Download DOC WOMEN IN MEDIEVAL ISLAM

WOMEN IN MEDIEVAL ISLAM
I.
RISE OF ISLAM
A.
INTRODUCTION
B.
MOHAMMED 570-632
1.
FOUNDER OF ISLAM
2.
AGE OF 25 MARRIED HIS EMPLOYER
a.
WEALTHY WIDOW KHADIJA
3.
IN HIS COMMERCIAL TRAVELS BECAME ACQUAINTED W/BOTH
CHRISTIANITY & JUDAISM
4.
BUT DID NOT BECOME ENTIRELY ABSORBED IN RELIGION UNTIL 40
YRS OLD
5.
OFTEN RETIRED TO CAVE FOR MEDITATION
6.
IN YEAR 610 HAD VISION
a.
ANGEL GABRIEL APPEARED TO HIM
7.
& INFORMED M HE WAS MESSENGER OF ALLAH
a.
ONE TRUE GOD
8.
M CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE SIMILAR VISIONS WITH RELIGIOUS
INSTRUCTIONS OVER TIME
9.
HE BECAME CONVINCED HE WAS PROPHET OF ALLAH
a.
HIS 1ST CONVERT WAS HIS WIFE
10. HOWEVER MOHAMMED'S IDEAS MET WITH GENERAL SKEPTICISM BY
POPULACE
11. THIS TURNED INTO ACTIVE PERSECUTION AFTER HE DENOUNCED
KAABA WORSHIP AS IDOLATRY
12. IN YEAR 622 HE FLED TO CITY OF MEDINA FOR SAFETY
13. THIS FLIGHT FROM MECCA TO MEDINA IS KNOW AS HEGIRA
14. YEAR 622 WHEN HE FLED LATER BECAME OFFICIALLY YEAR ONE
FOR ARAB WORLD
15. WELCOMED IN MEDINA, MOHAMMED LAID DOWN TENETS & PRACTICES
OF HIS RELIGION
16. HE DID NOT CLAIM HIS IDEAS TO BE A NEW RELIGION
17. BUT CULMINATION OF OLDER RELIGIONS OF JUDAISM &
CHRISTIANITY
18. BEFORE HIS DEATH
19. MOHAMMED ACKNOWLEDGED AS SPIRITUAL & POLITICAL LEADER OF
MOST OF ARABIA
II.
REST OF STORY
A.
GREAT ARAB EXPANSION & EMPIRE
1.
BY MID 7TH C ALL ARABIA PENINSULA UNITED & SUBDUED TO
ISLAM FAITH
2.
BEGAN CONVERTING OTHERS VIA HOLY WAR
3.
BY END OF 8TH C. VAST AREA CONQUERED
III. RELIGION OF ISLAM
A.
GENERAL REMARKS
1.
ISLAM = MEANS SUBMISSION TO GOD
2.
A MEMBER OF ISLAM = MOSLEM OR MUSLIM
a.
MEANS "ONE WHO HAS MADE HIS SUBMISSION"
3.
DUTIES OF MOSLEM ORGANIZED INTO "5 PILLARS OF ISLAM"
B.
UNITY OF GOD - 1ST PILLAR
1.
THERE IS NO GOD BUT ALLAH AND MOHAMMED IS HIS PROPHET
2.
INITIATION INTO FAITH CONSISTS SIMPLY OF ACCEPTANCE &
REPETITION OF THESE WORDS
C.
DAILY PRAYER - 2ND PILLAR
1.
PERFORMED 5 TIMES DAILY
D.
ALMSGIVING TO POOR - 3RD PILLAR
1.
1/40TH OF ONE'S INCOME TO STATE
2
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
IV.
FASTING - 4TH PILLAR
1.
NO FOOD, NO DRINK & ABSTINENCE FROM SEXUAL RELATIONS FROM
DAWN TO DUSK DURING 30 DAYS OF HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN
PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA - 5TH PILLAR
1.
HOLY VISIT TO MECCA AND KAABA MUST BE UNDERTAKEN BY EVERY
MOSLEM WHO CAN AFFORD IT DURING HIS LIFETIME
2.
SERVED TO GIVE MOSLEMS POWERFUL SENSE OF BROTHERHOOD &
UNITY
OTHER ASPECTS OF ISLAM
1.
KORAN = QURAN
a.
HOLY BOOK OF ISLAM
b.
CONSIDERED TO BE WORDS OF GOD = ALLAH SPOKEN TO
MOHAMMED BY ANGEL GABRIEL
c.
KORAN MOST IMPORTANT TEXTBOOK USED IN MOSLEM
UNIVERSITY
d.
FINAL AUTHORITY ON THEOLOGY, LAW & SOCIAL
INSTITUTIONS
e.
IT INCLUDES DETAILED RULES FOR FAMILY, BUSINESS &
PROPERTY, JUSTICE AND POLITICS
f.
& TREATS LAW & MORALS AS ONE
g.
KORAN IS ACCEPTED BY EVERY MOSLEM
BASIC BELIEFS OF ISLAM
1.
FOUNDED PRIMARILY ON BASIC TEACHINGS OF JUDAISM
2.
ACCEPTS OLD TESTAMENT
a.
