Hello,
I have recently started Islamiat preparation and while reading "Introduction of Islam" by Dr. Hamidullah, I came across a paragraph where the Dr. is trying to give us a glimpse of women status in Pre-Islam Arabic society. According to him and I quote,
"Women were generally well treated, the enjoyed privilege of possessing property in their own right, they give their consent to marriage contracts, in which they even add the condition of reserving their right to divorce their husbands. They could remarry when widowed or divorced. Burying girls alive did exist in certain classes but was rare."

This is in conflict with another book I read and this one was from Reza Aslan called "No god but God". In this book the author presented a picture of a Pre-Islam Arab society where women were treated as a possession, devoid of property ownership and were not enjoying the privileges as doctor sahab has been presenting.

This confuses me. Is there anyone who can shed light over this issue and clear it up a bit.

Thanks in advance

thanks Hina for your reply.

I have the ebook version of Dr Hamidullah book. So its page 11/119. Chapter is "The Prophet of Islam-his biography" and the quoted lines are from 2nd paragraph of headline number 9 Society.

I know that history always has many discrepancies but these two went completely opposite to each other. I tend to give Reza more attention but Dr. Hamidullah was suggested by FPSC. that bothers me.

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Thank you Ayesha.
I am sorry I dont know why I wrote Hina. My apologies.

__________________
...Planet Earth is blue
And there's nothing I can do.

Dear Zainab,

historiography has been sometimes regarded as a class of literature, for the very reason that much of 'filling up of the gaps' requires reflection as well as creativity. Both writers might have a few accounts documenting the status of women. Now, let's suppose these accounts tend to show a bad image of the status of women in pre-Islam Arabia. One writer might deduce that women struggled in pre-Islam Arabia. The other historian, like Dr HamidUllah might argue by studying the same accounts that these incidents made their way and survived in the books of history as these were exceptions rather than the norms and such monstrosities had to be recorded. What however emerges most strongly no matter what approach you follow is that the status of women in pre-Islam Arabia was not as great as in the Islamic era...

Hope that answers part of your query!

yes that clears it up a bit. I have yet to start reading recommended book regarding Islam and women so may be that would further shed some light. Thanks for stopping by and replying Appreciated.

__________________
...Planet Earth is blue
And there's nothing I can do.

there is conflict

Yes, there is and not only in women area but over all generally. There is a over all tone of misogyny that bothers me as well but oh well, I have been told to be ultra conservative and not liberal in paper. It is also interesting to note that most of the authors that debate women should stay in homes and focus on family and not go outside, have books in CSS recommended books section even though FPSC says they encourage women to participate. lol.

__________________
...Planet Earth is blue
And there's nothing I can do.