Download - University of Salford Institutional Repository

From the Qurlan, we know that she was not an autocratic queen (Q. 27: 29).
She was a strong ruler. but she used to consult her wise people about
certain matters. Another queen whom the historical books wrote about
waw al-Zab6a: who ruled Tadmur, who was known for her courage and
wisdom and for fighting a long war with the Roman Empire. 1
It is possible that the ordinary woman in some Arab societies
had a fair degree of status. Here we shall sketch the portraits
of some women who took the stage and outline certain of the secenes
in which they played a role in their own society. For example,
Khadijah. the first wife of the Prophet, was a rich widow of Quraysh
who was an independant business woman, engaged in trade, and managed
her own affairs. It is known too. that Hind bint'Utbah, the wife
of MIT Su- T j; n had high status in her own family, and that her
father did not give her in marriage without her consent.
Although there is little direct information to illustrate the personal
history of these women, the impression given is of an increase in
status. The picture is far from complete and it may well be that even
in the Urban areas the majority of women had few rights.
1. Al-Uufi, op. cit.. P. 530
2. Ibid
2
16