& SUCH CONCEPTS AS
(1) MONOTHEISM,
(2) CREATION,
(3) ANGELS,
(4) DEVILS,
(5) SATAN,
(6) HEAVEN AND HELL
(7) DAY OF JUDGMENT
3.
MUSLIMS ALWAYS CALL JEWS, CHRISTIANS AND THEMSELVES AS
PEOPLE OF SAME BOOK
a.
OT & NT
HADITH
1.
COLLECTION OF COMMENTS ABOUT MUHAMMAD GUIDING MUSLIM
RELIGIOUS PRACTICE & JURISPRUDENCE NOT COVERED BY QURAN
2.
AISHA - MUHAMMAD'S YOUNGEST WIFE
a.
SOURCE OF 1,210 HADITH
MUSLIM WOMEN
A.
STATUS OF WOMEN WITHIN ISLAM
1.
ISLAMIC PRINCIPLE OF HUMAN EQUALITY DID NOT EQUATE TO
EQUAL TREATMENT OF WOMEN
2.
ALTHOUGH KORAN INSTRUCTED MEN TO TREAT WOMEN WITH RESPECT
3.
& WOMEN HAD RIGHT TO OWN & INHERIT PROPERTY
4.
IN GENERAL MALE DOMINANT IN MUSLIM SOCIETY
5.
POLYGYNY PERMITTED
6.
ISLAM DID NOT BRING RADICAL CHANGE
7.
BUT A CONTINUATION & ACCENTUATION OF LIFE-STYLES ALREADY
IN PLACE
8.
ARABIA LAST REMAINING REGION WHERE PATRILINEAL,
PATRIARCHAL MARRIAGE NOT YET INSTITUTED AS SOLE
LEGITIMATE FORM OF MARRIAGE
9.
MATRILINEAL MARRIAGES COMMON PRACTICE
a.
WOMAN REMAINED WITH HER TRIBE AFTER MARRIAGE
(1) WHERE MAN COULD VISIT OR RESIDE WITH HER
(2) CHILDREN BELONGED TO MOTHER'S TRIBE
10. BOTH POLYANDROUS & POLYGAMOUS MARRIAGES PRACTICED TOO
3
11.
B.
BUT POLYGYNY IN MATRILINEAL CONTEXT PROBABLY ENTAILED
HUSBAND'S VISITING HIS DIFFERENT WIVES WHERE THEY RESIDED
WITH THEIR TRIBES
12. & SOME OF THEIR WIVES MIGHT HAVE BEEN VISITED BY
DIFFERENT HUSBANDS
13. ALTHOUGH SOME SCHOOLS OF LEGAL THOUGHT PERMITTED WOMEN TO
STIPULATE THAT THEIR HUSBAND COULD HAVE ONLY ONE WIFE
a.
OR TO SEE SEPARATION IN CERTAIN SPECIFIC
CIRCUMSTANCES
14. LICENTIOUS BEHAVIOR SUCH AS ADULTERY & HOMOSEXUALITY
STRINGENTLY FORBIDDEN
a.
ALTHOUGH SUCH PROHIBITIONS FREQUENTLY IGNORED IN
PRACTICE
15. ISLAMIC CUSTOM REQUIRED WOMEN BE CLOISTERED IN THEIR
HOMES
16. & PROHIBITED FROM SOCIAL CONTACTS WITH MALES OUTSIDE
THEIR OWN FAMILY
17. RIGHT OF DIVORCE IN PRACTICE RESTRICTED TO HUSBAND
18. WOMEN COULD NEITHER INHERIT NOR CLAIM SHARE OF SPOILS WON
ON BATTLEFIELD
19. IN SOME INSTANCES BABY GIRLS REGARDED WITH SUCH DISDAIN
a.
BURIED ALIVE AT BIRTH
b.
OR KILLED AT AGE OF 5 OR 6
c.
KORAN ALLUDES TO THIS PRACTICE
(1) DISAPPROVINGLY
(2) IN SEVERAL PLACES AS IN AN ACCOUNT OF THE LAST
JUDGMENT
(3) WHEN THE BURIED INFANT SHALL BE ASKED FOR WHAT
SIN SHE WAS SLAIN
20. MUHAMMAD SOUGHT TO IMPROVE TREATMENT OF WOMEN
21. WOMEN EXHORTED IN KORAN TO CLOTHE THEMSELVES
CIRCUMSPECTLY
22. TAKING SPECIAL CARE TO COVER THEIR BREASTS
23. & TO DRAW THEIR VEILS CLOSE TO THEM WHEN THEY LEFT HOME
24. SUCH ADMONITIONS LED SOME MUSLIM WOMEN TO VEIL THEIR
FACES IN PUBLIC & TO SECLUDE THEMSELVES WITHIN THEIR OWN
PART OF HOME
a.
KNOWN AS HAREM
25. HAREM SYSTEM NOT NEW WITH COMING OF ISLAM
a.
BUT HAD ROOTS IN ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA
26. BECAME CHARACTERISTIC PART OF ISLAMIC SOCIETY BY LATE 8TH
C.
27. SECLUSION OF WOMEN IN HAREMS OR BEHIND VEILS
a.
PRACTICE OF POLYGAMY
28. BEATING OF DISOBEDIENT WIVES THOUGHT COMMON
29. FAR FROM BRINGING ABOUT IMPROVEMENT FOR WOMEN AS IS
COMMONLY CLAIMED FOR ISLAM
a.
