“The baby should be breast fed by its mother because it has...

“The baby should be breast fed by its mother because it has been mentioned in ahadith that, ‘There is no milk that a baby drinks more blessed than the milk of its mother.’ It is better to breast feed the child for twenty-one months; it should not be less than that.

Similarly, the child should not be breast fed for more than two years; it is better, if the parents agree on weaning the child earlier.”[^1] It is recommended for the wife to do the household chores and to provide the needs of the husband unrelated to conjugal matters like cooking, sewing, cleaning, laundry, etc. These things are not an obligation on her. “It is permissible to listen to the voice of a non- mahram woman without any sexual overtures.

“Similarly, it is permissible for her to make herself be heard by non- mahram men except when there is fear of getting sucked into a haram act.

However, she is not allowed to soften or make her voice palatable to an extent that would normally arouse the listener, even if that person was mahram to her.”[^2] “If a woman is in need of medical examination to treat her disease and the non- mahram doctor is better equipped to treat her, that doctor is allowed to look at her body and touch it if need be.

If it is possible to treat her by either of the two methods (looking or touching), he [should restrict himself to one and] would not be allowed to use the other [method].”[^3] Some scholars say, “In order to confine all kinds of sexual activity to wedlock and for the benefit of the husband, the wife and the entire family, Islam has imposed hijab on the woman when she meets the men who are not mahram to her.”[^4] Alfred Hitchcock, the famous movie producer said, “The eastern woman was very attractive by herself and this attraction gave her tremendous power.

But by taking great steps in bringing herself on a par with her western sister, the eastern woman has gradually abandoned the hijab ; and this has gradually decreased her attractiveness [and hence her power].”[^5] Will Durant, while discussing the sexual behaviour of women, said, “The woman knows that indecency leads to lower self-esteem and degradation, therefore she taught that to her daughter.”[^6] In other words, by nature she is inclined towards decency and chastity; and that covering her body increases her honour and position in the eyes of men.