Hi Salman,

The point is that someone who may get something wrong about Islam does not mean that they have a 'deep-seated hatred of Islam'. Ignorance is not the same as hatred.

I'm not that interested in Islam or the rules or history discussed, but my job as a moderator is to keep things on here civil and encourage everyone to discuss things politely.

Hi all,

This is my first post , so please bear with me if thereis any mistake.

I believe I can thow some light on this issue as I am from the place where Satidaha was abundunt and where satidaha was stopped. (Calcutta, Bengal,India)

Jhumjhum is right about the history. It was the British who stopped this by making a rule and we Indians should really thank them.

@ Salman: 1. In Hindu law a women could inherit properties. After death of a person, the property belongs to his wife unless there is any will made. ( Muslim Law is different and in India both system are followed)

2. At that time child marriage was rampant in India. So, after the death of the husband the widow's were burnt along with the deadbody. The pretext was to help the poor widow from spending the rest of her life in hell like condition. (widow marriage was bannd at that time)

3. Satidaha was glorified by the Queens of different small but independent states. They used to burn themselves (willingly) with their husbands deadbody. This used to happen when the states were defeated by Muslim Kings . The queens had to options: either to die or marry the Muslim king. So, they always preffered the first option.

Widows never participated in satidaho willingly (90%) ...rest 10 % did this because  they used to love their husband so much that there was no meaning for them to live in the world.

Satidaho should not be equalled with mercy killing/suicide.. It was almost always homicide.

Soeleen wrote:

Exactly! Mithunbarik, you are right and there's one more interesting fact. When the woman was burnt ,she was made to wear all her jewlery and after the act of Sati was over,the Brahmins (who performed this act) took all the left over precious jewlery ! It was kind of a profit for them .