Through Force or Faith? — Page 291
Chapter 7 — Novelty in the Teachings of Muhammad 291 that if there was a male issue of the deceased, then there was nothing left for the females to inherit (Numbers 27:8). Against these teach- ings, Islam grants the right for women to inherit property from her father, son, brother and husband, etc. ( S u rah an-Nis a’ , 4:12–13, 177). Here it would be proper to explain that Islam has set the share of the woman in inheritance to be half of the man but this is due to the fact that man is made financially responsible for the upkeep of his family whereas the woman is not burdened in this respect. Similarly, at the time of wedding, woman receives gifts from her parents, as well as dowry from her husband. Thus, this difference in inheritance between man and woman is perfectly equitable. Another abomination to women in Bible is that it gives this absurd directive that if a husband accuses his wife of a trespass against him but has no witnesses, she would be made to drink mixed bitter water, and if her belly swelled, she would be found accursed and guilty as accused (Numbers 5:12–31). Islam, in con- trast, instructs that in case where a husband calumniates his wife but has no witnesses, both husband and wife should testify four times on oath as to their truthfulness and then invoke the curse of Allah if they be the liars ( S u rah an-N ū r, 24:7–10), and no injus- tice should be done to woman in this matter. Before Islam, there was no limit set on the number of wives a man could have. Hence, Solomon is known to have several hun- dred wives (1 Kings 11:3). Islam, on the other hand, has empha- sized there should be only one wife. It did permit up to four wives but only under exceptional circumstance and it was forbidden to have more than four: