infanticide.

Does not inherit.
Got inherited like an object if has no children, a little better than cattle.
Captured or stolen into slavery.
Common practice of prostitution and unlimited polygamy.
When the Pre-Islamic Arabs went to battle, Arab women seeing the
men off to war would bare their breasts to encourage them to fight;
or they would do so at the battle itself this was changed in Islam
(Glass, C 2002:468)
High-class women were treated with respect and were given social,
political and economical rights (e.g. Nabataean queens, Poets,
Business women etc).

Islam: New Religion (ideology,

system and culture) in Arabia

Say thou: verily my prayer and my rites and my

living and my dying are all for Allah, Lord of the
worlds. (Quran 6:162)

These two words (halal: permitted and haram:

prohibited) are actually universal terms that refer to
all aspects of life. (Standke, C. 2008: 5)

Glimpse into Womans Rights

in the Arab / Muslim Cultures
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Religious Rights
Economic Rights
Social Rights
Marital Rights
Sexual Rights
Public Involvement Rights
Language Usage

1.

a.

Religious Rights

It is not HER mistake

Eating from the forbidden tree

was because of the devils
deception - both Adam and
Eve are equally
responsible.
They were punished, then they
repented and had their
mistake forgiven.
Muslims refer to Eve as Our
Mum as a sign of respect.

1.

Religious Rights

b. Responsibility

& Accountability

Men and women have the same

spiritual nature "Every soul will be
(held) in pledge for its deeds"
(Quran 74:38).
Quran always addresses men and
women together in the same
sentence unless subject is
specific to women or men.
Muslims believe a woman can assume
any religious position*, including
Prophethood (Gannushi, 2000).

2. Economic Rights

a.

Control over Earnings

The woman has the right to possess

personal property- buy, sell,
mortgage and lease without
anyones permission being
required.
"Whatever men earn, they have a share
of that and whatever women earn,
they have a share in that." (Quran
4:31) *

2. Economic Rights

b.

Inheritance

Half of the brothers share*

*If she inherited one of her first of kin and had a brother
or more, otherwise her share would increase
according to the family number of deceased.
*If the money was distributed during the life of a
person, s/he should distribute it equally between
her/ his children.
*In Britain, perhaps the first country to give women
some property rights, laws were passed in the
1860's known as "Married Women Property Act."
In Germany the wife was denied any control over
her property until 1922 by civil law!
*Reasons for why women were given less than men in
inheritance shares are discussed in slide
2.c.Dowry & Spending.

2. Economic Rights

c.

Dowry & Spending

Men must spend to support their family

while a wife has no support
obligations, she may spend her
money the way she likes.*
*A woman may pay alms or charity to her relative man, while man
should pay it as duty as it is obligatory to do so.

Also, men have to pay the dowry to

women in marriage.*
*The dowry should be reduced and made simple.
* In some Arabic cultures such as Egyptian society, both parties (husband
and wife) share costs of marriage. While others take it on their
own.(!)

2. Economic Rights

d.

Work & Investment

Women have the right to

seek employment and to
invest their money.
The Prophets wife was a
business women and a
sponsor of his campaign
to promote Islam

The 13 Most Powerful Muslim Women in Britain

http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/articl
e5918094.ece

Note # 4: Support them!

Arab/Muslim people think that Mother,
Wife, Sisters and Daughters:
Need support and protection by a male
member of her family, even after she
gets married.
In the absence of the welfare state the
fathers family plays the role of a
guardian and supporter.

3. Social Rights

a. Baby

GIRL!

Islam forbade infanticide, it is considered as

a crime of murder.
"And when the female (infant) buried alive - is
questioned, for what crime she was killed."
(Quran 81:8-9).

Islam criticised the pagan Arab parents

who reject their female children, instead it
encouraged people to accept them, cherish
them and educate them.
Prophet Mohammad said: Whosoever supports
two daughters till they mature, he will enter
paradise. (even one daughter, but this is the concession!).

* There is still favouritism of boys over girls in some Arab communities.

* Some couples would try many pregnancies till they have a baby boy.

3. Social Rights
b. Hijab

1 of 4

3. Social Rights
b. Hijab

2 of 4

3. Social Rights
b. Hijab

3 of 4

Meet French guerrilla artist Princess Hijab

http://www.religionnews.com/index.php?/rnsblog
/meet_french_guerrilla_artist_princess_hijab/

3. Social Rights
b. Hijab

4 of 4

Hijab: Freedom or Oppression?

Is chastity an internal or external thing, or both? How?
Should chastity and modesty principles be respected in todays life? Why?
Could there be a British or European style of hijab?
Is there any good in wearing a hijab? Why?
What is acceptable and what is extreme of Islamic headdresses?
What do you think of the ladies (in the photo above) entering the water with
their full dresses on?

3. Social Rights

c. Honour

Killing

Whats the Honour Killing?

Do you think that honour killing is an
Islamic or a cultural practice?
Is it legal in the Arab/ Muslim world to
practice this act?
Is a non-approved relationship wrong in
the first place?
Do two wrongs equal a right?
Can we read a cultural clash?
How could it be stopped?
How would you analyse the image on the
right (e.g. crescent, beard, sword,
colouring etc)?

Zawj represents equality and fairness

Partnership relation (Zawj), not husband

and wife!!!
Zawj in Arabic means Husband and it
means wife.
In Arabic later stages the feminine marker
(i.e. )was optionaly added to the wife.

