Woman Between Islam and Western Society
5. Position of Woman in the Islamic Shari‘ah
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the mercy of his Lord, be compared to the
unbeliever? ... Truly, none will take heed but
men of understanding.
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IN THE FIELD OF ACTION
The general lot of women in the early days of Islam
was frequently a hard one, but they bore themselves
with remarkable fortitude and adapted themselves
to whatever conditions they found themselves in.
One shining example is that of Abu Bakr’s daughter
Asma’, who was born 27 years before the
Emigration. When she accepted Islam in Mecca, the
Muslims were just 17 in number.
When Abu Bakr emigrated to Medina, he possessed
6000
dirhams,
all of which he took with him. When
his father, Abu Qahafa, beard of this, he came to his
family to console them and said, “I think that Abu
Bakr has not only given us a shock by leaving you
alone, but I suppose he has also taken all the money
with him.” Asma’ then told her grandfather that he
had left them well provided for. She thereupon
collected some small stones and with them she
filled up the niche where Abu Bakr had formerly
kept his money. She covered the pile of stones with
