Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women

The setting is Baghdad during the period between the Gulf Wars, marked by a surge in weddings. This is attributed to Saddam Hussein’s policies encouraging marriage and procreation to counteract war-related demographic losses. A typical wedding scene is described: lavish celebrations with a parade of bridal limousines, drummers, and elaborate banquets. Brooks depicts the legal aspect of marriage in the Islamic wedding contract, or aqd, which serves as a pragmatic, unromantic document similar to a prenuptial agreement in the West. This contract can stipulate a woman’s rights, including her right to work, continue her education, and obtain a divorce under specific conditions, such as if the husband takes a second wife.

However, Brooks also discusses the immense pressure on both the bride and groom. The groom must prove his virility, and the bride, her virginity. Failure to demonstrate these can lead to severe consequences, including the bride’s potential repudiation and endangerment. The intense scrutiny of the bride’s virginity is exemplified by the practice of checking for a bloodstained sheet as evidence, a practice still important in modern, urban families.

Brooks also explores the broader context of marriage in Islamic societies. She highlights the segregation of men and women in daily life, the delay of marriage due to economic and educational factors, and the enduring practice of arranged marriages.