The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 78
Seal of the Prophets - Volume I 78 would enter their homes through the rear. The Holy Qur’ān makes mention of this as well. 1 Among various tribes it was a custom that if an individual died, his camel would be tied in the proximity of his grave until it too would die of hunger and thirst. The practice of lamentation and mourning over the dead was excessively rampant among the women. Mourning over the dead would continue year upon year. In Arabia, generally, women did not milk animals and it was considered disgraceful for women to do so. If in any family a woman was seen performing this task, that household would fall in the eyes of others. It was also a ritual to release animals to wander freely as an offering in the name of idols and as an oblation. In this respect, four types of animals were recognized: Firstly, a Sā’ibah , which referred to a she-camel which gave birth to ten female camels consecutively. Conveyance on she-camels of this kind would be completely relinquished. Moreover, save guests, the use of its milk was not considered lawful, nor was it stripped of its wool. Secondly, a Baḥīrah , which referred to the eleventh female child of a Sā’ibah. The ears of a Baḥīrah were cut down the middle and released to roam free with her mother. Thirdly, a Ḥām , which was the name given to a camel that was the father of ten female children, would also be left to roam independently. Fourthly, a Waṣīlah , which referred to a she-goat that gave birth to ten female children consecutively. The meat of the offspring of such a she-goat was consumed only by men, and considered unlawful for women. Albeit, if any of its children died, women were also permitted to consume its meat. 2 The Holy Qur’ān has also mentioned these animals. 3 Many outlandish nuptial rituals were also practiced. Generally, there were four types of matrimony. The most deviant and filthiest type was that a few men would come to a single woman and one after another they would incur dishonour upon themselves by illicit intercourse. At the birth of her child these men would gather around her once again and the child would be attributed to whoever the woman held responsible. However, the nobles were free of such 1 Al-Baqarah (2:190) 2 * As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Malik bin Hishām, pp. 81-82, Amrul-Buḥairati was-Sā’ibati wal-Waṣīlah wal-Ḥāmī, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) * Al-An‘ām (6:140) 3 Al-Mā’idah (5:104)