Ahmadiyyat or The True Islam — Page 238
238 we would not hear so much of respectable and unsus- pecting women being made the victims of deception by unscrupulous adventurers. Though Islam does not permit indiscriminate mixing of the sexes, it allows an affianced couple to see each other, so that they may satisfy themselves as to each other’s appearance. If they approve each other, the marriage can take place. Islam requires a marriage settlement to be made upon the wife at the time of marriage. This is one of the essentials of Islamic marriage. The settlement is called Mehr , i. e. , dower. The object of Mehr is that the wife should have an independent proprietary position, and should be free to spend in charity or make gifts to her relations, etc. , out of her separate property. The institution of Mehr is a practical acknowledgment by the husband of the inde- pendent proprietary position of the wife and her right to maintain and acquire separate property over which the husband has no control. In case of disagreement between the husband and wife, the husband has no right to chastise or punish the wife except for manifest immorality. In such a case four respectable residents of the neighbourhood must testify that she has been actually guilty of immoral conduct. He must, however, begin by admonishing her. If she per- sists in her conduct he should separate from her for a period which must not exceed four months. This means discontinuance of conjugal relations but the husband will still be bound to maintain the wife. If the period of separation exceeds four months, the husband will be compelled by law to resume conjugal relations with the wife. If the discontinuance of conjugal relations also has