Allaah Says )what means(:"By Him Who created male and female; Verily,
your efforts and deeds are diverse."]Quran 92:3-4[
In these verses, Allaah declares that He created men and women to be
different, with unique roles, functions and skills.As in society,
where thereis a division of labor, so too in a family; each member has
different responsibilities. Generally, Islam upholds that women are
entrusted with the nurturing role, and men, with the guardian role.
Therefore, women are given the right of financial support.
Allaah Says )what means(:"Men are the protectors and maintainers of
women, because Allaah has made one of them to excel the other, and
because theyspend )to support them( from their means..."]Quran 4:34[
This guardianship and greater financial responsibility is given to
men, requires that they provide women with not, only monetary support,
but also physical protection and kind and respectful treatment.
The Muslim woman has the privilege to earn money, the rightto own
property, to enter into legal contracts and to manage allof her assets
in any way she pleases. She can run her own business and no one has
any claim on her earnings including her husband. Allaah Says )what
means(: "And wish not for the things in which Allaah has made some of
you to excel others. For men there is reward for what they have
earned, )and likewise( for women there is reward for what they have
earned, and ask Allaah of His bounty. Surely, Allaah is Ever
All-Knower of everything."]Quran 4:32[
Furthermore, a woman inherits from her relatives. Allaah Says)what
means(:"There is a share for men and a share for women from what is
left by parents and those nearest related, whether, the property be
small or large – alegal share."]Quran 4:7[
Rights of a Wife:
Allaah Says )what means(:"And among His signs is this, that He
created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose
in them, and He has put affection and mercy between you; Verily,
inthat are signs for people who reflect."]Quran 30:21[
Marriage is therefore not just a physical or emotional necessity, but
in fact it is a relationship of mutual rights and obligations based on
divine guidance. Allaah created men and women with complimentary
natures, and in the Quran, He laid out a system of laws to
supportharmonious interaction between the sexes. AllaahSays )what
means(:"...They are your garments and you are their garments."]Quran
2:187[
Clothing provides physical protection and covers the beauty and faults
of the body. Likewise, a spouse is viewed this way. Each protects the
other and hides the faults and compliments the characteristics of the
spouse.
To foster the love and security that come with marriage, Muslimwives
have various rights. The first of the wife's rights is to receive Mahr
)marriage dowry(, a gift from the husband, which is part of the
marriage contract andrequired for the legality and validity of the
marriage.
The second right of a wife is maintenance. Despite any wealth she may
have, her husband is obligated to provide her with food, shelter and
clothing. He is not forced, however, to spend beyond his capability
and his wifeis not entitled to make unreasonable demands. Allaah Says
)what means(:"Let the rich man spend according to his means, and the
man whose resources are restricted, let him spend according to what
Allaah has given him. Allah puts no burden on any person beyond what
He has given him. Allaah will grant after hardship, ease."]Quran
65:7[
Allaah tells us in the Quran that men are guardians over women and are
afforded the leadership in the family. His responsibility for obeying
Allaah extends to guiding his family to obey Allaah at all times.
A wife's rights also extend beyond material needs, as she has the
right to kind treatment. The Prophetsaid:"…The best of you are those
who are best )in treatment( to their wives."]At-Tirmithi, Ibn Maajah
and Al-Bayhaqi[
Allaah tells us that He created mates and put love, mercy, and
tranquillity between them. Both men and women have a need for
companionship and sexual needs,and marriage is designed to
fulfillthose needs. For one spouse to deny this satisfaction to the
other, temptation will rise to seek satisfying it elsewhere.
Duties of a Wife:
With rights come responsibilities. Therefore, wives have certain
obligations towards their husbands. Allaah Says )what means(:"…The
righteous women are devoutly obedient )toAllaah and their husbands(,
and guard in the husband's absence what Allaah orders them to guard
)i.e. their chastity, their husband's property, etc.(."]Quran 4:34[
A wife is to keep her husband's secrets and protect their marital
privacy. Issues of intimacy or faults of his, that would dishonor
him,are not to be spread by the wife, just as he is expected to guard
her honor.
A wife must also guard her husband's property. She must safeguard his
home and possessions, to the best of her ability, from theft or
damage. Sheshould manage the household affairs wisely so as to prevent
loss or waste. She should not allow anyone to enter the house whom her
husband dislikes nor incur any expenses of which her husband
disapproves.
A Muslim woman must cooperateand coordinate with her husband. There
cannot, however,be cooperation with a man who is disobedient to
Allaah. She should not fulfill his requests if he wants her to do
something Islamicaly unlawful. A husband also should not take
advantage of his wife, but rather he should consider her needs and
happiness.
Conclusion:
Allaah Says )what means(:"It is not for a believer,man or woman, when
Allaah and His Messenger )Muhammad( have decreed a matter that they
should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allaah
and His Messenger, he has strayed in a plain error."]Quran33:36[
The Muslim woman was given a role, duties and rights more than 1400
years ago that most womendo not enjoy today, even in the West. These
are rights granted byAllaah and are designed to keep balance in the
society; what may seem unjust or missing in one place is compensated
for or explained in another place.
Indeed Islam is a complete way of life.
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