Muhammad the Liberator of Women — Page 5
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 5 injustice was that when a woman found it impossible to live with her husband, instead of fully allowing her to separate from her husband, she was permitted only to live away from her spouse which was in itself a form of punishment as she was compelled to endure an aimless existence. In other instances the husband was permitted to divorce his wife whenever he so willed, yet the wife under no circumstance had the right to seek separation from him. If the husband abandoned her and lost all contact with her even then she would be forced to spend the remainder of her life waiting for him, she had no choice to live a life for the benefit of her country and society. The bonds of matrimony which should be a source of comfort, became instead, a cause of distress. The woman would have to fulfil her role as both a wife and a husband, and still carry on waiting for her husband. The obligation of a husband to earn for the upkeep of the household, was also assigned to her as well as to fulfil her charge of taking care of the children’s upbringing. Thus, they were not only psychologically discomfited, but also had to undertake material responsibilities. All of this was tolerated by this forsaken soul. Women were often beaten and considered as a lawful right of their husbands; when their husbands died they were compelled to marry their kith and kin or otherwise sold for a price to another individual. In fact, husbands themselves would sell their wives. The great Pandava princes are said to have lost their wives in wagers and yet the customs of the time would not allow noble princesses like Draupadi 1 to speak against such acts. 1 Princess Draupadi was the daughter of Raja Draupada of the state of Punjab and she was renowned for her beauty. She was won by Arjuna in a wager. On the advice of Arjuna’s mother, she became the common wife