Woman Between Islam and Western Society
8. Concerning Divorce
~ 403 ~
put her case before a religious scholar, or a body of
religious scholars. This facility is available to her in
all the great Arabic schools in India. They then give
consideration to her circumstances in the light of
the Qur’an and the Hadith, and, if they find that
there are reasonable grounds for separation, they
decide in her favor. The reason that the woman
must have scholars to act on her behalf is that
women are more emotional than men — as has
been proved by scientific research — and it is to
prevent hasty and ill-considered divorces taking
place that she is thus advised. If we seldom hear of
Muslim women committing suicide, or being
murdered by their in-laws, it is because they have
the alternative — separation.
Separation, of course, is strongly advised against in
the case of minor provocations. Are we not
commanded by God to be tolerant and forgiving? It
is meant only as a last resort, when it has become
truly unavoidable.
Islamic law is thus fair to both husband and wife,
unlike occidental law, which places an undue
burden on the man, while Hindu society forces the