RECENT RESEARCH HAS FOUND OTHERWISE
30. LIVES & MARRIAGES OF 2 OF MUHAMMAD'S WIVES
a.
KHADIJA & AISHA
b.
ENCAPSULATE KINDS OF CHANGES MARRIAGE & WOMEN
EXPERIENCED IN ISLAM
KHADIJA
1.
MUHAMMAD'S 1ST WIFE
2.
WEALTHY WIDOW BEFORE HER MARRIAGE TO M
3.
EMPLOYED HIM TO OVERSEE HER CARAVAN
a.
TRADED BETWEEN MECCA & SYRIA
4.
SHE PROPOSED TO & MARRIED HIM WHEN SHE WAS 40 & HE 25
5.
SHE REMAINED HIS ONLY WIFE UNTIL HER DEATH AT ABOUT 65
6.
HER WEALTH FREED HIM FROM NEED TO EARN LIVING
C.
4
7.
& HE WAS ABLE TO LEAD LIFE OF CONTEMPLATION AS PRELUDE TO
HIS BECOMING A PROPHET
8.
HER ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE
9.
HER MARRIAGE OVERTURE APPARENTLY W./O MALE GUARDIAN TO
ACT AS INTERMEDIARY
10. HER MARRIAGE TO MAN MANY YRS YOUNGER THAN HERSELF
11. & HER MONOGAMOUS MARRIAGE
12. ALL REFLECT EARLIER ARABIAN PRACTICES
13. SHE BORE HIM 7 CHILDREN
a.
ONLY HIS 4 DAUGHTERS SURVIVED
14. SHE PRAYED IN SECRET WITH HIM
15. FIRST FOLLOWER WHEN PEOPLE AROUND MUHAMMAD CONSIDERED HIM
a.
LIAR & DREAMER
16. ONLY AFTER SHE DIED AT AGE OF 65 THAT HE TURNED TO OTHER
WOMEN
17. EVEN DECADES LATER HIS CHILD WIFE AISHA STILL JEALOUS OF
MEMORY OF THE 'TOOTHLESS OLD WOMAN'
a.
AS SHE CALLED HER
b.
& THEN AISHA WHEN ON TO SAY THAT ALLAH HAD GIVEN
PROPHET A BETTER REPLACEMENT
c.
BUT MUHAMMAD CHIDED HER
(1) HE HAS NOT GIVEN ME A BETTER ONE. SHE BELIEVED
IN ME WHEN NO ONE ELSE DID. SHE CONSIDERED ME
TO BE TRUTHFUL WHEN THE PEOPLE CALLED ME A
LIAR. SHE HELPED ME WITH HER FORTUNE WHEN THE
PEOPLE HAD LEFT ME NOTHING. ALLAH GAVE ME
CHILDREN FROM HER WHILE HE GAVE ME NONE FROM
OTHER WOMEN.
AISHA
1.
IN CONTRAST AUTONOMY & MONOGAMY CONSPICUOUSLY ABSENT IN
LIVES OF WOMEN MUHAMMAD MARRIED AFTER 1ST WIFE DIED & HE
LEADER OF ISLAM
2.
& 1ST WIFE DIED
3.
EVIDENCE OF CONTROL OF WOMEN BY MALE GUARDIANS
4.
& MALE PREROGATIVE OF POLYGYNY BECAME FORMAL FEATURES OF
ISLAMIC MARRIAGE
5.
DAUGHTER OF ONE OF HIS FIRST FOLLOWERS
a.
FUTURE CALIPH ABU BAKR
6.
AISHA 9 OR 10 WHEN SHE MARRIED M
7.
SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER M MARRIAGE TO AISHA HE MARRIED AGAIN
a.
BUT TO A WIDOW
8.
HE THEN FOLLOWED WITH MARRIAGE TO MORE WIDOWS
a.
WIDOWS OF MUSLIMS SLAIN IN SUPPORT OF ISLAM
9.
ALL M WIVES ASIDE FROM HIS FIRST ONE WERE EITHER
DAUGHTERS OF HIS MOST NB OFFICIALS
a.
OR WIDOWS OF NEW CONVERTS
10. INTERESTING THAT M'S MULTIPLY MARRIAGE PATTERN
11. IS WHEN QURANIC VERSES ENCOURAGING POLYGAMY REVEALED TO M
BY GOD
a.
MARRY OTHER WOMEN AS MAY BE AGREEABLE TO YOU, TWO OR
THREE OF FOUR
12. WOMEN FROM MEDINA OFFERED IN MARRIAGE TO M BUT FAMILIES
OF WOMEN DISAPPROVED
a.
POINTED OUT THEY COULD NEVER PUT UP WITH CO-WIVES
13. SOON AISHA WITH HER CO-WIVES BEGAN TO OBSERVE NEW CUSTOMS
OF VEILING & SECLUSION
a.
HISTORIAN AHMED SEES ORIGINS OF THIS AT WEDDING
FEAST OF ONE OF M MARRIAGE
b.
