The Quran also gives guidelines for upgrading the women’s status
in the society. For instance, a man is permitted to marry up to only
four wives at the same time, but he must treat them equally and
women have the right to inherit property.
[It must have been worse before Islam]
In the case of divorce, Islam does not involve a complicated or a
long procedure. The grounds for divorce in Islam however are more
liberal than in the west. They are not limited to proving adultery
or cruelty or long separation. The couple may apply for separation
simply when they realize they cannot live together happily for any
reason. When divorce is completed, the wife has to wait a certain
period of time after separation of her husband, by death or divorce,
before she can remarry.
[So...how does that explain Zorah, whom I met, desperately trying
to escape her husband who told me her husband had the right to kill
her for leaving him?]
In the case of custody of children, Islam proscribed that the
mother who is not incapacitated by a mental, moral or religious
cause, has the first right to custody of her child, boy or girl,
until the child reaches the age of 7, when the right of custody
reverts to the father. The father has to support the child until
such time as he can manage by himself if a boy, or gets married if a
girl.
[Mom is incapacitated by her religion?]
A girl does not have to earn her own living. Her support is the
duty of her father until she marries.
[Is this how they describe it when they lock the women in the house
and daughters can’t go to school?]