It may fly over there, but it certainly isn't reading material that should be taking up space on store shelves in Canada as far as I'm concerned.
A new Islamic marriage "guide book" has made it's way to Toronto book stores and while one wouldn't think that should be a real cause for concern, this book is sparking a bit of outrage. Why? Well a good portion of it is used to advise men on the best ways to "beat" their wives and keep them in line.
Among the other tid bits of advice offered "A Gift For Muslim Couples" tells husbands that they should beat their wives with 'hand or stick or pull her by the ears'.
The 160-page book claims to be a 'presentation for newlyweds' or couples who have been together for some years. It was written by Maulavi Ashraf Ali Thanvi, who is known as a "prominent Islamic scholar and apparently an expert on marriage, relationships and the pitfalls that cause breakdowns."
I'm thinking the Readers Digest version would say the woman must obey the man at all costs or else... While practices like this may have worked in the caveman days, there's no place for that kind of thinking in today's society. And if some Muslims choose to practice this theory in their country there is little we can do to stop them, but why she we open a door like that here?
In the book it states, 'it might be necessary to restrain her with strength and even threaten her...' Beatings aside... 'The husband should treat the wife with kindness and love, even if she tends to be stupid and slow sometimes.'
Hmmm...
The author then details the 'rights of the husband' which include his wife's inability to leave 'his house without his permission'. (Oh that would be the day.) She must also 'fulfill his desires' and 'not allow herself to be untidy... she should beautify herself for him'. Men should also regularly scold their wives as well as beat them by hand or stick, withhold money from them and/or pull them by the ears. Although with that said, it's not recommended that they beat their wife excessively. How kind.
It seems pretty ridiculous that this was even written, never mind that it's selling out in book stores with some guy is reaping the profits.
Women have come a long way over the years in the quest for equality, for what reason would we ever want to encourage and or promote, nonsense like this?