GUESTS STAYED TOO LONG IN HIS WIFE'S ROOM & M
ANNOYED SO THIS WHEN REVELATION CAME TO M ABOUT
5
SECLUSION FOR HIS WIVES
VEILING NOT INTRODUCED INTO ARABIA BY M BUT ALREADY
EXISTED AMONG SOME CLASSES
15. PARTICULARLY IN TOWNS IN SYRIA & PALESTINE
16. IN THOSE AREAS AS IN ARABIA CONNECTED W/SOCIAL STATUS
a.
AS WAS ITS USED AMONG
(1) GREEKS, ROMANS, JEWS & ASSYRIANS
b.
ALL WHO PRACTICED VEILING TO SOME DEGREE
17. VEILING IS NOWHERE EXPLICITLY PRESCRIBED IN QURAN
18. THROUGHOUT MUHAMMAD'S LIFETIME VEILING LIKE SECLUSION
OBSERVED ONLY BY HIS WIVES
19. VEILING, MEANT SHE BECAME WIFE OF M
20. M WIVES NOT HIS CONCUBINES DONNED VEIL WHEN BECAME HIS
WIFE
21. M TOOK TURNS VISITING HIS WIVES
22. DIED IN HIS FAVORITE WIFE'S ROOM AISHA
a.
WHERE HE WAS BURIED
b.
NOW 2ND MOST SACRED SPOT IN ISLAM AFTER KAABA
23. ONLY WIFE HE FELT SO RELAXED HE RECEIVED REVELATIONS IN
HER PRESENCE
24. AFTER HIS DEATH IN 632 AISHA AND OTHER WIDOWS LIVED
TOGETHER AS
a.
MOTHERS OF THE FAITHFUL
25. AFTER HER FATHER REIGNED FOR 2 YEARS HE DIED
26. AISHA NOW BECAME RESPECTED AUTHORITY ON WHAT MOHAMMED HAD
DONE OR SAID IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS
a.
HIS SUNNA
27. SHE MUCH IN DEMAND
28. WOMEN ASKED HER FOR HER ADVICE ON QUESTIONS OF
a.
CLOTHING, COSMETICS IN RELATION TO RELIGIOUS LAW
29. EVEN RESPECTED MEN CONSULTED HER ON QUESTIONS OF RELIGION
& WAY LIFE WAS TO BE LED
30. AS SHE CLOSEST TO PROPHET
31. SHE HAD GOOD KNOWLEDGE OF ANCIENT ARABIC POETRY &
GENEALOGY
32. SHE LAID DOWN FUNDAMENTAL RULES OF ARAB-ISLAMIC ETHICS
33. SHE DIED IN 678 AT AGE 64
FATIMA
1.
KHADIJA & MUHAMMAD'S DAUGHTER
a.
HIS YOUNGEST DAUGHTER
2.
SOME RIVALRY BETWEEN AISHA & FATIMA
3.
MOHAMMED FORBADE FATIMA'S HUSBAND (HIS COUSIN) TO TAKE
2ND WIFE
a.
SAYING WHAT CAUSED PAIN TO HIS DAUGHTER GRIEVED HIM
AS WELL
4.
FATIMA ESPECIALLY CLOSE TO MUHAMMAD
a.
AS ONLY HER CHILDREN DID NOT DIE PREMATURELY
b.
HIS OTHER CHILDREN'S CHILDREN DID
5.
HER SONS HASAN & HUSAYN
6.
AS MOTHER OF PROPHET'S GRANDSONS
7.
FATIMA NB IN LATER ISLAMIC HISTORY
a.
ESPECIALLY FOR SHITES
8.
FATIMA PRACTICALLY DEIFIED BY SOME BRANCHES OF SHITES
a.
GIVEN NAME OF BRILLIANT ONE
9.
AS THEY HAD RIGHT TO Supreme POWER
10. SHE DIED AT AGE 28, A FEW MONTHS AFTER DEATH OF HER
FATHER MOHAMMED
11. AN ENTIRE DYNASTY = FATIMIDS
a.
INITIALLY RULING IN NORTH AFRICA FROM 909
b.
& THEN IN EGYPT & SYRIA UP TO 1171
14.
D.
6
E.
V.
AFTER MOHAMMED'S DEATH CHANGES IN MARRIAGE & FAMILY
1.
UMAR'S REIGN 634-44 IS REGARDED AS PERIOD WHEN MANY OF
MAJOR INSTITUTIONS OF ISLAM ORIGINATED
2.
HE WAS HARSH TOWARD WOMEN IN BOTH PRIVATE & PUBLIC LIFE
3.
STONING AS PUNISHMENT FOR ADULTERY INAUGURATED BY HIM
4.
UMAR WAS ILL-TEMPERED WITH HIS WIVES & PHYSICALLY
ASSAULTED THEM
5.
HE SOUGHT TO CONFINE WOMEN TO THEIR HOMES
6.
& TO PREVENT THEIR ATTENDING PRAYERS AT MOSQUES
7.
UNSUCCESSFUL IN THIS LAST ATTEMPT HE INSTITUTED
SEGREGATED PRAYERS
8.
HIS SUCCESSOR REVOKED SOME OF UMAR'S RESTRICTIONS AGAINST
WOMEN
9.
BUT TIDE WAS MOVING IN DIRECTION OF RESTRICTIVE LIFE FOR
WOMEN
10. AS ARAB CONQUEST CARRIED ISLAM TO LANDS BEYOND ARABIA
11. ISLAM CAME IN CONTACT WITH SOCIETIES MORE RESTRICTIVE
TOWARD WOMEN
a.
