Mysore Muslim weddings have the warmth and grace making it a get-together of family and friends. Muslim brides in Mysore find out their suitable grooms by registering in the numerous matrimony sites in the city. Woman is expected to show her husband’s parents the respect and kindness that are due from a dutiful daughter while her husband must treat his parents with kindness at all times and under all circumstances. According to Islam, a woman is not required to serve her husband’s parents. He himself is required to look after his parents and try as hard as possible to ensure their comfort according to his means. This means that if a woman decides to serve her husband’s parents, in defense to them or out of love for her husband, she does so voluntarily. Her attitude should be met with gratitude by her husband and his parents and her kindness should be reciprocated. But she violates no Islamic law or principle if she decides not to serve them. Her husband may not force or pressure her into serving them, whether they share the same house or live separately.
The relationship between parents and their daughter- in-law acquires a different outlook. When someone does you a favour voluntarily and you do not show your appreciation, they are bound to feel hurt. When the kindness is returned or at least appreciated, they are encouraged to continue this generous attitude. If on the other hand, a person is made to feel that a voluntary favour is expected as a duty when no religious or moral authority imposes it, then there arise contempt and anger. As time goes on, it will lead to tensions in family life and strained relations between wife and her in-laws and later between husband and wife. In such circumstances a woman has every right to ask her husband to move out of the family house. Obviously, the advantage a woman sees in living alone with her husband and kids is that she has no pressure and can organize her family to her satisfaction.
