The Essence of Islam – Volume III — Page 315
Women 315 even a hundred daughters he is still anxious to have a son for his salvation, and, according to his faith, a hundred daughters are not equal to one son. . . . Moreover, Manu. Shästar clearly says that if a wife turns against her husband, tries to poison him, or for some other just cause, the husband has the right to divorce her. This is also the practice of all descent Hindus, that they divorce their wives if they find them unchaste and adulterous. . Throughout the world, human nature has approved the authority of the husband to divorce the wife for just cause. But, at the same time, the husband is responsible for providing all the needs and amenities for his wife, as. Allah Almighty says in the Holy Qur'ān: 224 وعلى المولودِ لَهُ رِزْقُهُنَّ وَكسْوَتُهُنَّ * 'The husband is responsible for providing all the needs of the wife in respect of food and clothing. '. This shows that man is his wife's guardian and benefactor and is responsible for her well-being. For her, he is like a master and provider. Man has been blessed with stronger natural powers than a woman, this is why he has ruled woman ever since the world was created. The naturally superior faculties which have been given to man have not been given to the woman in the same degree. . The Holy Qur'an enjoins that if man has given his wife a mountain of gold as a gesture of his affection and kindness, he is not supposed to take it back in case of divorce. . This shows the respect and honour Islām gives to a woman; in fact, men are in certain respects like their servants. They have been commanded in the Holy Qur'ān: 225 عَاشِرُوهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ : 224. Al-Baqarah, 2:234 [Publisher]