& MORE MISOGYNIST
12. UNDER THE ABBASID SOCIETY
a.
POLYGAMY, CONCUBINAGE & SECLUSION ALL PRACTICED
13. CONQUESTS HAD BROUGHT ENORMOUS WEALTH & SLAVES TO MUSLIM
CENTERS IN ARABIA
14. MAJORITY OF SLAVES WOMEN & CHILDREN
a.
MANY OF WHOM HAD BEEN DEPENDENTS OR MEMBERS OF HAREM
OF DEFEATED PERSIAN ELITES BEFORE THEIR CAPTURE
15. WHEREAS M HAD 1 CONCUBINE & COULD NOT AFFORD A SLAVE OR
SERVANT
16. HIS FAVORITE WIFE'S AISHA'S BROTHER IN LAW LEFT 1000
SLAVES & 1000 CONCUBINES WHEN HE DIED IN 656
17. THUS PRACTICES & ATTITUDES OF PERSIAN NOBILITY ADOPTED BY
MUSLIM NOBLES
ISLAM WOMEN IN POLITICS
A.
GENERAL REMARKS
1.
ROLE OF WOMEN IN MEDIEVAL ISLAM VARIED SUBSTANTIALLY
2.
SOME PLAYED ACTIVE PART IN POLITICS
a.
INCLUDED SCHEMING TO DETERMINE SUCCESSION TO
CALIPHATE
3.
WIFE OF UMMAYAD CALIPH AL WALID I (705-715)
a.
INTERFERED IN POLITICAL AFFAIRS TO PROMOTE JUSTICE
b.
& ENCOURAGED HER HUSBAND TO BUILD LARGE MOSQUES
c.
HER ROLE EXTENSIVE ENOUGH TO PROMPT GOVERNOR OF IRAQ
TO WARN AL-WALID ABOUT HER INFLUENCE
B.
KHAYZURAN
1.
ONE OF GREATEST OF ABBASID CALIPHS HARUM AL-RASHID (786809)
2.
APPARENTLY OWED HIS POSITION TO HIS FABULOUSLY WEALTHY
MOTHER = KHAYZURAN
3.
FORMER SLAVE
4.
SHE BITTERLY OPPOSED ANOTHER SON, AL-HADI (785-786)
a.
& MAY EVEN HAVE HAD HIM ASSASSINATED
C.
ZUBAYDAH
1.
HARUN'S WIFE
2.
CONTRIBUTED MONEY TO BUILD AQUEDUCT IN MECCA
3.
TOOK INTEREST IN URBAN DEVELOPMENT & SHE & OTHER
4.
ARISTOCRATIC MUSLIM WOMEN BETWEEN 10-13TH CENTURIES
a.
PROMINENT PATRONESSES OF
b.
HOSPITALS
(1) SCHOOLS
7
5.
D.
OTHER REMARKS RE POLITICAL ROLE OF WOMEN
a.
WIVES OF RULERS ALSO DE FACTO RULERS OF EGYPT IN
1020'S, LATE 1040'S & 1250'S
6.
WOMEN WARRIORS TOO
a.
FIRST DECADES OF ISLAM NOT UNUSUAL FOR WOMEN TO TAKE
PART IN BATTLES
b.
AISHA DID - FAMOUS BATTLE OF CAMEL
7.
HAREM POLITICS
a.
BECAME PART OF ISLAMIC PRACTICE
8.
JEALOUSY & INTRIGUE IN HAREM BECAME COMMONPLACE
9.
AS WOMEN ENGAGED IN INTRIGUES TO ADVANCE FORTUNES OF
THEIR CHILDREN
10. POISON ACTIVE AGENT IN MANY STORIES OF HAREM LIFE
11. BASED ON PRINCIPLE THAT WOMEN WERE CHATTEL
12. SALE OF WOMEN AS CONCUBINES OR SLAVES BECAME NB ECONOMIC
PART OF LIFE
FORGOTTEN QUEENS OF ISLAM
1.
IDEA OF WOMEN GOVERNING ISLAMIC NATION UNTIL RECENTLY NOT
POSSIBLE
2.
NOW SCHOLARS KNOW AT LEAST 16 ISLAMIC QUEENS IN OWN RIGHT
3.
SCHOLARS HAVE AGREED ON 2 CONDITIONS ESSENTIAL FOR QUEENS
IN OWN RIGHT
a.
COIN MINTED BEARING HER LIKENESS
b.
HER NAME AS HEAD OF STATE PROCLAIMED IN THE KHUTBA
AT FRIDAY SERVICE IN MOSQUE
(1) PUBLIC RECOGNITION
(a) ESPECIALLY SIGNIFICANT
(2) AS ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF ANY ISLAMIC WOMAN IN ANY
CONTEXT WAS & STILL IS EXTRAORDINARY
4.
NO TEMPLATE FOR THESE ISLAMIC QUEENS
5.
THEIR KINGDOMS RANGED FROM MONGOLIA TO EGYPT
a.
FROM INDIA TO INDONESIA
b.
FROM EARLY DAYS OF ISLAM TO BENAZIR BHUTTO'S
ELECTION AS PRIME MINISTER IN 1988
6.
