BY: ASHAQ HUSSAIN
The Women had been subject to deplorable treatment from generations. They were regarded as an object of beauty at some places and a source of joy for all times. Some societies regarded them as inferior, some as a cause of humiliation, some as a curse and some others as a children producing and rearing machines. Some people blame female folk for misleading men and letting them to go astray as they blame them to be responsible for committing sins and for depriving man of Heaven.
Consequently she has faced oppression from time to time in almost all regions and is still paying the price. Different societies have exploited women in an unusual way to suit their own wishes and whims. In China (6000 BCE), women were regarded as inferior creation. The Confucianism didn’t allow women even to cook meals for some days during a month. Confucius regarded women as impure and dirty. The Chinese, though champions of animal rights would frame laws for protection of animals, but were arrogant with regard to enhancing the circle of rights and raising the status of women. The Indian society was not less harmful in the matter.
A widow in Indian society was regarded as a misfortune and a devil. She could not wear new or colourful dress, oil and comb her hair and touch any child as her touch was regarded as a bad omen. She was forbidden to attend parties whether in neighbourhood or within his relationship. She was a sign of misfortune in her parental home and a devil or ghost in her husband’s family. Under such circumstances, she would prefer to die once in funeral pyre than to die hundred times a day. She was practically forced to perform the custom known as sati where under she had to jump in to the funeral pyre and burn herself alive with her deceased husband. The custom was voluntary in theory but compulsive and barbaric in practice. To perform sati by a widow was a satire over the social perceptions, a ridicule over the orthodox culture and a big laughter for those who propagated it.
Thousands and thousands of widows burnt themselves alive under social compulsion and the society justified it as a voluntary practice performed in the name of religion and unflinching love for husbands. This justification may convince many but how love can be one-sided and why females alone sacrificed their lives at the altar of this love in the name of sati remains a riddle as on date. There is not a single example where a male has been cited to have burnt himself alive with her deceased wife. Thus this one-way love could justify nothing but ill treatment, oppression and exploitation. It is worth mentioning here that all this happened in a country that was known for cherishing the values of Ahimsa.
A girl child was regarded as a sign of disgrace, insult and humiliation. A father after burial would look victorious as if he had defeated the horrible demon and his worst foe and saved himself from dishonour and disgrace. The sons after having attained maturity would happily marry their stepmothers which practice would reflect volumes about the dignity of women in the extent of society. In some parts of Syria women were kept on highways to welcome and entertain the travellers voluntarily. Here again word “voluntarily” was exploited and was actually a matter of compulsion. When Syria came under Roman Empire, things took a more ugly turn. A concept of two angels, Lulu and Astaroth, was introduced.
It was Islam that worked for emancipation of women. But European powers, after seeing the impact of Islam, started to change the scenario. They, in reaction to Islamic impact ,declared that they shall, in real sense , work for real emancipation of women. They declared that women have always been exploited and Islam too has imprisoned her within four walls , placed her under man’s domination, compelled her to be in veils, humiliated by encouraging polygamy and restricted her movement and disallowed her to enjoy freedom quite contrary to those of men. They created confusion among female folk by advocating “ no baby policy “ Thus the purpose of creation got disturbed. They created e-mail rather than preserving a female.
It would be more appropriate here if we delve deep into the creation of Allah swt and try to understand the purpose of creating human beings both men and women . There is a logic why to turn to Allah swt in this respect. We use manufactured products in accordance with the directions of manufacturer recorded in the manual. We can’t wash or dry our clothes in refrigerator nor can we preserve eatable in washing machine. Similarly we can’t expect a human being either to perform like an angel or work as a beast. We have to see what for the product has been manufactured. One has to see the purpose of creation or purpose of invention. Whether we buy an aeroplane or a car, a machine or any product; we see directions of the manufacturer in the manual before use, keeping in view, the purpose of the product.
A mother, by nature, being emotional remains alert all over the day and night to comfort her children. She remains confined to work within four walls not because of punishment but because of saving her chastity, honour and piety. A man has a labour instinct prevailing. A man has to work outside to earn and it is mandatory for a man and not for woman to earn and feed the family. This is because to save tenderness and softness of the hands of a woman as she had to nourish the babies and bring them up with her soft and tender hands. She is made emotional as she has to sacrifice her comfort and luxury for the family. She has a parental instinct in her which is natural. Rationally speaking it is heart that motivates for sacrifice and a brain always thinks about profit and loss. There are many stereotypes about how Muslim women are treated but it is actually the specific faulty cultural and political practices that are responsible for such acts.
Ashaq Hussain is the state award winning teacher currently working as Principal Sir Syed Memorial Educational Institute Dooru Anantnag.