Ahmadiyyat or The True Islam — Page 239
239 no reforming effect on her conduct and the testimony of four righteous men of the neighbourhood is forthcom- ing, she may be chastised by the husband but her bones must not be injured and no bruise or mark should be left on her body. All this, however, is prescribed only in cases of manifestly immoral conduct. A husband has no right to punish his wife for other faults or neglect of duty. A husband is bound to maintain his wife, even when the wife is rich and the husband is poor. He is commanded to deal kindly and affectionately with her. The Holy Quran says that even in cases of disagreement the husband’s treatment of the wife must be kind and affectionate. The Holy Prophet sa has said, 'Remember that I enjoin upon you to deal kindly with women. ' Again, he says, 'A husband should not dislike his wife. If he dislikes one thing in her, there must be many good things in her which he likes. ' Again he says, 'A husband must clothe his wife as he clothes himself and feed her as he feeds himself, and should not abuse her nor re- main away from her. ' Again he says, 'It is not permissi- ble to a man to spend the whole of his time in worship or other pursuits and thus to neglect his wife. ' He must set apart a portion of his time for his wife. Again he says, 'The best of you are those who treat their wives best. ' On the other hand, a wife is told to obey her husband, to guard his property and his honour, and to look after and bring up his children. In case of disagreement between husband and wife they are both enjoined to try to remove the causes of friction and revert to amicable relations. If the dis-