The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-07-15
The mOsLEM WOMAN.
Her Condition Said to be by no
Means so DepIorable as Gener-
ally Believed.

women in Christian lands. From time
to time this view is called in question
by Occidental scholars. The latest
challenge of this kind comes from
Baron Won Fabrice, a traveller and a
specialist in Oriental life, and from
the Daheim (Leipsic. No. 30) we
translate and condense MS views as
follows:
It must be acknowledged that in
com parison with the high ideal Of
womanhood that finds expression in
the Christian Scriptures, the Koran
stands on low level. History, how
ever, shows what remarkably excellent
results have been achieved through
the teachings Of the Koran in this re-
spect, even among the barbarian peo-
pies of Asia and Afrcia, and to the
present day the spread of Islam is an
Important factor of progress for the
nergo tribes in Central Africa, SO that
the Mohammedan propaganda there is
by no means an unmlxed evil Ihe
Koran itself, properly interpreted,
does not prevent the social and econom-
ic advancement of women. Charges
made in this direction against the
Arabian prophet and his book are
largely based on ignorance. The de-
plorab BILE condition in which women are
found in many sections Of the Moslem
Orient, and which are often no worse
than can be found in the Christian
lands along the Mediterranean sea, is
nos the outcome of the teachings Of
the Koran, but rather the result OF
the traditions Of half-civilized peo-
pies going back to period that ante
dates the introduction Of the Moslem
religion. It is a significant fact that
the hourishing period of Moham-
medan power, when the Arabs were
masters of Spain, and when Islam cul-
ture and civilization fourished as never
before or after, was marked by the
beginning of chivalry-the special ser
vice and love of women that charac-
terized the middle ages.
Throughout the Orient the Koran
has not advanced, but has curtailed
polygamy. The book nowhere COM
mends polygamy; the prophet even de-
clares it to be meritorious if a man
have but one wife. He indeed per-
mits man to take more than one wife,
but on conditions which, if strictly
observed, make polygamy almost I'M
possible. Mohammed orders that the
husband must be equally gentle and
Just to each of his wives, must be en-
tirely impartial and show no fayori-
tism. It is noteworthy that the pro-
phet himself could not keep his own
command in this respect. At the pres
ent time, the majority of the Moslems
of higher rank practice monogamy.
Polygamy is widely spread onl y among
the wealthier middle classes, here the
wife is at the same time the servant,
doing the housework.
Again, the exclusion Of women from
the world outside Of the house is not
a command of the Koran, which
directs only that she shall be yelled.
Only recently Turkish LADY, Alihe
Hanum, published brochure in
which she attempts to prove that the
prophet in giving his command IN
tended that women should cover their
hair only and not their faces with
wells, as is still the custom among
voner of the nomad tribes. Legally,
indeed, the Mohammedan girl can be
compelled to enter upon marriage !;
but orthodox commentators on the
Koran are unanimous in condemnlng
the father who compels his children
TO marry against their will, just as
they condemn the careless ano cause
less divorcing Of WIFE wnlcn. accofoe u
ing to the "Hadets, - or traditions OF
Moslem dogmatics, is an act most nc,
offensive in the eyes OF Allan. Inc
directions of the Koran in this line,
separated from casuistic additions OF
later periods, would make such a
divorce almost impossible.
There is, however, no denying that,
Notwithstanding the dark side to the
status of women according to the
Koran and the civilization Of Moham-
mechanism. the Eastern woman has
some advantages that must make her
an object of envy to her Western
sister, especially to the latter when
left alone and without support. The
orthodox Moslem regards the state OF
celibacv as sinful and disgrace; and
it is seldom that Moslem girl IS
compelled to struggle for her own sup
mort. As a rule, such girls all marry
and found families. The husband ~ a!u
must make settlement upon his vile,
in order to furnish her support IN
case of his death. Then, too, all the
nossessions that woman brings with
her when she marries remain her own
and are kept separate from the proper
~ of her husband. Many rich helreSs
Ieeps after marriage the manager OF
her property which she had before
marriage, and the independent con-
troll Of woman's possessions is as
much feature of Moslem . law as it
was of the Roman. Indeed, Moslem
women are so independent in the man
aeement of their own property that
thew often become the victims of un-
scrupulous usurers.
The Koran directs that the son shall
show the greatest respect for his moth
er. and the husband is directed to
treat her witt. kindness. The Koran,
however. makes the husband the
absolute master of the wife and gives
him two means of enforcing his
authority, namely, the Law and the
stick According to the former, he
can divorce her; and the Koran con-
tains long list of instances under
-, 4ho bucban6 is rernitted to