The new concept of women’s equality
with the men enunciated in the Qur’anic verses and the teachings of the
Prophet was so revolutionary that it virtually meant her rebirth in a new
society. In the pre-Islamic
world she was everywhere regarded as a dumb pet animal or lifeless object of
inheritence: She was either
buried alive or kept as an article of decoration.
It was at this time that she was accorded her rightful place in the
society and family life by a clean sweep brought about by Islam.
The change was welcomed all over the world, particularly, in the
countries where Islam made a debut triumphantly and took over the reins of
government. It also played a
vital role as a reformative agent in those societies where woman had no
right to live by herself and was forced to immolate herself in the event of
her husband’s death.
The Muslim rulers of India did all that was possible to reford the
Indian society and to discourage such customs as Sati, but they always
ensured that they did not interfere with the religion, customs and
traditions of others. The
French physician, Dr. Francois Bernier who visited India during the reign of
Shahjahan has described the efforts made by Muslim rulers to discourage the
custom of self-immolation among Hindu women.
“The number of victims is less now than formerly; the Mahomedans by
whom the country is governed, doing all in their power to suppress the
barbarous custom. They do not,
indeed, forbid it by positive law because it is a part of their policy to
leave the idolatrous population, which is so much more numerous than their
own, in the free exercise of its religion; but the practice is checked by
indirect means. No woman can
sacrifice herself without permission from the governor of the province in
which she resides and he never grants it until he shall have ascertained
that she is not to be turned aside from her purpose:
to accomplish this desirable end the governor reasons with the widow
and makes her enticing promises; after which, if these methods fail,
he sometimes sends her among his women, that the effect of their
remonstrances may be tried. Notwithstanding these obstacles, the number of
self-immolations is still very considerable, particularly in the territories
of the Rajas, where no Mohamodan governors are appointed.”(23)
