Woman in Islam — Page 10
10 with them until they are clean. But when they have washed themselves clean, consort with them as Allah has commanded you. Indeed, Allah loves those who turn to Him constantly, and Allah loves those who are clean and pure. Your wives are a tilth for you, so approach your tilth as you may be minded and lay up a store of good for yourselves. Be ever mindful of your duty to Allah, and be sure you will meet Him. Give glad tidings to those who believe. ” (2:223-224) Any attitude that is likely to affect adversely the capacity and chances of childbearing of the wife is thus disapproved. Purity and promotion of righteousness ( Taqwa ) must always be kept in mind. One of the prayers of the righteous taught by the Holy Quran is: “Lord, grant us of our spouses and our offspring the delight of our eyes and make us a model for the righteous. ” (25:75) DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS OF HUSBAND AND WIFE In the Islamic system, marriage is a covenant of a civil nature involving a whole set of mutual obligations. For its validity it requires the public announcement of the free consent of the parties, the consent of the guardian of the bride, whose duty it is to ensure and safeguard the rights of the bride, and a settlement by the husband on the wife proportionate to his means which is called dower, and is not to be confused with the dowry that may be bestowed upon the bride by her parents or guardian.