Islam on Marital Rights — Page 29
. . . ISLAM ON MARITAL RIGHTS. NO RUDENESS EVER 29. When a religious debate between the Hazrat and Abdulah. Atham, the Christian divine, was in progress and many notable friends had come to attend that historical contest, it happened that during an interval a follower of the Hazrat, Munshi Abdul. Haq, an accountant of Lahore, suggested, out of deep concern and affection for his Master, that his diet should be particularly rich and nutritious to get rid of the attacks of headache from which he suffered. The Hazrat replied, "Yes, you are right and I had once mentioned about this in the house, but women are so busy in their household chores that I think this must have slipped from my wife's mind and so nothing was done in this connection. ". Munshi Abdul Haq said, “Sir, in my house, very special care is taken in the preparation of my food. It cannot be that my instructions in this respect are ever ignored. If ever a remissness takes place, I have then to resort to sterner measures. Sir, the fact is that you do not take the proper disciplinary action. ". Hazrat Maulvi Abdul Karim writes that on hearing the above remarks of the Munshi Sahib, he himself felt greatly pleased as he also held the same view. He was glad that Munshi Abdul Haq had stated the point exactly according to his own wish. Therefore, he also, in support of it, added that it was advisable that the. Hazrat should also be a little more firm in this matter. The. Hazrat looked at me, smiled and said, "Our friends must refrain from such a behavior. ". The Promised Messiah (a. s. ) then went on elucidating the point further and concluded by saying that "I once shouted at my wife in anger and though I had not used any bitter or coarse word, I immediately realized my error. Then, for quite a long time. I had to pray to God for forgiveness and I gave away some alms as well by way of expiation, feeling that the lapse had occurred due to some hidden and unknown act of omission on my part. ". The Promised Messiah (a. s. ) expressed strong disapproval if any of his followers ill-treated his wife or addressed rude words to her. This he considered to be a violation of the Islamic way of life.