The story of the Qur'an: its history and place in Muslim life

Abstract

God Hears and RespondsBefore God mentioned her, Khawla bint Tha'laba was apparently an ordinary woman living in seventh-century Medina in the Arabian Peninsula.For every person in this tribally organized sedentary community, dignity and honor were, to a large extent, commensurate with the status of his or her group.Descent (nasab) or affiliation (wala') with a powerful clan was, for many people, a decisive factor in determining physical security and material success.Still, every individual had opportunities to prove the strength of his or her own character (hasab).For men, politics and war were arenas of particular distinction.Most women had little chance of significantly contributing to these areas of public life, although there were notable exceptions. 1 Rather, most women distinguished themselves by establishing and maintaining beneficial relationships with family, neighbors, and guests.Beauty, an energetic spirit, generosity, loyalty -these were the hallmarks of a noble woman.As the charms of youthful beauty faded, a woman could expect to earn increasing respect and gratitude for the relationships she had cultivated over the years.It may have been anger that made Aws ibn Samit reject his wife with the vulgar expression, "To me, you are like the backside of my mother." 2 Whatever the reason, after so many years of marriage, these words reduced Khawla to the status of his mother's behind (devoid of sensual attraction and taboo).Moreover, according to Arab custom, there was no way to revoke the declaration of zihar.Henceforth, it was prohibited for Aws to touch Khawla, yet she was not free of the marital bond.Sympathetic family

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