The Light of the Holy Qur'an — Page 155
T H e J O u r NA l—F AT e H M A S IH T H e J O u r NA l—F AT e H M A S IH 155 two occasions. 1 ٭ However, this was not on the basis of any reve- lation or Divine communication, but only as a casual following of an ancient custom that was in vogue among the people. Nevertheless, mut‘ah means nothing more than a marriage contracted up to a specified date. Ultimately, it was forbidden by Divine revelation, as I have detailed in my book Arya Dharm. But it is curious why the Christians mention mut‘ah, which is only a time-limited marriage. Why do they not look at the conduct and character of their own Jesus who cast his eyes on such young women, looking at whom was inappropriate for him? Was it per- missible for him to sit in the company of a prostitute? Alas! Had he even practiced mut‘ah, he would have been saved from such untoward acts. Did the paternal and maternal grandmothers of Jesus practice mut‘ah or was it open flagrant adultery? I ask the Christians that a religion which does not permit mut‘ah, namely, a time-bound marriage, nor does it allow one to have a second wife, then how can its warriors—who cannot spend their lives as monks because they need to preserve their vitality, instead they consume wines which incite sensual desire and eat rich diets so that they are able and ready for their soldiering, as is common in the British Platoons —safeguard themselves against illicit deeds? What statutes has the Gospel laid down for them to preserve their chastity? Had there been some law and had there been some remedy mentioned in the Gospel regarding such single people, why did the British government issue the Cantonment Act 13–1889, thereby facilitating the white soldiers to have sex with 1. ٭ Note: This act was resorted to at a time of extreme need, just as someone dying of hunger may eat carrion. —Author