house,isamean-spiritedperson,andwhoevercallshimassuch,would
nothave committedanysin.Andanywomanwhose husbandpermits
her toleave the houseadornedand perfumed,with eachstepthat she
takes, Allah would build a house for her husband in hell'."'
Finally, I remind you of two points:
(a) It is correct that a man should be watchful of his wife but this
shouldbedonecarefullyandwisely.Hemustriotresorttoangerorviol-
ence.Hemustnotmakehiswifefeelthatsheisbeingorderedaboutor
else shewould react unpleasantly.The bestway is.for the man,to be
kindandunderstanding.Homustactlikeasympatheticpartnerandex-
plaintohiswifeabouttheharmsofwrongdeeds.Shemustbemadeto
choose the right path herself with enthusiasm and eagerness.
(b)Amanshouldbemoderate,thatis,heshouldneitherbetoostrict
andfussy.norshouldbecare-free.Awoman,likeaman,needsfreedom
andshouldbeatlibertyinherrightfulassociations.Shemustbefreeto
communicate with her parents. brothers, and sisters and must he al-
lowed to keep the appropriate type of company.
In brief. there are exceptional cases where a woman should be de-
privedofherdesires.Buteveninsucheasesoneshouldnotstepbeyond
thelimitsandbecometoostrict.Toomuchstrictnessisharmful.It des-
troysafriendlyatmosphereandcausesannoyance.Awomanmightre-
actseverely asaresult ofher husband'sstrictness.She mighteven ask
for a divorce.
"Ayoungwoman,Mrs...saidtothereporterinthecourt:'Igotmar-
riedwith Mr...five yearsago.Wehaveasonandadaughternow.At
timesmyhusbandhasbeentreatingeverybodyinacynicalmanner.He
doesnot allowmeto associatewith anybody.He even locksthe doors
foruswhenheleavesthe house.Weare prisonersinhishouse. Ican't
evengotomyparentsanymore.Myfamilymembersdonotcometous
either,becauseofhim.Idonotknowwhattodo!OntheonehandIcan-
notlivewithhim,andontheother,Iamworriedaboutmychildren'sfu-
ture.So,Idecided totakemycasetothiscourt:perhapsthey canpass
some judgement".
Men suchas thiswoman's husbandare, unfortunately, sostrict and
abnormalthattheirwives,despitetheirwishtolivetogether,applyfor