Muhammad the Liberator of Women — Page 9
M U H A M M A D S A W — T H E L I B E R A T O R O F W O M E N 9 Men are not the owners of their spouses. They cannot sell them or use them like domestic slaves. Their wives are to share with them all the amenities of their house and husbands are expected to look after them in a manner equal to their own rank and status, nothing less is permissible. On the death of a man his relatives have no rights over his widow. She is completely free, and if a good opportunity arises, she can remarry. No one has the right to prevent her from doing so. A widow cannot be compelled to live in a certain place. However, she ought to remain in the home of her husband for four months and ten days so that anything which might have a bearing on her future rights or those of her husband’s family might come to light. Moreover, a widow has the right to live for at least a year in her husband’s home, unless she chooses otherwise, so that if needs be she may make arrangements for her future residence from her part of the inheritance. If a husband becomes displeased with his wife, then he should leave the home even if it belongs to him because the running of a household is the responsibility of a woman. Women also have a role in the upbringing of children. They were to be consulted in all such affairs; no distress should be caused to them in regards of their children. Matters like wet- nursing, the general care of children and all such related issues required a mother’s input. In cases where a couple would divorce or separate, the care of young children should be entrusted to the mother. When they grow older they should be returned to their fathers for the purposes of education. Even when the children are living with their mother the financial responsibility is to be placed on their father. The father should