Islam and Human Rights — Page 129
Article 16 129 defined, but everything is made subject to seeking the pleasure of God and the fulfilment of one’s duty to Him. The rela tionship is intended to be permanent, but dissolution is per missible under certain conditions and subject to safeguards. Concerning dissolution of marriage by divorce the Prophet has said: “Of all things permitted to you the most ob noxious in the sight of Allah is divorce”. 67 Article 16 of the Declaration declares that men and women are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage, and at its dissolution. The status of men and women in marriage within any particular social system is determined largely by the posi tion assigned to men and women vis-a-vis one another in that system. So far as a system is based upon and derives its values from religion, the crucial factor in this regard would be the relative positions assigned to the sexes in respect of the possibility of attainment of the spiritual ideals proclaimed by that religion. Islam makes no distinction whatever between the sexes in that respect. “The believers, men and women, are friends one of another. They enjoin good and forbid evil and observe 67 Abu Daud II, Sect. :Divorce, Ch. :Divorce is obnoxious.