Bedouin, pre-Islamic society consisted of tribes and clans, with people of each gender contributing to the social and economic aspects. It is evident that women in Arabian bedouin culture enjoyed greater freedom and a higher status than those in other neighboring civilizations. Women played key economic roles, namely weaving cloth and raising children, to say the least. Many tribes were matrilineal, due to the fact that the men of the nomadic tribes were often on the move. As stability within towns increased, though, descent was traced through the males more often. Position of women varied with class. Upper class women had economic positions, more or less, while lower class women had virtually no rights. Sometimes, men and women alike were allowed multiple marriage partners. The man was required to pay a bride price to his fiance's family, preceding the marriage. Women in Arabia were not secluded, demonstrate

With Muhammad came the beginning of Islamic society. Muhammad's reforms in the Quran and the Hadiths, affirming the rules of moral conduct, affected the relations amongst men and women in Arabia. Islam affirmed the spiritual equality amongst men and women, in the eyes of Allah. In the first centuries of Islam, subordination was outreached by a greatly strengthened position. Muhammad's teachings and the orders of the Quran stressed the moral and ethical perspectives on marriage. The bonds between husband and wife were strengthened by the example of Muhammad's bond with his own wives. He encouraged marriage, and forbade female infanticide, which had been rampant in pre-Islamic times. Multiple marriages were allowed, as compared to pre-Islamic times, but the Quran did not allow multiple marriages if the man was incapable of supporting more than one wife. The rights of women in inheritance and divorce were notably strengthened. Muhammad demanded that the bride price be given to the actual prospective wife, as opposed to it being given to her father. Women were some of Muhammad's earliest followers, and many played important roles in compiling the Quran itself.

d by the fact that they were not forced to wear veils. Their advice was highly regarded, and they had certain career options, such as poetry writing. Altho

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