When you imagine Islamic women, the image that immediately comes to mind is a woman cloaked in black, without a visible part of her body. Even more, it is difficult to imagine this spectrum possessing any kind of sexuality. Yet, in Tariq Ali's novel, The Book of Saladin, the ancient Islamic world was exactly like this. Women were significantly freer and enjoyed great respect. Sex was openly talked about and homosexuality was widely recognized. In the book, the two characters of Halima and Jamila show the power of women during the golden age of Islam. They represent the strengths women can possess, ranging from philosophy to independence to musical skills. Compared to modern Muslim women, it seems that they are the ones who have to live in modern times. In the Book of Saladin Tariq Ali shows the strength of women in society, also underlining how free Muslims were from sexual mores compared to Europeans of the time. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayWhen you think of modern feminist, women in positions of power most likely come to mind. They are likely to be educated or very skilled at something, maybe even politics. In America, feminism has come a long way, there are even women running for president, something that wasn't even imaginable 25 years ago. However, nowadays Islam is a completely patriarchal society. What makes Halima and Jamila so special is how they manage to stand out in a male-dominated society. Ali is careful to note each woman's strengths. While each of them may not be historically accurate, what they show is the potential of women in the golden age of Islam in which they lived. Halima is important to the idea of ​​a powerful woman because of her independence. Although she is known for her beauty, this is not the only thing that defines her. For example, she is accused of adultery, due to her relationship with another man. Even when threatened with death, she remains true to herself. When she speaks to the Sultan, she is bold and confident, as Ibn Yakub, the Sultan's scribe, notes: “At this point her eyes burned…She spoke with confidence and without a trace of humility. He had completely regained control of himself and spoke to the Sultan with a confident voice as if he were addressing an equal” (24). Halima's willpower when speaking to the Sultan shows her confidence, if not her aggression. Being on the brink of death, and at such a young age (she's in her twenties), but still being so firm when speaking to the most powerful man in the kingdom shows her total confidence in herself. If nothing else, that's very bold of him. It is known that women in Islamic society today follow the whims of their husbands. If anyone spoke up for themselves as Halima did, almost a thousand years ago, they would almost certainly be put in prison, if they did not suffer harsher punishments. Instead the Sultan is extremely impressed. Ibn Yakub notes his reaction, stating that "Salah Al-Din had drunk every word, observed every gesture, and noticed every flash of the eyes" (27). The Sultan's reaction demonstrates the values ​​of Islamic society. Even though this woman should be sentenced to death for her crime, and in modern times would have been stoned to death, he instead opts for a different path. By sparing her, he demonstrates the value that Islamic society placed on independence. The fact that this value has also been extended to women demonstrates the kind of equality that women can be expected to have in society. Halima's episode with the Sultan shows how women can expect to receive fair treatment and are appreciated for their actions compared to justtype. The other main female character in the book is Jamila. While Halima is known for her hot-headedness and beauty, Jamila is extraordinary for her mind. Of course, she is also a beautiful woman, but what makes her so precious is her mind. This premise is established in Ibn Yakub's conversation with Halima, who states “It is Jamila who keeps our minds alive. His father was an enlightened sultan. He adored her and insisted that she be educated, just like her brothers” (94). The fact that Jamila was educated in itself was an extreme rarity. In European society, most people could not read, and the most a woman could hope to achieve was to be someone's wife. They would be taught how to be a woman, not how to understand complicated philosophies. Even now, women's education is an important issue. Girls in Middle Eastern countries are threatened if they go to school and the vast majority will never receive a secondary education. Here, in the 12th century, there is a woman who has the mental capacity to rationally question the existence of God. This can be seen in her letter to Ibn Yakub, which contains a parable that reads “How will you decide when a question… Mu'adh: According to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah. Prophet: What if I find nothing there? Mu'adh: Then I will apply my reasoning” (191). Jamila's ability to apply philosophical reasoning and logic to her life is an incredible skill. Being able to speak for yourself and think on your own shows a high level of critical thinking, not commonly found in most men. Especially in an era in which religion dictates the dictates of daily life and every action must take place according to certain rules. Jamila's intelligence is another way to demonstrate how valuable women were in ancient Islamic society. While she is also beautiful, Ali lets the reader know that the truly important part of her is her mind, which is what really needs to be respected. Another important aspect that is linked to the liberal parts of Islamic society is the freedom of sexuality. Likewise, in the dark ages of Europe, sex was considered immoral and illegal outside of marriage. In Islamic states it was widespread and talked about openly, even among men and women. For example, Jamila tells a story that reflects the openness of her sexuality towards Ibn Yakub, a person she had just met. She casually states, “I remember one occasion, soon after I became his wife. We were in bed and suddenly he decided to practice al-Azl, withdrawing at a critical moment” (123). Jamila's openness about her sex life is amazing. Even in modern society, this is a very private part of someone's life to share. Talking about it with someone who is practically a complete stranger is even more so. The liberalism of Muslim society in this period is an honest reflection of their social values. They like openness and sharing, discussion and contemplation. Being open about sex, something that is normally so stigmatized, is part of it. Beyond just normal sex, homosexuality is widely accepted. In fact, it was almost even popular. Ibn Yakub notes: “From a special brothel reserved exclusively for the nobility, a young prostitute had been procured for the night” (120). The fact that brothels with only male prostitutes existed speaks to their popularity. It would have been much more clandestine and less publicized if it had been illegal or even socially stigmatized. Instead, it is well known that there are many male prostitutes, who primarily serve other men. Noticing Muslims' openness to sex and sexuality, Ali is able to show in.