Clarify for me the status of women in the pre-Islamic era (Jahiliyyah) and in Islam?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
In the pre-Islamic era (Jahiliyyah), women were mere chattel owned and disposed of by men. They neither inherited nor possessed any rights over their husbands. Their ' (waiting period) was a full year, observed in the most repulsive state. They practiced corrupt forms of marriage such as istibda' (seeking conception from a prominent man), shighar (exchange marriage), and mut'ah (temporary marriage). They loathed the birth of daughters and buried them alive for fear of disgrace.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/57280
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 57280
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy