Life-of-Muhammad

228Life of Muhammad saparents. In the same way a mother is made an heir toher son's or daughter's property and a wife is made anheir to her husband's property. When a brother becomesan heir of his deceased brother's property a sister is alsoan heir to that property. No religion before Islam had soclearly and firmly established a woman's right ofinheritance and her right to possess property. In Islam awoman is the absolute owner of her own property andher husband cannot obtain any control over it by virtuemerely of their relationship. A woman is at full liberty todeal with her property as she chooses.The Holy Prophet sa was so careful with regard to thekind treatment of women that those around him whohad not previously been accustomed to looking uponwomen in the light of helpmates and partners found itdifficult to accommodate themselves to the standardsthat the Prophet sa was anxious to see set up andmaintained. ‘Umar ra relates: "My wife occasionallysought to intervene in my affairs with her counsel and Iwould rebuke her, saying that the Arabs had neverpermitted their women to intervene in their affairs. Shewould retort: ‘That is all past. The Holy Prophet sa letshis wives counsel him in his affairs and he does not stopthem. Why don't you follow his example?' My reply usedto be: As for ‘A’isha ra the Prophet sa is particularly fond ofher but as regards your daughter (Hafsa ra ), if she doesthis she will one day have to suffer the consequences ofher impertinence.' It so happened that thereafter on oneoccasion the Holy Prophet sa , being upset oversomething, decided to spend a period of time apart fromhis wives. When I learnt of this I said to my wife, What Ihad feared had come to pass. Then I went to the houseof my daughter Hafsa ra and found her crying. I inquiredof her what the matter was and whether the Prophet sahad divorced her. She said: 'I don't know about divorce,but the Prophet sa has decided to remain away from usfor some time.' I said to her: 'Did I not often tell you notto take the same liberties with him as ‘A’isha ra does, forthe Holy Prophet sa is particularly fond of ‘A’isha ra , but