Page:The evolution of marriage and of the family ... (IA evolutionofmarri00letorich).pdf/158

 the remora, had the power of suddenly stopping the passage of ships at sea; religion has played this part for the Arabs. Theoretically, all the great and solidly constituted religions are incompatible with progress. Although relatively they may appear innovations at the moment of their birth, yet they bar the route of the future, and, as much as is in their power, oppose all ulterior evolution. This is imperative, since they pretend to declare the immutable will of divine personages, who are omnipotent, omniscient, and perfectly wise, and who cannot consequently either re-touch or amend the laws that they make, and the commands they give to poor human creatures. Now, Islamism arose amidst the full polygamic régime; its founder could not even dream of establishing any other. Polygamy was therefore established by divine right among the faithful, and as at the bottom it is in accord with the primitive instincts of man, it has maintained itself in Mussulman countries from the time of Mahomet to our own days. From the sociological point of view this is a most interesting fact, for it gives us the opportunity of studying and estimating the polygamic régime in its full development.

Let us listen at first to the Koran; we will then consult the Arabian jurists and the customs of contemporary Arabs.

To begin with, the holy book loudly proclaims the inferiority of women, which naturally justifies their subjection, and this subjection is great in all polygamous countries. There is no ambiguity on this point in the words of the prophet: "Men are superior to women by reason of the qualities God has given them to place them above women, and because men employ their wealth in giving dowries to women. Virtuous women are obedient and submissive; they carefully guard, during their husband's absence, that which God has ordered them to preserve intact. Thou shalt correct those whom thou fearest may be disobedient: thou shalt put them in beds apart: thou shalt beat them: but as soon as they obey thee again, do not seek cause for quarrel with them. God is merciful and great."