Muhammad the Liberator of Women — Page 11
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 11 custodians of civilisation began to obey the injunctions of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. Governments undertook to change their laws in a manner which conformed to the principles of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. The English Law which required misconduct along with ill treatment and beating on the part of either party as essential conditions of divorce and separation, was changed in 1923. Misconduct by itself was accepted by the new law as a sufficient reason for divorce and separation. In 1912 it was decided in New Zealand that a marriage could be dissolved if a man was adjudged to be insane for a period of at least seven years. Moreover, in 1925 it was ruled that if a husband or wife failed to fulfil their marital obligations the aggrieved party could seek a divorce or separation. Again a period of three years neglect was established as sufficient grounds for divorce (an exact imitation of Islamic jurisprudence except that it occurred after 1300 years of attacks on Islam). The Australian state of 5ueensland ruled that insanity of five years’ duration was sufficient reason for divorce. Tasmania passed a law in 1919 which stated that misconduct, a period of four years abandonment, wantonness, a period of three years neglect and indifference, imprisonment, violence and insanity were all reasonable grounds for divorce. Victoria introduced a law in 1923 that if a husband is neglectful for three years, commits adultery, does not financially support or ill-treats his wife, or is imprisoned or is violent then this will be sufficient for a divorce or separation. The ruling also stipulated that on the part of the wife if adultery, insanity, cruelty or corruption be proved then this