That infanticide was rare in the desert is the claim made by defenders of the faith. The following verses are quoted by Lane as going to show that the Arabs really had a tender feeling toward their women and their children; and that infanticide, which is commonly attributed to the whole Arab nation of every age before Islam, was in reality exceedingly rare in the desert, and after almost dying out only revived about the time of Mohammed. It was probably adopted by poor and weak clans, either from inability to support their children, or in order to protect themselves from the stain of having their children dishonoured by stronger tribes, and the occasional practice of this barbarous and suicidal custom affords no ground for assuming an unnatural hatred and contempt for girls among the ancient Arabs. These verses of a father to his daughter tell a different story:
If no Umaymah were there, no want would trouble my soul, no labour call me to toil for bread through pitchiest night;
What moves my longing to live is but that well do I know how low the fatherless lies, how hard the kindness of kin.
I quake before loss of wealth lest lacking fall upon her, and leave her shieldless and bare as flesh set forth on a board.
My life she prays for, and I from mere love pray for her death—yea, death, the gentlest and kindest guest to visit a maid.
I fear an uncle’s rebuke, a brother’s harshness for her; my chiefest end was to spare her heart the grief of a word.
Once more, the following lines do not breathe the spirit of infanticide:
Fortune has brought me down (her wonted way) from station great and high to low estate;
Fortune has rent away my plenteous store: of all my wealth, honour alone is left.
Fortune has turned my joy to tears: how oft did Fortune make me laugh with what she gave!