The Qur'an has proved that in Islam it is allowed for a man to marry up to four wives, only if he can be fair towards all of his wives. Some of the Muslims had as many as four wives and some of them still could afford concubines. If refer to www.dictionary.com, concubines can be defined as:- Law A woman who cohabits with a man without being legally married to him.
- In certain societies, such as imperial China, a woman contracted to a man as a secondary wife, often having few legal rights and low social status.
Among the wealthier, slavery was very common of their needs. Most of the slaves were placed to work in the household or shop, however not in the fields or mines. In assuring Allah's blessing, it was common for slaves to be freed at any time if they behave nicely. Many people were 'traped' into the slavery field because of usual reasons, such as:
1. Debts.
2. Bad luck.
One of the most difficult issues to be discussed in the contemporary transformation of Muslim societies is the role of women. Essential changes are taking place in the concept of male and female identity. As well as the women roles in their family, the relationship between men and women and the place of women in public life. Even our understanding of women’s roles in every aspect is still extremely limited and it is often ideological being debated. In addition to that, it is difficult for the outsiders to separate their own values from the conceptions of dignity, security and love which happen in Muslim societies.
Theoretically, men have absolute responsibility to rule or guide their family. However, in the Qur’an women were granted for many rights. It is totally different with the history in the pre-Islamic Arab society.
Harem
What is Harem?
Harem was very similar towards the inferiority of women’s status. It has the isolated part of every well-to-do Muslim house. This house was placed for them and their children. They believe, here they will not be ‘threatening’ by the insulting eyes of strangers. Wives and concubines will compete each other and occupied their time to persuade the master of the household and advance their own status and that of their children. Jealousy was the main things that play around the society.
Previously, some emirs and caliphs spent so much time in the harem. However, in later Muslim’s history, the harem system had ruinous effects on the administration and Government Empire.
Theoretically and practically, women were hard to be seen outside the house. Relative frequency of male homosexuality in the Islamic world become usual compare during ancient Greece. It was due to the ‘contribution’ of isolation of ladies and their total inaccessibility prior to marriage.
Works
Commonly, women were being employed in domestic crafts, agriculture and stock herding, the middle-class ideal was isolation from the marketplace, the bazaar, the politics and social life with men. They were prohibited to be close with men outside their immediate families.
Marriages
Usually, it was arranged by families as the bride’s parents or guardians were ultimately responsible for her welfare. A bride should move to the house of her husband and stay with him. In Islam, only men have the power to initiate divorce however, for some cases, women may initiate it too. If the divorce happens, their children with a certain age will belong to the husband.
Economics rights
Women had more rights on economic compare to the men but because of the social practice, it has restricted their opportunities to inherit properties.
Personal relations and attitudes of men and women
This type of relations must have had several dimensions corresponding to the complexity of their social roles. From a point of view, men were dominant and women cannot be thought of as an oppressed class.
Veil
Sometimes it is taken as a symbol of domination of women by men. Actually, it symbolizes the complexities of their relationships. It is very significant in terms of purity and passion, independence and dependence. Commonly, it is worn by urban and middle-class women but unanimously among Middle Eastern. Veil is also a form of social communication which sometimes it is understood as a shield, protecting women against men and many more.
Education
It is necessary to save women from idle and empty lives, fit them for employment, and train them for happiness marriages and the raising of their children. Only through education, women can fulfil their roles as mothers and educators of modern youth. It is also crucial for the freedom of the whole society. In the nineteenth-century Ottoman society, it first demands for the modernization of the position of women which is classified as monogamy in the royal household, also the isolation and elimination of the concubine and finally the greater freedom for women in their daily life including marriage and social activity. Turkish nationalists had come out with the education as their central concern. World War I, at this moment, women had to go for work. For examples in factories, banks, municipal offices and hospitals. Education became very common in Iran for the upper middle-class circles. The first public school for girls was set up in 1918. It is a result of pressure from feminist advocates.
As a conclusion, every types of confusion and law should be refers to the Qur’an, the holy book of Muslims. It is due to some people will take opportunity of what they want, both men and women, husband and wife, neo-Muslim movements and feminist people.
Theoretically, men have absolute responsibility to rule or guide their family. However, in the Qur’an women were granted for many rights. It is totally different with the history in the pre-Islamic Arab society.
Harem
What is Harem?
Harem was very similar towards the inferiority of women’s status. It has the isolated part of every well-to-do Muslim house. This house was placed for them and their children. They believe, here they will not be ‘threatening’ by the insulting eyes of strangers. Wives and concubines will compete each other and occupied their time to persuade the master of the household and advance their own status and that of their children. Jealousy was the main things that play around the society.
Previously, some emirs and caliphs spent so much time in the harem. However, in later Muslim’s history, the harem system had ruinous effects on the administration and Government Empire.
Theoretically and practically, women were hard to be seen outside the house. Relative frequency of male homosexuality in the Islamic world become usual compare during ancient Greece. It was due to the ‘contribution’ of isolation of ladies and their total inaccessibility prior to marriage.
Works
Commonly, women were being employed in domestic crafts, agriculture and stock herding, the middle-class ideal was isolation from the marketplace, the bazaar, the politics and social life with men. They were prohibited to be close with men outside their immediate families.
Marriages
Usually, it was arranged by families as the bride’s parents or guardians were ultimately responsible for her welfare. A bride should move to the house of her husband and stay with him. In Islam, only men have the power to initiate divorce however, for some cases, women may initiate it too. If the divorce happens, their children with a certain age will belong to the husband.
Economics rights
Women had more rights on economic compare to the men but because of the social practice, it has restricted their opportunities to inherit properties.
Personal relations and attitudes of men and women
This type of relations must have had several dimensions corresponding to the complexity of their social roles. From a point of view, men were dominant and women cannot be thought of as an oppressed class.
Veil
Sometimes it is taken as a symbol of domination of women by men. Actually, it symbolizes the complexities of their relationships. It is very significant in terms of purity and passion, independence and dependence. Commonly, it is worn by urban and middle-class women but unanimously among Middle Eastern. Veil is also a form of social communication which sometimes it is understood as a shield, protecting women against men and many more.
Education
It is necessary to save women from idle and empty lives, fit them for employment, and train them for happiness marriages and the raising of their children. Only through education, women can fulfil their roles as mothers and educators of modern youth. It is also crucial for the freedom of the whole society. In the nineteenth-century Ottoman society, it first demands for the modernization of the position of women which is classified as monogamy in the royal household, also the isolation and elimination of the concubine and finally the greater freedom for women in their daily life including marriage and social activity. Turkish nationalists had come out with the education as their central concern. World War I, at this moment, women had to go for work. For examples in factories, banks, municipal offices and hospitals. Education became very common in Iran for the upper middle-class circles. The first public school for girls was set up in 1918. It is a result of pressure from feminist advocates.
As a conclusion, every types of confusion and law should be refers to the Qur’an, the holy book of Muslims. It is due to some people will take opportunity of what they want, both men and women, husband and wife, neo-Muslim movements and feminist people.