DEPENDING ON WHERE THEIR KINGDOMS WERE THEIR TITLES WERE
a.
SULTANA
b.
MALIKA
c.
SITT
d.
KHATUN
7.
SOME OF THEM RODE TO POWER ON COATTAILS OF
a.
REIGNING FATHERS OR HUSBANDS
b.
OR SERVED AS REGENTS FOR THEIR SONS
8.
WHATEVER THEIR BACKGROUNDS & AVENUES TO POWER
a.
3 FACTORS SEEM TO UNITE THESE ISLAMIC QUEENS
9.
1ST a.
POLITICAL INSTABILITY OF SOME DEGREE
(1) CONTRIBUTED TO RISE OF EACH RULER
(2) SINCE ONLY IN TIMES OF STRUGGLE & CONFLICT
WOULD ISLAMIC PATRIARCHY BREAK DOWN TO PERMIT
WOMAN PUBLIC ROLE
10. 2ND
a.
ALL THESE QUEENS PROVED TO BE CAPABLE ADMINISTRATORS
WHO RULED WELL
(1) WITHOUT EXCEPTION
11. 3RD
a.
& MOST TRAGIC FACTOR IS MEMORY OF THESE EFFICIENT
BELOVED QUEENS HAS BEEN DELETED FROM ISLAMIC HISTORY
b.
DENYING CENTURIES OF ISLAMIC WOMEN FEMALE ROLE
MODELS
8
VI.
QUEENS OF NOTE
A.
TURKAN KUTLUGH KHATUN
1.
RULED KIRMAN, PERSIAN PROVINCE
a.
1257-1282
2.
DAUGHTER OF NEWLY CONVERTED ISLAMIC KING
a.
WHO EARNED HIS POWER THROUGH MILITARY MIGHT & STRONG
ALLIANCE TO HULAGU, HEAD OF MONGOL DYNASTY
3.
MARRIED HER COUSIN
a.
HIS DEATH LED TO HER ASSUMPTION OF POWER IN KIRMAN
b.
ON BASIS OF HEIR, HER SON UNDERAGE
4.
SHE AS ADEPT AS HER FATHER IN FORGING LINKS WITH OTHER
POWERFUL PEOPLE
5.
BROUGHT PROSPERITY TO KIRMAN
6.
UNUSUALLY HIGH DEGREE OF STABILITY HER YEARS AS RULER
7.
THRONE SECURE UNTIL END OF HER REIGN
B.
SULTANA RADIYYA OR RAZIYYAT, QUEEN OF INDIA
1.
MEMBER OF POWERFUL TURKISH FACTION OF FORMER SLAVES
CALLED MAMLUKS
2.
INHERITED THRONE OF DELHI FROM HER FATHER A FORMER SLAVE
a.
1236
3.
HER FATHER SELECTED HER AS HEIR DESPITE FACT SHE HAD 2
HALF BROTHERS
a.
FATHER SAID MY SONS ARE INCAPABLE OF LEADING
4.
UNLIKE MANY QUEENS SHE SINGLE AT TIME OF HER ASCENSION
5.
FIRST ACT AS QUEEN TO HAVE COINS MINTED BEARING FOLLOWING
INSCRIPTION
a.
PILLAR OF WOMEN, QUEEN OF TIMES, SULTANA ....
6.
UNLIKE TURKAN KHATUN RADIYYA'S POSITION CHALLENGED
IMMEDIATELY BY HER HALF-BROTHER
7.
HER RESPONSE REVEALED HER COURAGE, WISDOM & POPULARITY
8.
CHOOSING PARTICULARLY BUSY PUBLIC PLACE SHE APPEALED TO
HER PEOPLE & HER ARMY IN PERSON
9.
WEARING GARB OF VICTIM OF INJUSTICE
10. CALLING ON THEM FOR SUPPORT AGAINST THE BROTHER WHO
a.
KILLED HIS BROTHER AND...NOW WANTS TO KILL ME.
11. SHE RECAPTURED HER POWER HAD HER BROTHER EXECUTED & REIGN
FOR 4 YEARS
12. CAPABLE ADMINISTRATOR WHO LISTENED TO HER PEOPLE
13. TO QUOTE PERSIAN HISTORIAN WHO MET HER PERSONALLY
14. SULTAN RAZIYYAT WAS A GRETA SOVEREIGN AND SAGACIOUS,
JUST, BENEFICENT, THE PATRON OF THE LEARNED, A DISPENSER
OF JUSTICE, THE CHERISHER OF HER SUBJECTS, AND OF WARLIKE
TALENT, AND WAS ENDOWED WITH ALL THE ADMIRABLE ATTRIBUTES
AND QUALIFICATIONS NECESSARY FOR KINGS
15. SHE WAS UNVEILED RODE HORSES
a.
LIKE MEN ARMED WITH BOW AND QUIVER
b.
& LED MILITARY EXCURSIONS
16. LOVE HER DOWNFALL
a.
SHE SUSPECTED OF FAVORING SLAVE OVER ALL OTHERS
b.
ALTHOUGH ISLAM PREVALENT IN INDIA AT TIME
c.
CASTE SYSTEM STILL PRESENT
d.
