In Islam, the family is formed by one husband, that can have more than one wife.

In the novela The Clone, Jade loves Lucas, but is forced to marry Said. Latiffa, her cousin, until she met her husband Mohamed, did not love him. She didn't even know what he looked like, but, as most muslim women - unlike Jade, that grew up in Brazil and lost part of her identity -, Latiffa did not question her uncle Ali when he approved the candidates and decided with whom the cousins should marry.


The scene from the novela is fictious, but inspired in the reality of the islamic world, where the family authority always belongs to the man. He should plan the destiny of his

daughters, sons or others he has raised, besides having control of his wife's life - or wives, since Islam permits polygamy for men. Such control by the patriarch of his next of kin has an explanation: family is the basis of islamic society. And she will only be united and stable if islamic principles are followed.

Financial agreement

To marry and form a family is one of these principles. And the larger, the better. Celibacy is not well seen by women, nor by men. Even so because being marriage a financial agreement between two families, the bachelor, in time, might have financial difficulties.


Since the support of the family is the responsibility of the man, if he is rich enough he can have up to four wives. That is the case of the character Ali, in The Clone.

Polygamy

The possibility of men having more than one wife is anticipated in the Koran. The minimal demand for this to happen is that all should have equal treatment: if one of them receives a gift from the husband, he should grant the others the same gift, or another of the same value.


Polygamy , therefore, is a status symbol. The origin of this practice has historical basis, from the time when the prophet Muhammad still lived and Islam was fighting to impose: many men died during the battle between the inhabitants of Mecca and Yatrib (city that later received the name of Medina, that means "city of the prophet"), leaving

many broken families. It was then that the prophet recommended marriage with up to four women, as long as all of them and their children - who should live under the same roof or in houses nearby - were treated well and in total equality.

Desire under control

When the subject is sex, Islam is very clear and very strict. Virginity is considered a virtue and an indispensable requirement for marriage, and that holds true for the woman as well as for the man - as long as this is his first marriage.


It is to avoid the temptations of desire that islamic law imposes a series of prohibitions. From puberty, women should hide their charms; they should not go out unaccompanied; men and women should not be alone in the same room nor should they touch.

Virginity of the bride is a family and social affair: that explains the habit of displaying on the streets the sheet stained with the blood of the disrupted hymen on the wedding night - exactly as it was shown on a scene from The Clone. In case she is no longer a virgin, the husband gives her back and receives his dotal gift back, presents are returned and the woman falls into public disgrace.


Adultery is also severely punished with death by stoning - although, depending on the degree of democratic development of the society, on this punishment today mercy prevails, which is another islamic principle.

Hidden beauty

From puberty, there is no excuse: all women should hide their body, that is only revealed to the husband. Not even the practice of sports like soccer, a passion of moroccan women, is capable of freeing them from the use of hijad (veil) and long clothing. That is why, character Latiffa, in The Clone, is shown playing ball totaly covered, no matter how much the clothing upsets her movements.


The use of the hijad - and the burka, clothing that hides even the eyes and is considered radical - is for muslims a sign that the woman is not interested in sexual advances. The excess of fabric serves the purpose of stopping the

harassment of men. They believe that, covered , women are valued more by their moral and intelectual qualities than by beauty and youth.

Eyes of gazelle Muslims can only be admired by their own husband.