The value of human life had plunged to
an all-time low in pre-Islamic society. There existed a convention of burying
young girls alive, for fear of shame or poverty. The Quran describes this
practice in order to communicate the horror of this crime and record its
Ignorance, i.e., Jahiliyyah. Its condemnation jibes with the declared aim of
Islam, to destroy Ignorance and save mankind from depravity.
"When the infant girl,
buried alive, is asked for what crime she was slain."
(At-Takwir 81: 8-9)
" When the birth of a girl
is announced to one of them, his face grows dark and he is filled with rage and
inward gloom. Because of the bad news he hides himself from everybody; should he
keep her with disgrace or bury her under the dust? How will they judge?"
(An
Nahl 16: 58-59)
"You shall not kill your
children for fear of want. We will provide for them and for you..."
(Al Isra' 17: 31)
Girls were killed in an extremely
cruel way. They were buried alive! Those who did not kill their young daughters
or send them to mind cattle, had different methods of ill-treating women. If a
man died, the head of the clan would throw his gown over the widow as a gesture
of acquisition. This was socially translated as the widow could not remarry
anyone except the owner of the gown. If he fancied her, he would marry her,
paying no regard whatsoever to her feelings in the matter. If he did not marry
her, he would keep her until she died with the objective of inheriting her
wealth.
Islam condemns the attitude of
Ignorant societies and spurns all these practices. The Shariah forbids the
murder of young girls and expresses its horrifying nature. It makes such actions
as subjects of reckoning on the Day of Judgment. The Quran informs us that the
murdered girl will be questioned about her murder. The surah leaves us to
imagine how Allah (swt) will bring the murderer to account on Judgement Day.
The ignorant social order of the
pre-Islamic period would never have helped women to gain a respectable,
dignified position. The way of life Allah (swt) has chosen for mankind secures a
dignified position for both women and men. Women owe their respectable position
to Islam, not to other man-made systems that look at women as either objects of
adoration or contempt.
Islam elevated the women as an object of respect and honour.