PEOPLE SAW SLAVE TOUCHING HER
(1) ESPECIALLY REPUGNANT TO RELIGIOUS LEADERS
(2) & OTHER POWERFUL PEOPLE
17. ARMED REBELLION FOLLOWED
18. SHE CAPTURED IN BATTLE WITH GOVERNOR'S TROOPS
19. BUT HE FELL IN LOVE WITH HER, MARRIED HER & MARCHED ON
CITY OF DELHI
20. TO RECLAIM THRONE FOR HER
21. ATTEMPT UNSUCCESSFUL
9
22.
C.
D.
E.
F.
& SHE SUFFERED LONELY DEATH
a.
PURPORTEDLY MURDERED BY GREEDY PEASANT WHO PLUNDERED
HER BODY FOR HER JEWELED GARMENTS
OTHER REMARKS
1.
BOTH OF THESE QUEENS & SOME 12 OTHERS
a.
TURKS, MONGOLS, INDONESIANS & ASIANS
b.
THESE CULTURE MORE RECEPTIVE TO FEMALE RULERS
2.
NOT CASE IN ARAB COUNTRIES
3.
ONE REASONS IS THAT MOHAMMED ONCE REMARKED
a.
NO PEOPLE WHO PLACE A WOMAN OVER THEIR AFFAIRS WILL
PROSPER
4.
SO FAR HISTORIANS KNOWN OF ONLY 2 WOMEN WHO HAVE FEATURED
IN THE KHUTBA IN AN ARABIC MOSQUE
5.
2 WOMEN WHO RULED IN YEMEN
a.
ASMA BINT SHIBAB AL-SULAYHIYYA
b.
ARWA BINT AHMAD AL-SULAYHIYYA
ASMA
1.
AFTER ALI, ASMA'S HUSBAND UNIFIED YEMEN
2.
& WON IT FOR THE SUNNI SECT
3.
WHEN HE ASCENDED THRONE HE ACKNOWLEDGE HIS WIFE ASMA AS
HIS EQUAL
4.
BY COMMANDING THAT THE KHUTBA BE SAID IN HER NAME AS WELL
AS HIS
5.
& ALLOWED HER TO PARTICIPATE UNVEILED IN COUNCILS OF
STATE
6.
HE WAS SAID THAT ALI CONSULATED ASMA WHENEVER HE HAD
SIGNIFICANT DECISION TO MAKE
7.
THEIR SON RAISED WITH IDEA THAT WIFE IS FORCE THAT IT
WOULD BE ABSURD TO LEAVE TO STAGNATE IN SHADOW OF HAREM
8.
THEN WHEN ON PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA IN 1066 KING POISONED BY
PRINCE WHOSE FATHER ALI HAD EXECUTED & SON FULFILLING HIS
VENDETTA
9.
ASMA CAPTURED & IMPRISONED FOR YEAR
a.
WHEN RESCUED BY HER SON
b.
DURING RESCUE SON DISABLED
c.
SO SHE RULED UNTIL HER DEATH IN 1087
ARWA
1.
ALI'S NIECE
2.
RECOGNIZED SINCE CHILDHOOD BY ALI AS ONLY PERSON CAPABLE
OF ASSURING CONTINUITY OF DYNASTY IN CASE SOMETHING
SHOULD HAPPEN TO ALI & ASMA
3.
SHE EDUCATED AS QUEEN WOULD BE
4.
GRADUALLY GIVEN GREATER RESPONSIBILITIES
5.
RAISED WITH & MARRIED TO HER COUSIN
a.
DISABLED SON OF ALI & ASMA
b.
CONTINUING TRADITION OF NAMING REGAL COUPLE IN
KHUTBA WHEN ASMA DIED IN 1087
6.
DURING HER 50 YEAR REIGN
a.
PATRON OF ARTS, ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING &
EDUCATION
7.
SHE SURVIVED POWER STRUGGLES
8.
AFTER DEATH OF HER HUSBAND SHE MARRIED AGAIN TO PRESERVE
HER KINGDOM
9.
BUT SHE CONTINUED TO RULE WITHOUT ANY HUSBAND/SCREEN
10. SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDED HER KINGDOM POLITICALLY& MILITARILY
IN HER LATER YEARS
11. PERHAPS MOST NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENT
a.
HER ACCEPTANCE AS SPIRITUAL LEADER
b.
LED TO SPREAD OF SHI'ISM THROUGHOUT ASIA
CULTURAL & INTELLECTUAL PURSUITS OF WOMEN
10
1.
G.
H.
MUSLIM WOMEN PARTICIPATED IN WIDE RANGE OF CULTURAL &
INTELLECTUAL PURSUITS
2.
PROVIDED SALONS IN WHICH SCHOLARS, POETS & OTHER EDUCATED
PEOPLE COULD GATHER
a.
DURING UMAYYAD CALIPHATE
b.
PROMINENT AMONG SUCH WOMEN
(1) MUHAMMAD'S GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER, SUKAINA
3.
AS IN PRE-ISLAMIC SOCIETY SOME WOMEN CONTINUED TO WRITE
POETRY
4.
FEMALE PROFESSIONALS SANG ELEGIES AT FUNERALS
5.
THROUGHOUT UMMAYAD PERIOD WOMEN STUDIED BOTH LAW &
THEOLOGY
6.
IN CALIPHATE OF CORDOBA WOMEN TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS TOO
7.
