Islam on Marital Rights — Page 36
36. ISLAM ON MARITAL RIGHTS unlawful for him to willfully keep from paying heed to some of the just and natural aspirations of his wife simply for the purpose of teasing or punishing her. Islam has prescribed a limit of four months at the most for abstinence. But some men make up their minds that they would not go in to their wives and would keep them in suspense without divorcing them. The Holy Quran says, "For those who vow abstinence from their wives, the maximum period is four months; then if they go back from the vow, surely Allah is forgiving, merciful. " (2:227). . According to the above verse, the husband is allowed a period of four months in which he has either to reconcile with his mate or to divorce her. Here Allah has ruled against the practice of leaving the wife in a state of suspense. . SUSPENSE DISALLOWED. Sometimes a husband feels an averseness towards his wife. . He therefore, decides not to keep her as his wife. But instead of releasing her from his marriage tie by a lawful divorce, he keeps her case pending by withdrawing again and again within the stipulated time, his declaration of divorce. The Holy Quran has strongly condemned this mischievous practice. Allah says, "And retain them not wrongfully so that you may transgress. And whoso does that, surely he wrongs his own soul. And do not make a jest of the commandments of. Allah. " (2:232). . The Quranic concession allowed to the husband or a revocable divorce which entitles him to retract once or even twice before pronouncing the final and irrevocable divorce, aims at affording to both the opportunity to get reconciled and have their normal marital relations restored. But if a man makes a jest of this concession and retracts again and again simply to mortify and humiliate the woman and to hold her bound to him against her wishes, such behavior, in the sight of Allah, is tantamount to making a mockery of the Law of God: who has very strongly prohibited such noxious practice. He says, ". . . and harass them not that you may create hardships for them. . . " (65:7).