Historian Yussouf Shaheen in his book asks: A question is still lingering on as to when the women all over the world, would be recognized as full human beings
Book Review by Ashraf Aboul-Yazid
In his preface, historian Yussouf Shaheen, of Sindh, Pakistan, asks: Over six thousand years have passed, a question is still lingering on as to when the women all over the world, would be recognized as “full human beings” and they shall be bestowed with equal rights similar to men in the power corridors, in Assemblies, in Senate, in Judiciary, in Army and in all the other walks of life? His concise encyclopedic work (SHORT HISTORY OF A WOMAN — THROUGH THE AGES), 40 pages, is his pioneering practice to answer.
The nine chapters following the preface are diving into histories, cultures, civilizations and documents to find the status of women in Indus Civilization, in Aryamat (Hinduism), in Mahabharata, in Shiva Purana, in Jainism, in Buddhism, Middle East, in Judaism, in Christianity and the Role of women in Quran/Islam.
In a chapter entitled INDIA, STATUS OF WOMEN IN ARYAMAT (HINDUISM), the author writes: Husband is god, even if he is totally short of virtues, good qualities or unable to provide lust. “A good woman should always worship her husband like a god. Day and night woman must be kept under the dependence by the males (of) their (families), and, if they attach themselves to sensual enjoyments, they must be kept under one’s control. Her father protects (her) in childhood, her husband protects (her) in youth, and her sons protect (her) in old age. Women must particularly be guarded against evil inclinations, however trifling (they may appear); for, if they are not guarded, they will bring sorrow on two families. Considering that the highest duty of all castes, even weak husbands (must) strive to guard their wives.”
On the STATUS OF WOMEN IN JAINISM we read: “In Jain dharam there are different roles for different genders. Females are bound to some extent due to their physical structure and anatomy. Those who want to control their mind and want internal peace should also control their sexual feelings. One of the most fundamental distinctions between Jains is over the nudity of women. It is necessary for all mendicants to conduct their renunciation without clothing. For them, this represents the idealized practice of aparigraha, in which a mendicant renounces all property and possessions, including clothing. Women cannot become ascetics as they could not be naked, which was seen as “an essential component of the path to liberation.”There are also stories about early Jain women whose chastity and righteousness eventually led to their liberation, such as Rājīmatī, wife of the 22nd Tīrthaṅkara Neminātha.”
STATUS OF WOMEN IN BUDDHISM was studied in the following chapter, as we read: “Women are not considered as a complete entity in Buddhism. Their body is not considered fit to attain enlighten- ment and become Buddha. There is a concept that women are not complete until they attain enlightenment to become reborn as a man. It is clearly stated in the Bahudhatuka-sutta that there could never be a female Buddha. In Buddhism, a female nun has to follow the eight Gurudharmas, which are known as very strict rules or the monastic etiquette, Even though Buddhist teachings always say that women have equal ability to become enlightened and may even be better suited for enlightenment than men.”
Referring to STATUS OF WOMEN IN ZOROASTRIANISM, historian Yussouf Shaheen indicates that “The Arab Muslims, conquerors of the Sassanian Empire, degraded the status of Persian women based on male dominance. Soon after the takeover of Sassanian Empire by Arab Muslims, the Persian women revolted against the Arab conquerors for the restoration of their rights under the leadership of Banu wife of Babak Khorramdin. Within no time the movement for the rights of women turned into a bloody liberation war that continued for over 23 years in which Arab Caliphate lost over 500000 of its warriors. Finally both, Banu and her husband Babak were arrested. Banu was instantly executed, on the other side the hands and feet of her husband Babak were amputated, later his body was sewn into a cow’s skin with the horns at ear level and slowly crushed. Thousands of his supporters were also slaughtered. Today both the resistance fighters Banu and Babak are considered as one of the most heroic freedom fighters and national heroes in Persia and Azerbaijan.”
Regarding MIDDLE EAST, and STATUS OF WOMEN IN SUMER (PRESENT DAY IRAQ), the book shows that “for the first time in the human history, some of the wise rulers of Middle East decided to run the affairs of their society and government through Man Made Laws, Ebla Laws (2500 to 2360 B C)· Eshnunna Laws (2200-2100 BC), Urnammu Laws (2100 and 2050 BC) and Hammurabi Laws (1792–1750 BC). At a later stage the above man made laws were amended, amalgamated and improved by the Laws of Heaven. Such amended laws are still in practice with full force throughout the ages; Laws of Moses- Ten Commandments, Laws of God for Christians and Laws of God for Muslims.
