Islam and Human Rights — Page 46
Isl am and Hum an R ights 46 God is divorce. 9 The process of divorce is spread over a period, during which every effort must be made to smooth out differences and bring about reconciliation. If differences become acute, the counsel and help of mediators, one from the wife’s people and one from the husband’s, should be sought (4:36). If divorce is finally decided upon, the husband cannot take away from the wife anything he has given her (4:21-22), and must make suitable provision for her over a period of months, which is normally required for the process to be completed. If husband and wife are reconciled to each other during this period, the divorce proceedings are can celled (2:229-230). Islam permits a plurality of wives, not exceeding four, but only on condition of strict equality of treatment among them. “If you fear you will not be able to deal justly with them, then marry only one” (4:4). The permission may be availed of in a national or domestic emergency, or where circumstances make it desirable that the ordinary rule of monogamy be departed from; but in every case, whatever the degree of affection that the husband may have for one wife as compared with the other, his treatment of each must 9 Abu Daud II, Sect. :Divorce; Ch. :Divorce is obnoxious.