The Harim and the Purdah: Studies of Oriental Women — John Shaqi
The Harim and the Purdah: Studies of Oriental WomenCooper, Elizabeth
Religion
The Harim and the Purdah: Studies of Oriental Women
Cooper, Elizabeth
East Asia -- Social life and customs; Women -- East Asia
The different sects have different modes of procedure. One requires the
husband to pronounce the words of divorce once in a single sentence and
not live with his wife for three months, when the divorce is
accomplished. Another form requires that the words be pronounced three
times in succession at the interval of a month, the divorce becoming
effective when the last formula is pronounced. Another formula allows
the husband to say three times in succession, “I divorce thee! I divorce
thee! I divorce thee!” and the legal separation takes place.
A woman may say to her husband, “Give me a divorce in exchange for my
dower,” and if the man will say, “I do,” a lawful dissolution of the
marriage is effected.
Whatever the rule, divorce is very easy for the Moslem husband, and the
woman lives in constant fear that she will hear the words “I am
discharged from the marriage between you and me,” and will be compelled
to return to her home. This insecurity of the marriage bond causes the
woman to hoard what money she may obtain, and takes away the interest
she might otherwise have in the affairs of her husband, fearing that
prosperity may only mean that he will yearn for a younger and more
beautiful woman to share with him his riches. It also makes her try in
every way to preserve her beauty, buying cosmetics and talismans that
clever merchants assure her will aid in retaining the love of her
husband.
In the event of divorce the woman is commanded to remain single three
months, but the man may marry immediately. There is no especial disgrace
attached to divorce, yet the woman’s value is lowered to a certain
extent, and quite likely she will not be able to make so good a marriage
again.
No child under two years may be taken away from the mother, as the Koran
commands her to suckle the infant for that period. Unless it is proved
that she is totally unworthy to bring up her child, or unless she
marries an unbeliever, the boy is entitled to live with his mother until
he is seven years old, and the girl until she is nine, when the father
takes the guardianship of them both. Often they are allowed to live on
indefinitely with the mother, especially the girl, if the father marries
again and the new wife does not wish the care of the children of her
predecessor. This makes the burden of divorce fall heavily upon the
innocent children, as the mother generally marries and her husband may
not care for the children of another man; consequently they are left in
the care of the mother’s parents or other relatives, who quite likely
consider them a superfluous addition to an already overcrowded
household, although the father is compelled to contribute towards their
support.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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