Download - University of Salford Institutional Repository

4:
his father. Ibn Umar said, 'The Prophet made a man and his wife
a-
carry out Lian and the husband repudiated her child. So,, the Prophet
got him separated (divorced) and, _decided that the child belonged to the
mother onlyle"
14
4. A woman divorced, in this way is not entitled. to any allowance from
her divorced husband except the dowry.
5. Nobody has a right to call her adulteress or to call the baby'
illegitimate so that the woman's reputation and the child's psychological
condition will not be adversely, affected.
This leghislation is a very clear example of how Islam expressly
protected the woman's rights. by maintaining, her status in society
at the level she had en§oyed prior to her husband's unproven accusations.
in marked contrast to the pre-Islamic husnabd's ability to divorce
his wife on baseless suspicion.
The Rights of the Divorced Woman in Islam
The concern of Islam to improve the status of women is particularly
evinced by the measures implements to preserve their dignity even-when
divorced. The husband was placed under obligation towards them and
rights were assigned to them which safeguarded them against the
future, as follows: The-husband, ia. compelled to support his divorcee
c
duringthe legally, prescribed period of waiting, Idda (in which the
I, -
woman may not remarry), according to his financial capabilities.
She is also granted the right to reside in his house until the end
o. f, this period;. These two stipulations provide the couple with the
opportunity of a chance to think, re-assessing their relationship,.
before their final resolution. The only instance in which she was
forbidden to remain in his ho. use was if she had committed adultery
1. Ibid
i
120