In the contract of marriage, as it is set forth in the pure Islamic
law that was sent down upon Allah’s final prophet and messenger, Muhammad (may
Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), there is such wisdom and perfection
whereas it achieves bliss, peace, and security for all men and women upon this
earth.
In the "Islamic marriage contract," Allah (God)
distributed the rights and obligations between men and women in a just and wise
manner. He has appointed for it a safety valve in the man’s hand as He (Exalted
be He) has said:
“Women have such honorable rights as obligations, but men have a
[single] degree above them.” (Qur’an 2:228)
Without going into the details of this contract:
1- In the "Islamic marriage contract," Allah obligated
upon the man to provide the woman a dower and maintenance which includes her
food, housing, and clothing. Allah placed maintenance of the children upon the
husband alone. Allah absolved women from the responsibility of seeking a
livelihood and the necessities of life for her or her children.
Allah says:
“And give the women their dowries as a gift spontaneous.” (Qur’an 4:4)
Allah also says:
“Men are the managers of the affairs of women for that Allah has
preferred one of them over another, and for that they have expended of their
property.” (Qur’an 4:34)
2- As for sexual pleasure, each spouse is to have pleasure with the other.
Allah says:
“... they (i.e., your wives) are a vestment for you, and you are
a vestament for them.” (Qur’an 2:187)
Allah also says :
“And of His signs is that He created for you, of yourselves,
spouses, that you might repose in them, and He has set between you love and
mercy. Surely in that are signs for a people who consider.” (Qur’an 30:21)
3- Among the rights that Allah gave to the man alone is the right to separate
and divorce his wife. This was such in order to preserve the secrets of
marriage, so that he is not forced to turn to injustice to the woman, degrade
her, or spread her secrets.
4- Upon divorcing his wife, Allah required that a man maintain her for
the waiting period (which if she is pregnant is until she gives birth; if she
is menstruating for three periods; and for all others three months). In any
case, he is forever responsible for the maintenance of her children. If she is
going to raise the children, it is "also" his responsibility to
maintain her. By that a woman is absolved from working or seeking the
necessities of life while she is a wife or when as a mother she is raising "his" children after divorce.
5- Allah also gave women the right to leave the marriage contract. In
this case, however, she must return to him the dower he gave her, unless he
drops that condition.
6- Allah almighty in the Holly Qur’an made the marriage contract “a strong pledge,” each one of them, man
and woman, must legally uphold this bond in this world and will accordingly be
judged in the Hereafter.
7- Islam gave men the right to marry up to four women at one time, provided
he is able to maintain them all. Of course, a woman who accepts this, accepts
such willingly and out of consent. Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, has
permitted this, so that no woman would remain without a husband; no man would
turn to illicit sex (for lawful means have been facilitated for him); and so
that each child would have a correct lineage to its parents.
Allah almighty says:
“... marry such women as seem good to you, two, three, four; but
if you fear you will not be equitable, then only one, or what your right hands
own; so it is likelier you will not be partial.” (Qur’an 4:3)
Without doubt those who desired to restrict a man to a single wife,
arguing for equality harshly reject that a man gather under his custody more
than one woman; where unable to achieve that.
Many men by instinct and nature cannot restrict themselves to one woman
or else he will engage in illicit sexual intercourse. When the preachers of this
“false” equality wanted to oppose the natural way, it collided with
them. This resulted in men taking girlfriends and lovers. Illicit sex spread,
illegitimate children multiplied, and human suffering became widespread.
Among this suffering is that men have turned to raping their
children. The statistics regarding this are extremely frightful. What crime
have these “preachers of equality” brought to humanity that they have turned
fathers into predatory beasts raping their daughters, offspring, and family
members.
This is what occurs in the closet. As for what openly occurs in
public, those whose nature has been perverted are delightful, proud and
boastful at the great number of wicked girlfriends and lovers they have. Yet
they have a fit and haughtily reject that a man be permitted to have more than
one chaste, pure wife for him alone. What a reversal of nature? And what a
false claim that they seek equality between men and women?
The truth of the matter is that it is impossible to have absolute
equality between men and women in what is specific for each of them. So long as
it is impossible to achieve absolute equality between men and women, it is
required to distribute rights and obligations [between the spouses] according
to the manner in which the Creator (Glorified and Exalted be He) has assigned
each one.
