Malik seems to think that Islam brought nothing significant in terms of reforming the pre-Islamic era, known as Jāhiliyyah.
But do you even know what Jāhiliyyah means in Arabic? It literally translates to “ignorance.”
The period before the advent of Islam in Arabia was marked by profound ignorance—rampant polytheism, moral decay, and the absence of any coherent moral structure.
It was so corrupt that Islam had to explicitly forbid Muslim women from adopting the flaunting behavior characteristic of the women of Jāhiliyyah.
You claimed that female infanticide wasn't a serious issue—that it was just a slight difference between Islam and Jāhiliyyah.
But even the Arabs themselves recognized the dignity and honor Islam brought to them—so much so that they later went on to conquer vast empires with the moral strength Islam instilled in them.
Here are some of the realities of how women were treated in pre-Islamic Arabia:
1. Female Infanticide
Female infanticide (waʾd al-banāt) was a well-documented and tragic practice in pre-Islamic Arabia. While it wasn’t universal among all tribes, it was disturbingly prevalent in many.
Reasons:
Tribal honor: In nomadic Bedouin culture, daughters were often viewed as liabilities, especially in the event of war, rape, or enslavement.
Poverty: Some families buried their daughters due to fear of not being able to feed or marry them off.
The Qur’an condemns both motivations:
> “Do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and for you.”
— Surah Al-Isrāʾ (17:31)
Historical Cases:
The tribe of Tamīm was notably involved in this practice.
Qays ibn ʿĀṣim at-Tamīmī is famously reported to have buried several of his daughters alive before embracing Islam.
The Qur’an vividly denounces this crime:
> “And when the girl [who was] buried alive is asked: For what sin was she killed?”
— Surah At-Takwīr (81:8-9)
Arabic Poetry on the Subject:
1. Qays ibn ʿĀṣim, after embracing Islam:
> وَإِنِّي لَعِندَ اللهِ تَابٌ مِنَ الَّذِي
صَنَعْتُ وَقَدْ كَانَتْ نُفُوسِي تَخِيرُهَا
Before Allah, I repent of what I did—
Though once my soul used to choose it freely.
2. Anonymous Bedouin Woman, spared by her father:
> سَأُبْقِي عَلَيْنَا الْعَارَ إِنْ نُسِبُوا لَنَا
وَلَا أَدْفِنَ الأَحْيَاءَ بَيْنَ التُّرَابِ
Let them cast shame upon us if they wish,
But I shall not bury the living beneath the soil.
3. A Lamenting Father (attributed to an early convert):
> بَكَتْهَا عُيُونِي فِي المَهَادِ وَإِنَّهَا
لَتَضْحَكُ فِي وُجُوهِ العَذَارَى التَّرَائِبِ
My eyes wept for her in the cradle, while she—
She would have smiled among the noble young maidens.
So it is laughable that Malik—the apostate—dismisses this horrific practice as an exaggeration.
2. Lack of Inheritance Rights
In Jāhiliyyah, women had no right to inherit from fathers, husbands, or children. Property was passed only through male lines.
Malik mocks Islam for giving women a "limited" share, then contradicts himself by referring to al-ʿaṣabah maʿa al-ghayr, where women can inherit residually. Yet he conveniently glosses over that.
Inshā’Allāh, I will elaborate more on this in future episodes.
But it’s indeed absurd for someone to claim that the Jāhiliyyah era—which gave nothing to women—was somehow better than Islam, which granted them defined inheritance rights.
Truly, kufr blocks the mind.
Even beyond Arabia, women were no better off in other civilizations. We’ll get to that, Inshā’Allāh.
3. No Marital Rights
Men could marry unlimited women—even their father's or son’s widows.
Islam restricted the number to four wives under strict conditions.
Islam prohibited marrying a father's or son’s former wife.
In Jāhiliyyah, women were inherited like property.
Divorce was unilateral and instant; Islam gave women the right to seek khulʿ.
4. No Legal or Social Status
Like under Roman and English law, women were not considered legal persons:
Could not sign contracts.
Could not testify publicly.
5. Sexual Exploitation
Slave girls were often forced into prostitution by their masters.
The Qur’an firmly forbade this:
> “And do not compel your slave girls to prostitution if they desire chastity…”
— Surah An-Nūr (24:33)
6. No Right to Education
Girls were rarely educated; literacy and learning were reserved for noble males.
7. Objectification in Poetry and War
Women were praised only for their beauty or used as symbols of tribal honor—to be avenged if harmed.
8. No Role in Religion
Women were considered impure and excluded from religious rites.
Islam allows women to:
Pray (except during menstruation)
Lead other women in prayer
(Even there was a case of woman leading her male slaves in Salat).
Teach men (as ʿĀʾishah did with many Ṣaḥābah)
9. Corrupt Marriage Practices
Pre-Islamic marriages included:
Beena Marriage: Woman stays with her tribe; man visits her.
Polyandry: Woman has multiple husbands.
Nikāḥ al-Istibḍāʿ: Woman cohabits with a strong man to bear strong offspring.
Nikāḥ al-Shighār: Exchange of daughters in marriage without dowry.
Islamic Reforms
Islam abolished these oppressive practices:
Prohibited infanticide.
Granted inheritance, property, and educational rights.
Regulated marriage and divorce.
Uplifted the status of women spiritually, socially, and legally.
So yes—only a fool would say Islam didn’t raise the bar for women.
This is part two, kindly take note.
