Islams Reformers

justice,” the following points also will be helpful:
It is obvious that in countries where there is not ta’addud azzawjât,
illegitimacy and prostitution have spread out instead.
Then, how can one ever say that pushing women towards
prostitution will make them attain a right and an equality? It can
be understood that all these clamours are intended to provide men
with their amusement under the mask of giving women rights. The
statistics show that the number of women in the world is greater
than that of men. For this reason, more than one woman
corresponds to a man. When women are fewer than men, ta’addud
az-zawjât disappears by itself; the words ‘injustice’ and ‘inequality’
will remain without reason. Man, being unable to find another
woman, will live with one woman. But, when there are more
women and a man cannot overcome his desires, should he opt the
legitimate way or the illegitimate way? Here is all the difference of
views between religion reformers and Muslims. Is it necessary to
close the legitimate way or the illegitimate way? Certainly, it is
necessary to close one and to spread and facilitate the other. But
which one? It is seen that this difference is based on the difference
between being Muslim and not being Muslim. Advancement and
progress of Muslims can be achieved by holding fast to Islam. It is
impossible to attain salvation by abandoning Islam, which is
unnecessary.
Many people argue saying, “While nikâh is performed, every
sort of condition can be laid down. The woman can demand from
the man whom she is to marry to remain with a single wife
throughout their married life and to give her the right of divorce.”
These words are right. Islam gives woman this right, too. There is
detailed information on this subject in Radd al-muhtâr.
If a man, for the sake of his respect for the emotions of his first
wife, should not marry another woman, should he succumb to his
sexual desires and satisfy his desires in other places. Should he
injure his own chastity and honesty and spoil the chastity and
honesty of another woman? Should he sin as much as he wants and
deserve the punishments stated in the above-quoted hadîths?
Should evil feelings arise in his wife when she finds out these
illegitimate, evil deeds of her husband? Should her chastity be
injured lest her feelings should not be injured? We wonder if a
woman who might hear that her husband cohabits with bad
women will not suffer a heavy blow? Will not the effects of being
a dishonest man’s wife be added to this? Moreover, if we think
about the harm done to the wife’s chastity; its harm to the
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