Chapter 56

The Unfaithful Woman

Once a woman, through firmproof, is convicted of adultery, her hus-
bandwouldbeplacedinaverydifficultsituation.Ontheonehand,his
honourisendangeredandontheother,enduringsuchadisgraceisnot
easy.Hefeelstrappedinastateofdeadlockfromwhichaneasyescape
is not possible.

A man in this situation can choose one of the following:
(a)Hecankeepsilentabouttheaffairinordertosavehishonourand
forthesakeofhisfamily.Buthemustlivewiththiseventfortherestof
his life. Ofcourse thischoice cannotbe acceptableby anyhonourable
man,sinceitwouldnotbepossibleforhimtocopewithhisadulterous
wife and a possible illegitimate child.

Passionisanadmirablequalityofmen,somuchsothatamanwithout
itwouldnotenjoythegraceoftheAlmightyAllahaswellasbeingdis-
honouredbythepeoplewhoknowhim.Whatadisgracefulandshame-
fullifethose menhavewho are indifferentwith regardto theirwives'
disloyalties.

"TheProphet (SA)of Allahstated: 'The fragranceofParadise can be
smelt ata distance of five hundred years' journey, buttwo groups of
peoplearedeprivedfromit;thosewhicharedisownedbytheirparents
andthe cuckoldones'.Itwasasked:'0Prophet(SA)ofAllah;'Whoisa
cuckold'? The Prophet (SA)replied:'Amanwho knows his wife isan
adulterer (and remains silent about it)'."207

(b)He couldkilleitheror bothhis wifeandthe manshecommitted
adulterywith.Hecantakehisrevengeandfindpeace.Butthisisadan-
gerous actand would not havea good end,because a murder would
rarelybeconcealedforever.Amurdererwouldfinallybefoundandbe