Woman Between Islam and Western Society
6. The Rights of Husband and Wife
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which is both natural and inevitable. Each derives
strength from the other, and each acts as a shield for
the other. They are described by a commentator of
the Qur’an as “fitting into each other as a garment
fits the body.”
2
Men and women were created to
find sexual attraction in one another. The Qur’an
makes this point in these words:
And among His Signs is this, that He created
for you mates from among yourselves, that
you may dwell in tranquility with them, and
He has put love and mercy between your
(hearts): Verily in that are Signs for those who
reflect.
3
It is in the context of this natural relationship that
men and women are attracted to each other. This
attraction finds expression in the free mixing of men
and women. But this goes against the human grain. A
man would normally want whatever belonged to him
to be reserved for him alone. Free sexual relations are
therefore at variance with human nature.
It is often said, with justice, that man is a social
animal. But more important is the fact that man is
an ethical animal. There may be a physical
