Contrary to popular perception, early Muslim societyproduced women who came to symbolise an explosive mix of beauty, criticalintelligence and caustic wit. They were known for their learning andarticulation, and displayed great talent for conversation and repartee. Theyjealously guarded their freedom of will and action, and believed in the idea ofgender equality. Wherever they felt the weight of prevailing custom and lawgoing against the principle of equality, they refused to submit and assertedtheir freedom and dignity. Such women were described as Baraza women.
According to Arabic Lexicon Lisan al-Arab, "A Baraza woman is onewho does not hide her face nor lowers her head. She is seen by people andreceives visitors at home. She is a person of sound judgment and is known forher reasoning (aql) and her articulation (qadirul kalam)".
They grew up in an environment where Arab fathers proudly assumed surnames aftertheir accomplished and beautiful daughters. They conversed freely with men.
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The poet Firdausi has aptly described them as:
Lips full of smiles, countenance full of modesty
Conduct virtuous, conversation lively.
The most famous among the Baraza women was Lady Sukayna, daughter of Imam Husayn.She had seen the butchery of Kerbala, which partly explains her revolt againstthe oppressive political and social practices that hindered individual freedom,including the oppressive version of the veil (hijab). She abhorred theUmayyad rulers and their politics. She spared no opportunity to attack andinsult the dynasty and its officials publicly as well as inside mosques. Hererudition and poetic skills, refined taste and humor made her the first amongthe women of her time, and, according to Amir Ali, her residence was a haven forpoets, jurists, the learned and the pious from all classes.
Lady Sukayna married more than once and ensured her control over marital affairsby including the necessary stipulations in the marriage contract. Morespecifically, she retained the freedom to defy marital obligations (nushuz)and insisted on her husband giving up the right to polygamy. When her husbandviolated the condition, she filed a suit and secured divorce. During divorceproceedings she turned to her husband and said across the courtroom, "Havea good look at me. From now on you will no longer see my face". Arabchronicles say that the judge was dumbfounded to see the terms of marriage andthe Caliph deputed an officer to keep him posted about the progress of thetrial.
BUT LADY SUKAYNA was not the first woman to insist on a monogamous marriage. Infact, there is more than one narration in Bukhari showing that the marriagecontracts of all the daughters of the Blessed Prophet provided that the husbandwould not have the right to take another woman during the lifetime of the wife.
Countlesswomen followed this tradition, the most prominent among them being UmmSalama who married the first Abbasi Caliph Abbas Saffah, and Umm Musa whomarried Caliph Mansoor. Both of them insisted on the monogamy clause, acondition that was accepted and honored by their powerful husbands.
Last but not least was Aisha bint Talha. She combined in her person nobledescent, captivating beauty and lofty spirit -- three qualities admired most byArabs. According to Abul Faraj, when rebuked by her husband Musab bin Zubayr fornot veiling her face she said "God has made me beautiful and I wish peopleto see me and recognise His Grace in my beauty and glorify Him."
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Arif Mohammed Khan is a former Union Minister
