In pre-Islamic era...

In pre-Islamic era, if a married woman committed adultery, she was confined to her room, nobody talked to her, her food was silently put in the room. In those early days, Allah allowed the Muslims to go on confining them in the house-but not arbitrarily; the said punishment was to be given after four male witnesses have given evidence against them. And the end clause clearly indicates that it was a temporary measure until Allah makes for them some way of release.

And that way was opened when it was ordained in the ch. 24 v. 2: "(As for) the fornicatress and the fornicator, flog each of them a hundred stripes..." The verse 16 speaks about unmarried, man and woman, they are "the two among you" (not, two men among you). That order too was abrogated by the v. 2 of ch. 24.

If you think that Islam is prejudiced against women, study the chapter of penal code in any book of masa'il and you will see that in most cases, punishment of women is much lighter than that of men. Q 54: MUSLIM HUSBAND, CHRISTIAN WIFE: Is it lawful for a Muslim to marry a Christian woman? A: The Shi'a shari'ah allows a Muslim man to marry a Christian woman in Mut'ah form, i.e in temporary marriage. Q. 55: MUT'AH WITH A CHRISTIAN WOMAN: And lastly, I have a son by a woman who I am not married to.

While in prison, I've accepted Al-Islam and wish to marry her once I'm released. Can I do so even though she is not Muslim. If so,can I perform Mut'ah with her now? And do we need, witnesses? A; If she is a Christian or Jewess, and is not willing to enter into the fold of Islam, you may marry her in mut'ah marriage, i.e. a marriage for a fixed period. That, period may be short or long.. You may marry her for, let us say, 40 years or even more.

In this connection, you should understand the following points;- (a) You should ask her not to use liquor of pork at all. (b) She should agree for the children to be brought up as Muslim. However, you must realize that a subsequent marriage does not make a previously born child legitimate. Islam will not recognise him as your son or heir. You may do mut'ah with her even now. It is better, but not necessary, to have witnesses during recital of the formula of mut'ah. Q.

56: ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION OF HUMAN BEINGS: Does Islam allow artificial insemination of human beings? A: There can be four situations in this matter: First: Inserting, inside the woman's womb, the semen of her own husband. There is no problem in it and the child will be legitimate.