Woman Between Islam and Western Society
12. Conclusion
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intellectually aroused can perform the greatest of
services, whereas, if she is left ignorant and
untutored, she will never — even if she is brought
to the forefront of things — be able to play a role of
any significance.
There have been many women in history who never
emerged from their homes, but who exerted a great
influence upon the outside world. A notable
example is Nur Jahan, a widow taken to wife by the
Mughal Emperor, Jehangir, in 1611. Although
according to time honored custom, Nur Jahan lived
almost exclusively in the palace, all historians are
agreed that she exerted a strong influence, through
Jehangir, far and beyond the palace walls. This is
not to say that she never committed blunders. She
did, the greatest of which was her conspiracy to
have her own son-in-law, Shaharyar (married to the
daughter of her deceased husband), succeed
Jehangir, who, on the contrary, wished Prince
Khurram (Shah Jahan), the ablest of his three sons,
to be his successor. This was a plot which led to
great strife and bloodshed, but, leaving this aside,
the example of Nur Jahan certainly shows to what
extent a capable woman can influence the affairs of
