Arab Opinions on Women

'Amr ibn al-'Ala' said: The most knowing of men about women is 'Alqama ibn 'Abada, the physician, where he says:

If you ask me about women, then truly
I am learned in women's ailments — a physician:
When a man's head grows gray, or his wealth grows scant,
he has no portion in their affection;
They want abundance of wealth wherever they know it to be,
and the bloom of youth is a wonder in their eyes.

And from Mu'adh ibn Jabal: You have been tried with the trial of adversity, and you endured; but I fear for you the trial of prosperity — and that is women: when they deck themselves with gold, and wear the mantles of Syria and the striped stuff of Yemen, they weary the rich man and burden the poor man with more than he can bear.

And 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan said: Let him who would take a slave girl for pleasure take a Berber; let him who wants her for offspring take a Persian; and let him who wants her for service take a Greek.