4. Marital Rights

a. Choosing

a Husband

Forced Marriage vs Arranged Marriage

Her consent is a prerequisite to the validity of

the marital contract, according to the
Prophet's teachings.
Male guardians agreement to the marriage is
highly recommended, however, he should
not force nor obstruct the procedure. But to
facilitate and ensure validity of contract.
Husband will be responsible for the maintenance
expenses regardless of the wifes income,
unless she gives some or all of her
earnings willingly..

4. Marital Rights
b. Cross

Cultural & Cross

Religious Marriages!

Cross Cultural Marriage: it is socially

acceptable but not very common,
however, some societies avoid
relationship with other groups.

Cross Religious Marriage: it is only

permitted for Muslim men to get
married to a Christian or Jewish
woman. But, a Muslim woman must
not get married to a non Muslim
man.*

* To protect the Muslim womens right to practice Islam: a non-Muslim women has
the right to practice her religion by Islamic law, and the Muslim man
believes in the womans religious figure, i.e Jesus or Moses.
* To preserve the identity of the children as Muslims, assuming theyll follow the
fathers religion.

4. Martial Rights

c. Divorcea

beginning or an end?

Divorce is the last resort for some

relations.
Divorce is a legal and Islamic
option.
People treat it as a stigma
especially for women.
Increased in the Arab societies of
today.
There are financial rights for
woman.

Women can divorce as

well..!!!

4. Martial Rights

d. Polygyny

for Men 1 of 2

Reasons for polygyny (e.g. chronic

illness, no pregnancy).
2nd wife is normally not widely welcomed.
2nd wife have equal martial and financial
rights as the 1st wife and should not be
dealt with as a mistress.
Divorce of 2nd wife is common.
Common in certain Arabic cultures (e.g.
traditional Gulf communities, rich people
may do it in secret).
Islam and Arabic cultures doesnt accept
sex outside of marriage.
Most Arab and Muslim males stay with
only one female partner for the whole of
their lives.

4. Martial Rights

d. Polygyny

for Men 2 of 2

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has spoken unusually frank about his
romantic past, admitting to have slept with "no more than 30" women. (Telegraph 01
Apr 2008 : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1583465/Nick-Clegg-has-had-sex-with-no-more-than-30.html)

The British Sexual Fantasy Research Project data reveals that the
average British heterosexual male will have had actual sexual contact with
an average of 15.64 women during his lifetime. The typical British
heterosexual female will have will have had comparable sexual contact
with an average of 14.56 men during her lifetime. (The Times On line 04 Feb 2007:
http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/relationships/article1334618.ece)

Chastity & Modesty

No sex before/outside of marriage.

No pornography.
No prostitution.
No homosexuality
No exposure of marital sex to others
Marital sex is rewardable!!!

5. Sexual Rights
a.

Sex & Procreation

Sex can be for pleasure in Islam

and Arabic culture. Therefore,
contraception is legal.
Sex is a rewardable religious act.
WHY?
Procreation is one of the goals of
marriage.
Woman can divorce her husband if
he cant satisfy her in bed under
certain circumstances.

5. Sexual Rights
b.

Contraception &/vs Abortion

Birth Control is legitimate in Islam and

therefore in Arabic culture.
Wife has the right to get pregnant.
Abortion is illegal in all Arab cultures
unless the pregnancy harms the mother,
then it becomes a must.
Deliberate illegitimate abortion after 3
months of pregnancy requires paying
blood money.

6. Public Involvement Rights

a.

Politics

Arab World declined under the

Ottoman Empires rule for more
than 300 years.
Modern wave of Western colonial
occupation.
The Westernisation of the Arabic
life and culture, new imperialism.
Post-Colonial era or contemporary
politics of the Middle-East.
Rise of the Woman groups as well
as Islamic movement.
Legislations and quotas to involve
women in the political life of today.

6. Public Involvement Rights

b.

Scholarship & Education

Prophet made it compulsory upon all

males and females to seek knowledge
and education.
"Seeking knowledge is mandatory for
every Muslim Sayings of Prophet Mohammad

The Golden Era of Islam 700-1700A.D

witnessed a lot of talented Arab
women involved in all sort of
scholarship activities.
http://muslimheritage.com/topics/default.cfm?ArticleID=1204

Women are supported in Arabic/

Muslim culture to learn - normally
financed by the family.

6. Public Involvement Rights

c.

Right to Education

7. Use of the Language

Although Allah in Islam is not a male nor a female, but Allah chose
HE, this should not be interpreted as favouritism as the Quran in many
places favours people according to their merits and achievements.
Women in Arabic Grammar:
Feminising verb (inflection depends on number and gender)
Nouns (markers for female, with an exception of attribute specific for
women)
Pronouns (specific for females)
In ancient Arabic culture girls and slaves used to be selected as soft
and pleasant to the ear because they stay in the house, while boys
were named with harsh names so it would scare the enemies.
The word Marah (Women) is distinguished from the word rajul (Man).
Alf Layla wa Layla: Thousand and One Nights has been a long
lasting stereotype that haunted the perception of Arab societies at
large, specifically Arab women, a recent educational project about the
contribution of Muslims to the world in 1001 Inventions
www.10001inventions.com
Calls for wars used to be made after a female relative.
Proverbs are so common to address different situations which may
include a woman as a wife, mum, lover, friend and rarely as a sister or
a daughter.. These proverbs vary in their hostility or loyalty to woman.

Thank you .