Page 86 - Pure Life 40
P. 86
Social Status of Afghan Women During The History… M. Z. Saeidi & M. Ghanbari Alanaq (61
Evidence from inscriptions and Islamic justice decreased and led to the
artistic representations indicates that revival of class distinctions between
women played significant social roles, Arabs and non-Arabs. This offended
including holding government positions, many Muslims and provoked rebellions,
in Khorasan and Transoxiana during the such as those led by Abū Muslim
rise of Islam. During the Kushan period, Khorāsāni and Yaḥyā ibn Zayd. In this
Afghanistan became a cultural way, the social chaos caused by the
crossroads that fostered tolerance and unrest hurt the cultural and social
acceptance of diverse customs and conditions, and therefore, until the
traditions (Ġobār, 1989, Vol. 1, p. 66). establishment of independent local
governments in Afghanistan, we will
2. The Status of Women in Early not find prominent figures among
Islamic Centuries women. It is worth mentioning that
At the time of the rise of Islam, women during the uprising of Abū Muslim, a
in different societies lacked value and woman named Bibi Sity was
proper status. However, Islam mentioned, although later she chose
recognized women as human beings seclusion and became a Ṣūfist (Jāvīd,
elevated their status, and granted 2003, p. 36; Ḥusseinī, 1994, p. 43).
women rights that were not only
progressive for that time, but are still 3. Women in the Era of Independent
relevant today. Local Governments
The goal of Islam was to enlighten 3.1. Ṭāhirīds, Ṣafārīds, and
society and promote respect and dignity Sāmānīds Eras
for everyone, especially the lower The decline of political unrest and the
classes. It dismantled class structures emergence of independent local
and claimed that all humanity has a governments led to a shift in focus
common origin. Islam established an towards cultural affairs. While the
equal relationship between rulers and Ṭāherīds were able to achieve political
subordinates and thus transformed and independence, the Ṣafārīd state
improved human relations. According recognized the Dari language, and Dari
to Islam, both men and women are literature flourished during this period
equal and piety is the criterion of with notable works in prose and verse.
superiority (The Quran, 49: 13). This Key texts such as Ṭabarī’s exegesis and
principle allowed women to actively history, Kalila wa Dimna, and ‘Aja’ib
participate in political, social, al-Buldan were translated into Dari,
economic, and military fields. and prominent poets such as Rūdakī
Unfortunately in Khorasan, with the Samarqandī and Rabīʾa Balkhī
rise of the Umayyad rulers, the spirit of emerged (Ġobār, 1989, Vol. 1, p. 99).
