Continuing our examination of Islam this article dives into one of its more horrific teachings. Let me say before we start that in no way do we condone any sort of domestic violence. It’s extremely sad to know there are women who are being abused by their own husbands. It’s my hope that this article will serve to shed light on an evil practice found in Islam, and anyone involved in such a practice would be convicted of their sin and come to Christ Jesus for forgiveness.
Christians we hold the Bible as our sole authority, it’s in God’s word alone that we gain our understanding as how to conduct ourselves. In the religion of Islam Muslims have the Quran as their highest authority, the difference is that Muslims also have other books in which they use as a lens in understanding the Quran. These books are called the Hadith’s (the sayings of the prophet) and lastly the Tafsir which is a collection of Islamic scholarship writings on subjects.
Dr. Shabir Ally an Islamic scholar and debater was recorded on his show Let the Quran Speak on Sep 16, 2016 as saying “In essence generally in classical Islamic thought it is taken for granted that a Muslim man can have up to 4 wives at once in addition to the 4 wives he can have an unlimited number of concubines which refer to women who are basically have slave status when they are owned by her master freely has to give up herself to the master the master has the right to have sexual relations with her as though she were one of his wives”.
This quote is backed up by a Quran verse found in Chapter (4) sūrat l-nisāa (The Women). It speaks about women who are taken captive and the Muslim men are allowed to have sexual relations (rape) with the women slaves.
Pickthall: And all married women (are forbidden unto you) save those (captives) whom your right hands possess. It is a decree of Allah for you. Lawful unto you are all beyond those mentioned, so that ye seek them with your wealth in honest wedlock, not debauchery. And those of whom ye seek content (by marrying them), give unto them their portions as a duty. And there is no sin for you in what ye do by mutual agreement after the duty (hath been done). Lo! Allah is ever Knower, Wise. — Surah 4:24
Islam teaches is Halal (permissible) for women who are held captive as slaves to be treated as sex slaves. This is a deplorable act no woman should be treated this way.
Muhammad’s 6 year old wife Aisha is recorded in the Hadiths as receiving shoves to the chest which caused pain. If this caused pain they must have been strong shoves.
Sunan an-Nasa’i 3963, Book 36, Hadith 25, Vol. 4, Book 36, Hadith 3415
Sahih al-Bukhari 5825, Book 77, Hadith 42, Vol. 7, Book 72, Hadith 715
In contrast men are taught from the Bible how we ought to treat our women/wives.
In the book of Proverbs chapter 31 we find the words of king Lemuel which his mother taught him, he received godly counsel from his mother in what he should look for in a wife.
Proverbs 31:1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
Women are highly esteemed in the Christian faith, they are our sister, daughters and mothers. God made woman to help and complement man. Adam needed Eve, therefore, the woman is not beneath man neither is she above man. Just as God made woman from the side of Adam (his rib) to be his equal and also under the man’s protection (the rib is located under the arm). So we men are to treat our wives as our equals and protect them by taking them under our arm.
Lemuel’s mother asked a rhetorical question “Who can find a virtuous woman?” in other words, when you do come across that special woman you’ll know. There will be no need of spoil (nothing else needed) and you’ll trust her with your whole heart. If you read the entire chapter it will portray what a godly woman is like giving us Christian men a “map” on what to look for in a virtuous woman.
Moving into the New Testament the apostle Paul writes to the believers found in Ephesus exhorting them to “love your wives”. The context Paul is addressing is on the matter of headship, the roles men and women have in relation to each other and God. While the wives are to “submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord”, the men are to “ love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it”.
This is a tall order whenever we’re told to do something as the Lord Jesus being He’s completely perfect. Still we are to follow our Lord and love our wives just like Christ loves those who have been redeemed the Church. Christ Jesus gave His life for the Church which denotes a sacrificial love, an unselfish love which knows no boundaries.
The apostle Paul even compares the love we men have for our own bodies should be likened to how we love our wives. He explains that we are to “nourisheth and cherisheth” our wives, this shows a tender loving care for the women we love.
If we love our wives then we are loving our own selves, the same is true if we look back in Genesis, Adam said in relation to Eve his wife “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” (Genesis 2:23).
Colossians 3:19 Husbands, love [your] wives, and be not bitter against them.
Again husbands are told to “love your wives” that we should not be bitter against them. This is in the context of the family unit, if we have a home which has the love of Christ permeating throughout our homes. Then we will not have bitterness in our lives. Because bitterness breeds anger and contempt which brings contention between loved ones.
This is why love extremely important in the Christian life (1 Corinthians 13), love helps and motivates us to treat our loved ones with tenderness and compassion. Love also moves us to reach out to Muslims, they who are without Christ. What a stark comparison between what the Quran and Bible teaches. It’s our sincere hope that Muslims would come to know the Prince of Peace Jesus Christ, the God of love, that they would know what true love is and treat their wives with love.
Whatsoever Things Are True 