Walter Matthew Gallichan

“ A woman pays only half of a fine paid by a man for legal offences.
Women must not be killed in warfare.
A wife may, with her husband's consent, seek for divorce.
No wife can be convicted of adultery without the actual evidence of four witnesses.*
The legal and social disabilities of the women of Islam are :
No woman can object to be one of four wives, nor to the number of concubines maintained by her husband.
Wives may be chastised. We are informed that such punishment is rare.
Women cannot give evidence as witnesses in law courts.
A wife must obey her husband implicitly. ”

“ Judged from the standpoint of Christian monogamic principles, the marriage rules of Mohammed "render the Christian ideal of domestic life an impossibility." Such is the view of Mr. J. W. H. Stobart, the author of "Islam and its Founder." We have seen, however, that "the ideal of domestic life " as upheld in Egypt, was humane, and perhaps the best that the world has known.
But let us examine the position of women in polygamy as permitted by the founder of the Moslem religion. It is commonly declared that women are excluded from the Paradise of the Mohammedans. ”

“ Divorce being sanctioned by the law of the Koran, a devout Moslem is empowered to marry a succession of women; although the number at one time is restricted to four. In the sacred writings, it is laid down that a man may dismiss and repudiate his wives without always showing a definite cause. On the other hand, legal separation, even for adultery, is not so easy as it appears.
Mohammed, whose first occupation was that of a camel driver to a wealthy widow, Khadija, was himself the husband of eleven wives, though not all at the same time, during the years of his mission. ”

“ She will dwell there as she dwelt on earth, one of many wives.
The man translated to eternal bliss will live in a tent spangled with the costliest jewels, and will eat his delicate meals on plates of gold ; while his ears are enraptured by the music of Israfeel, "whose heartstrings are a lute." He will not experience satiety in sensual pleasures. ”

“ The law of the Koran referring to adultery is perhaps less primitive in its severity than that of Moses. Women are, of course, the most frequent delinquents in this offence, because polygamy practically liberates men from temptation. Adultery is punishable by death or life-long imprisonment. ”

“ Women, when in grief for the loss of a relative by death, expressed their emotion by uncovering the bosom, and often by tearing their garments. A man forbidden to wreak vengeance on an aggressor, showed his annoyance by exposing those parts of the body usually concealed. ”

“ There is, however, some recognition of companionship between husband and wife.
Dictionary of Islam In "The Crescent and the Cross," Warburton says that Moslem women do not show any discontent with their condition. They like to be watched and guarded closely, and discern no "degradation " in the life of seclusion in the harems. No doubt this is true in regard to the majority of women in the East. The majority everywhere are, as a rule, fairly satisfied with their position. But it is beyond question that dissatisfaction exists among many educated women in Mohammedan countries. ”

“ Although theoretically a Mohammedan may repudiate his wife on a trivial plea, the Koran teaches forbearance to the married. "If a woman fear ill-usage or aversion from her husband, it shall be no crime in them if they agree the matter amicably between themselves ; for a reconciliation is better than a separation."
The Koran contains very explicit teaching on the preservation of chastity. An aspersion of unchastity upon innocent women was punishable by scourging. Promiscuous sexual relationships are denounced ; but a man may cohabit with his slave women or concubines. ”

“ Although cleanliness of the body was taught, the public bath was not recommended. Mohammed, who probably held the common belief that baths are haunted by evil spirits, forbade this ablution in public. Later, however, he relaxed this rule, and men and women were allowed to bathe, provided they wore loin cloths.
"Whatever woman enters a bath the devil is with her," declared the prophet. Nevertheless, the kammam, or bath, became a popular institution of Mohammedanism. The habit of mixed bathing may have been adapted from the Romans. ”