Speaking of STATUS OF WOMEN IN JUDAISM, the book presents some facts depending on certain references, such as Torah: “a woman may not be appointed queen over Israel or to any other official position, on the basis of a gendered reading of Deuteronomy 17:15, “You shall appoint a king over yourself”—a king, but not a queen (Sifrei Devarim 157). Such appointments would include judgeship, for which women have been declared unfit because they are not valid witnesses (Mishnah Niddah 6:4). The status of women in Judaism is reflected in the Hebrew Bible. In traditional Rabbinic Judaism, Jewish affiliation is passed down through the mother, although the father’s name is used to describe sons and daughters in the Torah.“
STATUS OF WOMEN IN CHRISTIANITY presents the creation of a woman according to Bible; “God spent six days creating Earth and on the seventh day, he rested. His final creation on the sixth day was a man whom he named Adam. Adam was made from the dust of the ground and God’s own breath. God gave Adam control over all the plants and animals and gave him specific instructions to not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. He said, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, for when you eat from it, you will certainly die.” (Genesis 2:17) While Adam was living in paradise in the Garden of Eden he was still lonely. God saw this and said, “It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” (Genesis 2:18) While Adam slept, God took one of his ribs and used it to create Eve. He presented her to Adam, who was pleased. He said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman’ for she was taken out of man.” (Genesis 2:23)”
Concluding with ROLE OF WOMEN IN QURAN/ISLAM, the author notes that “the story of Adam and Eve is told in the Qur’an. God announced to the angels that He was placing a new specie on earth. God created Adam, fashioning him from clay. He breathed the soul into Adam, taught him the names of all things, and created from the same soul his wife, Eve. God allowed them to dwell in Paradise with free will. God said to the angels, “Bow down to Adam” (They did so in a form of respect, not worship). Satan was present among the angels, though he was not one of them. He was of the jinn, a race of beings possessing free will that God created before Adam from a smokeless flame of fire. When God ordered the angels and those in their company to bow down to Adam, they all did so except Satan, who refused out of pride and arrogance, claiming to be better than Adam because he was created from fire, whereas Adam was created from clay. ”Indeed, Satan was the first racist as the author wrote.
Read: The Satanic images of Al-Khidr: a novel of rituals
According to The Qur’an Adam is created in heaven and the angels were commanded by God to prostrate themselves before him. Adam dwells in a paradisiacal Garden with his wife Ḥawwā. For the testimony of a woman in certain legal areas, according to the second chapter of the Quran, Al-Baqarah, verse 2:282 provides a basis for the rule that two women are the equivalent of one man in providing a witness testimony in financial situations. According to Imam Abu Hanifa their testimony can be accepted in the following matters: divorce, marriage, slave-emancipation and raju‘(restitution of conjugal rights). Imam Malik was of the opinion that: “There is only one sunna of bringing a witness in cases of divorce and freeing a slave.”
Before the advent of Islam the birth of baby girls was considered a great misfortune in Arabian world. They were mostly buried alive. Surah 81, verses 8-9, affirm that on that Day “…the girl-child that is buried alive is made to ask for which crime she had been slain”. However the barbaric custom was blocked by Islam.
Read: Treacherous Role of Armies Worldwide
I wonder why Speaking of women in history wouldn’t be complete without referring to women in Ancient Egypt. Ancient Egyptian women had a range of responsibilities in society as well as within the family. They worked in agriculture, in food processing and preparation, and wove garments for sale as well as for use at home. They sold goods at markets on the banks of the Nile. They could carry out their husband’s duties on his behalf. They performed as dancers and musicians for both entertainment and ritual purposes. Women could even work as professional mourners for funerals.
Women in ancient Egypt had the right to buy and inherit property. They could represent themselves in court and own businesses. A woman was free to leave her property to whoever she chose after she died, and she could even divorce her husband. Women were entitled to a 1/3 share of the marital property and kept control over what they owned before getting married.
Read: Soad Suliman’s Novel: Allowing Oxygen in a Suffocating World
While many positions of leadership were held by men, women could also wield great power. Some even rose to the highest offices in the land. Queens (i.e. a Pharaoh’s wife) played an important part in maintaining royal power. They were often identified with important goddesses like Hathor. If the Pharaoh came to the throne when he was very young, his mother or another royal woman could rule as regent until he came of age. This meant there were some periods (like the early New Kingdom) when queens were very influential.
Some women surpassed queenship to become Pharaohs themselves. One of the most famous of these ‘female kings’ is Hatshepsut, who lived in the 15th Century BCE. She led at least one military campaign, built some of Egypt’s most impressive monuments, and sent a trading mission to the mysterious land of Punt. Hatshepsut always referred to herself as a woman, but over time her images and statues started to show her in ‘male’ form. Perhaps the Egyptians saw the role of Pharaoh as inherently masculine, but that didn’t mean a woman couldn’t do it.
I hope that another edition of this comprehensive short history of women across 6000 years to include those remarkable feminine icons in ancient history.
Read: Sahar Anwar’s Poetic Prayers
_____________________
Ashraf Aboul-Yazid is a renowned Egyptian poet, journalist, novelist, travelogue writer and translator. He is author of around three dozen books and Editor-in-Chief of Silk Road Literature Series.