FEMALE SCHOLARS PROMINENT IN TOWNS OF MUSLIM SPAIN
8.
SOME LECTURED AT UNIVERSITIES OF CORDOBA & VALENCIA
9.
ABBASIDS EMPLOYED WOMEN TO SPY AGAINST BYZANTINES IN
GUISE OF MERCHANTS, PHYSICIANS & TRAVELERS
a.
WHICH SUGGESTS THEY UNDERTOOK SUCH ACTIVITIES IN
THEIR OWN SOCIETY TOO
REPRESSION INSTANCES
1.
DURING ABBASID CALIPHATE PUBLIC APPEARANCES & CLOTHING OF
WOMEN INCREASINGLY REGULATED BY GOVERNMENT DECREE
2.
AROUND 1030 WOMEN BANNED FROM PUBLIC CEREMONIES
3.
IN 12TH C SEVILLE DECENT WOMEN PROHIBITED FROM DRESSING
LIKE PROSTITUTES
a.
& FROM PARTY MAKING AMONG THEMSELVES
(1) EVEN WITH THEIR HUSBANDS' PERMISSION
4.
SOME OF THESE REGULATIONS INTENDED TO STRESS FEMALE
MODESTY
5.
IN SEVILLE WOMEN COULD NOT RUN HOSTELS BECAUSE OF
POSSIBILITY OF SEXUAL IMPROPRIETIES
6.
WOMEN COULD NOT ENTER CHRISTIAN CHURCHES BECAUSE PRIESTS
HAD REPUTATIONS AS FORNICATORS & SODOMITES
7.
IN MARKETS THEY COULD DEAL ONLY WITH MERCHANTS OF GOOD
REPUTATION
8.
WOMEN PROHIBITED FROM SITTING BY RIVERBANK IN SUMMER IN
PRESENCE OF MEN
9.
ALTHOUGH SUCH REGULATIONS PATRONIZING
a.
SUGGESTS CONCERN FOR PROTECTION OF WOMEN IN ISLAMIC
SOCIETY
WOMEN & RELIGION
1.
WOMEN ALSO ACTIVE IN SUFI MOVEMENT
2.
SUFISM IS MYSTICAL TRADITION OF ISLAM
3.
IN MOST WORLD RELIGIONS INDIVIDUAL WOMEN AND/OR FEMININE
CONCEPTS MORE PROMINENT IN MYSTICAL THAN IN ORTHODOX
TRADITION
a.
SOMEWHAT SAME CASE IN SUFISM AS WELL
4.
SUFIS SEEK UNION WITH GOD
5.
THEY EMPHASIZE LEADING SIMPLE & SELF-DISCIPLINED LIFE
DEVOTED TO GOD
a.
WHICH ALMOST ANYONE WHO IS WILLING CAN FOLLOW
6.
ONE OF FOREMOST SUFI SAINTS
a.
IMPOVERISHED FREED SLAVE WOMEN RABIAH B. 714 OR 717
7.
NAFISA C 762-823
a.
REVERED TODAY IN EGYPT AS SAINT
b.
SHE GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER OF MOHAMMED'S GRANDSON HASAN
c.
THEN WENT TO EGYPT WITH HER HUSBAND
8.
FAMED FOR HER THEOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE,STRICT ASCETICISM &
CHARITY TO POOR
9.
SHE MADE 30 PILGRIMAGES
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
11
SUFI MOVEMENTS BEGAN TO ARISE IN VARIOUS PARTS OF MUSLIM
EMPIRE DURING 8TH C.
EVENTUALLY DEVELOPING INTO PARTICULAR SCHOOLS CLAIMING
DESCENT FROM INDIVIDUAL SUFI MASTERS
a.
MANY OF WHICH STILL EXIST TODAY
SOME OF THESE SUFI MASTERS MARRIED
BUT LARGE NUMBERS CHOSE CELIBACY IN BELIEF CLOSER TO GOD
MONASTERIES & CONVENTS ESTABLISHED TO SUPPORT SPIRITUAL
LIFE
IN THIS ENVIRONMENT FREED THEM FROM DOMESTIC & SOCIAL
OBLIGATIONS
MANY WOMEN ROSE TO PROMINENCE AS SPIRITUAL GUIDES
a.
& RENOWN FOR THEIR DEVOTION
AS WITH THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS
SOME OF THESE WOMEN VENERATED AS SAINTS BOTH BEFORE &
AFTER THEIR DEATHS
PROBABLY IN INDIA CULT OF FEMALE SAINTS FLOURISHED MOST
WHOLE SERIES OF MINIATURES FROM MOGUL PERIOD DEPICT
FEMALE HERMITS
JAHAN-ARA
a.
ELDEST DAUGHTER OF EMPEROR SHAH JAHAN
b.
SAINT FRO MOGUL INDIA
c.
BOOK ABOUT HER INITIATION AS MYSTIC BEARS WITNESS TO
THE PROFUNDITY OF HER FAITH & MYSTICAL UNDERSTANDING
PILGRIMAGES TO & WORSHIP AT TOMBS OF SAINTS, MALE &
FEMALE
a.
REMAINS INTEGRAL PART OF ISLAM TO THIS DAY
b.
POPULAR FORM OF DEVOTION AMONG MUSLIM WOMEN