I would like to throw some light on the question of women's position in the East as compared to their condition in the West.

I see now so many things on the streets of London of which the Londoners are unaware; but a minute observer, particularly who has visited this place after years², is struck by hard facts and realities of things.³

2. Change in Women's Position

I wonder at the change for the worse in the position of the fair sex in the West. Now men seldom leave their seats in trains for ladies; they neither allow precedence to women while getting down a car. I would not blame men for this. It is the result of women's own conduct: they are mad after Liberty, and Equality with men. And therefore whatever we observe is the result of prevailing conditions, for which there is no remedy.

3. Eastern Women Occupy the Same High Position

Now I deem it necessary to remove some misunderstanding regarding the Eastern women, particularly among the Muslims and their relationship and treatment by males. European women have of their own free will got down from that high pedestal which they used to occupy long with all glory and grandeur. On the other hand, women in the East still occupy the same position with all respect and honour.

Europe is still worried over the fact that Turkish women have no distinctive role to play in society. This is all due to their ignorance of our domestic life. They have yet to understand wisdom behind the veil. Our women's veiled segregation is not due to the fact that men are immoral. Woman, in fact, is the Lord's holiest creature. And her sex relationship necessitates that she must live immune from undesirable eyes. In Arabic, Harem means "holy and sacred land" which should not be polluted by the interference of strangers.

4. Purda Further Explained

There are other reasons also for the observance of Purda but they are more or less biological and therefore they may not be discussed here. Here I wish to point out what was the basic idea behind the custom.

In this world woman is the most sacred means of procreation; and it is a fact that creative functionaries lie always hidden and concealed in life.

Respect and honour of an Eastern woman lie behind Purda in which there has been no departure within the last so many centuries.

In fact women have all along been enjoined to keep themselves aloof from strangers.

In the Qur'an numerous rules have been mentioned with regard to the segregation of women, and Purda is one of them. It is also laid down that when on any occasion men and women face each other they should never look through. If the entire world follows this rule there shall be no necessity for the customary Purda. In India and other Muslim countries many women never use Burqa. In fact the Burqa is expressive of a particular mental attitude of the woman.

Some overt act is necessary to strengthen that attitude. This may differ according to the individual and national conditions of mankind.

Numerous are the objections raised against the institution called Harem, but let me make it clear that it was nothing common but related only to the kings and the sultans.

5. Polygamy

When I speak of Eastern women that must necessarily lead you to think of polygamy. There is no doubt that Islam permits polygamy which is, indeed, the only effective remedy for unrestrained fornication.

Monogamy must be our ideal. But what remedy have we for the evil where women outnumber men?

In the medieval ages Europe had started the institutions of nunneries and temples to absorb their super-abundance; but today it is impossible to resuscitate those institutions.

The so-called Industrial Revolution has created a sense of revolt against polygamy among men and women but I am afraid the social miseries continue as they were before.

I do not mean to say that polygamy is the panacea for all our ills, but, I must confess, the very idea makes me nervy that henceforth women should work for their own livelihood.

This shall tend to despoil the feminine essence for ever.

6. Women in Islam

Islam, however, has no obligatory and permanent rule of polygamy. According to Muslim jurisprudence, the reigning government can alone annul this permissive law if it tends to destroy social life.

According to Muslim law, a woman, even after divorce, is entitled to manage her property with a view to safeguard her rights; she can carry on business, and may seek legal remedies in a court of law. The very same jurists have held that she can even be elected a Caliph.

A husband is duty bound to provide for his wife's maintenance, in addition to the payment of dowry. In order to enforce her above rights she can take full possession of her husband's property.

7. Divorce

The Muslim law of divorce is not without some lessons and interests.

Muslim women have similar right of divorce as their husbands have. In order to enforce that right on occasion, she may, at the time of marriage contract, nominate her brother, father or even a stranger, to work as her agent in the matter. This is technically known as Tafwidh (delegation of power). I leave it to the sense of the European jurists to find out why this indirect method was considered necessary to safeguard woman's rights.