Download - University of Salford Institutional Repository
Download - University of Salford Institutional Repository Download - University of Salford Institutional Repository
A tribe comprises a group of small clans headed by the chief of the tribe, who had certain responsibilities as explained by Lebon. "At all times. the desert Nomads of, Arabs were divided into small tribes. Each of these tribes was under the command of a Sheikh or Amir (a leader) whose responsibility was to lead warrior and distribute booty, and to be the guest of honour on some ceremonial occasions. It is not known whether a woman was ever the leader of her tribe; it is however. unlikely. in view of the higher status held by men both in the tribe and the family. There is no historical evidence that women had any higher status in their tribes at that time* 2 However, sometimes a woman might play an important role in politics. For example, she might be a particularly influential wife or sister, or, daught6r to the tribe's chief. or a messenger of peace between disputing tribes. For livelihood. the Bedouin depended on tilreq. sources. These were fees and animals: 1) Every tribe had the right to protect its territory just as states do. If a foreigner wanted to cross this territory, he would need to be-, under the protection of a member of the tribe. Any group, such as aýcaravan or another tribe, needing to cross its had to seek and be granted permission. It was customary. for such permission, for a tribe to pay a fee. The tribe's pastures were clearly considered to be the tribe's own land as long as that tribe remained and settled on the land. However, when the tribe moved on to another place$ the new land becomes its own, while the previous territory became the property of whoever moved on to it. Refusal to pay the required'feas often caused inter-tribal wars-. 1. Uboný GlWtavep VAdjrat al-Arab,, P*100* 2. al-Fabbiýgh; Laylg. al-Ma. Ah Fr al'-T; rfokh al.! Arabr (Women in Arab History)& P* 235* 1 9
2) The second source of support was camels and horses. "The Bedouin is truly the parasite of the camel, just as the camel is truly the ship of the desert. " The importance of the Lamels and horses to the society, particularly in transport and for warfare. is indicated by the fact that they were a means to estimate dowry and a measure of a man's wealth. 2 3) Finally, and most important of all as a source of livelihood. were the spoils obtained in wars and raids. Such raids were usually made by a tribe against other tribes unconnected with it by blood or kinship. The aim of the raiding tribe. most of the time, was to take possession of such booty as cattle. camels, horses. weapons and even women* As it was suggested: "raids were a basic way of earning a living and there were many reasons for them. For example. when drought happens and water becomes scarce and pasture disappears. strong tribes make raids on the weak ones with a view to taking possession of their resources. " 3 "Wars might also be a result of deterioration in personal relationship between the chiefs of tribes which sometimes were connected with marriage, divorce and rivalry. " 4 All these factors necessitated that a tribe be constantly in a state of military mobilisation, either to undertake raids on other iribes defend itself against the raids of others. So. these political and economic factors in Bedouin society had a great effect on the woman's status. But what was the woman's role under such severe social and political conditions? We can divide the role of woman in these aspects into two parts: in her hegative role. she was a victim sometimes captive in these continual wars, while in her limited positive role. she might be either the reason for going to war or sometimes, the 'messenger of 1. Holt,. Arxwkg Hermard, op* citq Pe 49 2. Ali, op. cit., Vol. 5, P. 337 3. Ibid* 4, Ibid. or to 4" 10
- Page 1 and 2: THE CHANGING POSITION OF WOMEN IN A
- Page 3 and 4: ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to exp
- Page 5 and 6: INTRODUCTION The Islamic and Arabic
- Page 7 and 8: The status of women in Islamic and
- Page 9 and 10: civilization or of both combined. S
- Page 11: funcultivatable valley', although i
- Page 15 and 16: and would not take them captive, be
- Page 17 and 18: fight Muslims; not satisfied with t
- Page 19 and 20: From the Qurlan, we know that she w
- Page 21 and 22: would not marry at all unless she h
- Page 23 and 24: unequal match. "If you can't find a
- Page 25 and 26: ut also among the Hebrews and Arame
- Page 27 and 28: that The fact is/ this marriage doe
- Page 29 and 30: elated to the economic and social c
- Page 31 and 32: However. Islam forbade this kind of
- Page 33 and 34: How was the wife treated Most of th
- Page 35 and 36: 49 Another example is the Zainah ma
- Page 37 and 38: 'Excepýi for rare cases in countri
- Page 39 and 40: ArZý; The wife of Shai used to dis
- Page 41 and 42: A man could divorce his wife. remar
- Page 43 and 44: women as the Qurlan says: For those
- Page 45 and 46: divorce. the man takes compensation
- Page 47 and 48: The Woman's Inheritance in Pre-Isla
- Page 49 and 50: among his children. giving to a mal
- Page 51 and 52: asking him to bring his mother, Lay
- Page 53 and 54: Burying Daughters Alive In Pre-Isla
- Page 55 and 56: 2. The second motive was the fear t
- Page 57 and 58: "But infanticide was not a new thin
- Page 59 and 60: Or was it at any' specific age ? Th
- Page 61 and 62: some mothers must have felt that it
A tribe comprises a group <strong>of</strong> small clans headed by the chief <strong>of</strong><br />
the tribe, who had certain responsibilities as explained by Lebon.<br />
"At all times. the desert Nomads <strong>of</strong>, Arabs were divided into small<br />
tribes. Each <strong>of</strong> these tribes was under the command <strong>of</strong> a Sheikh or<br />
Amir (a leader) whose responsibility was to lead warrior and distribute<br />
booty, and to be the guest <strong>of</strong> honour on some ceremonial occasions.<br />
It is not known whether a woman was ever the leader <strong>of</strong> her tribe;<br />
it is however. unlikely. in view <strong>of</strong> the higher status held by men<br />
both in the tribe and the family. There is no historical evidence<br />
that women had any higher status in their tribes at that time* 2<br />
However, sometimes a woman might play an important role in politics.<br />
For example, she might be a particularly influential wife or sister,<br />
or, daught6r to the tribe's chief. or a messenger <strong>of</strong> peace between<br />
disputing tribes.<br />
For livelihood. the Bedouin depended on tilreq. sources. These<br />
were fees and animals:<br />
1) Every tribe had the right to protect its territory just as<br />
states do. If a foreigner wanted to cross this territory, he<br />
would need to be-, under the protection <strong>of</strong> a member <strong>of</strong> the tribe. Any<br />
group, such as aýcaravan or another tribe, needing to cross its had<br />
to seek and be granted permission. It was customary. for such<br />
permission, for a tribe to pay a fee. The tribe's pastures were<br />
clearly considered to be the tribe's own land as long as that tribe<br />
remained and settled on the land. However, when the tribe moved on to<br />
another place$ the new land becomes its own, while the previous<br />
territory became the property <strong>of</strong> whoever moved on to it. Refusal to<br />
pay the required'feas <strong>of</strong>ten caused inter-tribal wars-.<br />
1. Uboný GlWtavep VAdjrat al-Arab,, P*100*<br />
2. al-Fabbiýgh; Laylg. al-Ma. Ah Fr al'-T; rfokh al.! Arabr (Women in Arab<br />
History)& P* 235*<br />
1<br />
9