Married Life

... and they (women) have rights similar to the rights against them, accroding to what is equitable, but men have a degree (of advantage) over them, and Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise. (Qur'an, 2:228)

This ayah explodes the myth of so-called "slavery of Muslim woman" which is the target of the attacks of many an ignorant western orien talist. It was essential, for the purpose of domestic well-being, to install the man with effective authority over women. "Men have a degree (of advantage) over them" points to this fact. Apart from this, both sides have been accorded well-balanced rights. Each "half" has been given all the necessary rights without any reservation.

As mentioned earlier, according to reason and according to the Islamic shari`ah, the husband is solely responsible for the livelihood of the wife, and in view of this responsibility he has been given an authority which in its turn is based upon love. It appears from above that all that a woman needs for her peace of mind, spiritual well-being, and material comfort, can be classified under two headings: (1) Sincere love; and (2) Fair maintenance.

If one looks at the long list of the demands of advocates of Liberation of Women, one will find that all those rights which are in conformity with reason are within the circle of these two rights.

Islam has emphatically ordered husbands to let their wives enjoy their rights without any hindrance. The Holy Prophet said: Any woman who makes her husband suffer with her tongue ... will be the first to enter Hell; and, likewise, the man if he treats her unjustly.

Adopted from the book: "The Family Life of Islam" by: "Sayyid Saeed Akhtar Rizivi"