October 29, 2006

"Moderate" Australian Islamic group: women can't refuse sex

There should be nothing surprising about this. It is in line with Muhammad's words: "If a husband calls his wife to his bed (i.e. to have sexual relation) and she refuses and causes him to sleep in anger, the angels will curse her till morning" (Bukhari 4:54:460)

"Women can't refuse," from the Sydney Morning Herald, with thanks to the Constantinopolitan Irredentist:

AN Islamic group praised by the Howard Government as preaching moderation has advised its followers that a woman cannot refuse to have sex with her husband.

The advice was posted on the website of the Darulfatwa organisation, in response to questions posed by readers.

One asked: "Is it haram [forbidden] for a lady to say no if her male partner wants to make love with her?"

The Islamic scholars replied: "In this case she should not refrain from such a legitimate right of marriage, but she could Islamically request for a place of living from her husband."

Darulfatwa spokesman Mohammad Mehio said Islamic teaching was that a wife could not refuse sex unless she had a good excuse such as being ill, tired or depressed.

Note that this was altered after it came to the attention of the media:

After The Sun-Herald questioned Mr Mehio about the answers on the website, he said they posted a "clarification".

The answer to the sex-in-marriage question was changed to: "In this case she has the right to refuse."

But when the media turns away again, will this caveat remain? That's doubtful. After all, Muhammad did not specify such an exception.