Marriage

Author(s): Natubhai Shah
Publisher: UK Jain Academy

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D. Money matters Muslim women have the right to be paid for being a housewife, and for breastfeeding their own children. A woman's salary, if she goes out to work is regarded as her own and not her husband's. Any property she may own before marriage remains hers, and she does not have to give it to her husband unless she wishes. Even if he is poor, the husband is expected to provide for her. A woman does not have to take her husband's name, but keep her own. E. Mixed marriages Muslims boys may marry Christians and Jews, but Muslim girls are not permitted to marry nonMuslims because in Islam the children have to take the religion of the father, and so would become non-Muslims. If a youth wishes to marry a Hindu, Sikh or Buddhist girl, it is only permitted if she converts to Islam. 'A woman is sought in marriage on account of four things: her property, her family, her beauty, her piety. Seek to win one for the sake of her piety.'
(Hadith) 'Do not marry only for the sake of beauty; the beauty may become the cause of moral decline. Do not marry for the sake of wealth, for this may become the cause of disobedience. Marry rather on the grounds of religious devotion.'
(Hadith) The best of treasures is s good wife. She is pleasing to her husband's eyes, obedient to his word, and watchful over his possessions in his absence; and the best of you are those who treat their wives best.'
(Hadith) F. Polygamy Sometimes a man may marry more than one woman. The Prophet Muhammad had thirteen wives after the death of his first wife Khadijah; other Muslim men are allowed four wives, but only on certain conditions: + The first wife should give permission + Later wives must not be a cause of distress + All wives must be treated equally, (equal homes, gifts, and nights spent with each in turn)
unless permission is given by the wife involved + Making love equally is not required (or possible!), but sharing time equally is. Some elderly wives are quite pleased for the husband to take on a younger wife, especially if she is a good worker and may have modern training, for example as a nurse. Sometimes the reasons for polygamy are based on the needs of the community, particularly if there is a surplus of women as, for example, after a war. It is considered unkind for women to be condemned to spinsterhood without the chance to become cherished mothers in a household. The idea of unmarried mother appals Muslims, neither do they think much of aging wives being cast out the moment a man allows himself to fall for a younger woman. The spirit of Islam is to protect the weak and vulnerable, and not leave women to fend for themselves if they do not wish to do so. Polygamy may also be allowed if a wife is barren and the husband wants children, or if the wife is unable to cope with the household through chronic sickness.
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