Women In Islam

Women in Islam versus Women in the Judaeo-Christian Tradition

Women in Islam versus Women in the

Judaeo-Christian Tradition. The Myth and the Reality

In fact, the difference between the Biblical and the Quranic attitude

towards the female sex starts as soon as a female is born. For example, the

Bible states that the period of the mother's ritual impurity is twice as long

if a girl is born than if a boy is (Lev. 12:2-5). The Catholic Bible states

explicitly that: " The birth of a daughter is a loss" (Ecclesiasticus 22:3).

In contrast to this shocking statement, boys receive special praise: "A man

who educates his son will be the envy of his enemy." (Ecclesiasticus 30:3)

Jewish Rabbis made it an obligation on Jewish men to produce offspring in

order to propagate the race.

At the same time, they did not hide their clear

preference for male children : "It is well for those whose children are male

but ill for those whose are female", "At the birth of a boy, all are joyful...at

the birth of a girl all are sorrowful", and "When a boy comes into the

world, peace comes into the world... When a girl comes, nothing comes." 7

A daughter is considered a painful burden, a potential source of shame to

her father:"Your daughter is headstrong? Keep a sharp look-out that she

does not make you the laughing stock of your enemies, the talk of the town,

the object of common gossip, and put you to public shame" (Ecclesiasticus

42:11), "Keep a headstrong daughter under firm control, or she will abuse

any indulgence she receives. Keep a strict watch on her shameless eye, do

not be surprised if she disgraces you" (Ecclesiasticus 26:10-11).