BARAZA: THE MUSLIM WOMEN OF SUBSTANCE

BARAZA: The Muslim Women of Substance

Arif Mohammed Khan

Contrary to the popular perception, the early Muslim society produced women who came to symbolize an explosive mix of beauty, critical intelligence and caustic wit. They were known for their learning and articulation and displayed great talent of sanity and repartee. They jealously guarded their freedom of will and action, and believed in the idea of gender equality. It goes to their credit that wherever they felt the weight of prevailing custom and law going against the principle of equality, they refused to submit and asserted their freedom and dignity. The women who possessed these qualities were described as BARAZA women.

According to Arabic Lexicon Lisan al-Arab “A Baraza woman is one who does not hide her face nor lowers her head. She is seen by people and receives visitors at home. She is a person of sound judgment and is known for her reasoning (AQL) and her articulation (QADIRUL KALAM)”.

These women grew up in an environment where Arab fathers proudly assumed surnames after their accomplished and beautiful daughters. They freely conversed with men without embarrassment and absolute unconsciousness of evil. 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 and that partly explains her revolt against the oppressive political and social practices that hinder the individual freedom – including the veiling (Hijab). She abhorred the Umayyads and their bloody politics. She spared no opportunity to attack and insult the dynasty and their officials publicly including in mosques. Her erudition and poetic skills, refined taste and humor made her the first among the women of her time and according to Amir Ali her residence was the resort of poets, jurists and learned and pious people of all classes.
Lady Sukayna married more than once and ensured her control over marital affairs by inclusion of necessary stipulations in the marriage contract. More specifically, she retained the freedom to defy marital obligations (NUSHUZ) and insisted on husband giving up the right to polygamy. In one case when husband violated the condition she filed a suit and secured divorce. During the proceedings she turned to her husband and called across the courtroom “Have a good look at me! From now on you will no longer see my face” It is reported in Arab chronicles that the Judge was dumbfounded to see the terms of marriage and the Caliph had deputed an officer to keep him posted about the progress of the trial.

But Lady Sukayna was not the first woman to insist on monogamous marriage. In fact there is more than one narration in Bukhari showing that the marriage contracts of all the daughters of the Blessed Prophet provided that the husband shall not have the right take another woman during the lifetime of the wife.

There were countless women who followed this tradition but the most prominent were Umm Salama who married the first Abbasi Caliph Abbas Saffah and Umm Musa who married Caliph Mansoor. Both of them had insisted on monogamy clause, a condition that was accepted and honored by their powerful husbands.

Last but not least is Aisha bint Talha. She combined in her person, noble descent, captivating beauty and lofty spirit three qualities admired most by Arabs. According to Abul Faraj, when rebuked by her husband Musab bin Zubayr for not veiling her face she said “God has made me beautiful and I wish people to see me and recognize His Grace in my beauty and glorify Him.”