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CHAPTER LXII, 6-LXIII, IO.
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situation is always worse than his going with women of a different religion, on this account, that, if that wife becomes pregnant, it is just as though one of the good religion had fallen away into a different religion, and thereby that man becomes worthy of death.
4. And it also happens, when that wife becomes pregnant, that she may effect the slaughter of the infant, from fear of a bad reputation. 5. Then, for that person whose child it is, it is just as though he had effected the slaughter of the child with his own hand; therefore, he is worthy of death. 6. If the infant be born, and it remains in the religion, every sin that that child of his commits is, for that person, just as though it were committed by his own hand.
7. And if a woman of those of the good religion commits adultery, she becomes in a condition unlawful as regards her husband; and if an infant be born it is illegitimate. 8. And the sin owing to this will depart at the time when that person goes near to her husband and shall say: "What is there in me befitting thy wife ? 9. A calamity (ak) has occurred, and a crime ('hata) has come into my body; thou knowest if thou wilt exercise forgiveness ('hafû), and if not, when it is not for me, do thou kill me; my blood is lawful (halal) unto thee.' 10. If he shall kill her, her sin will depart owing to this;
* B29 has 'it never becomes a righteous bestowal of herself on her husband, and if, in this situation, he is also.' * B29 omits 'and.
Lp, B29 have it does not remain,' but the text seems to be assuming that the illicit origin of the child is unsuspected, in which case it would undoubtedly remain in the religion, as it would probably do in any case.
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