Rights Of Husband & Wife
﴿ وَلَهُنَّ مِثْلُ الَّذِى عَلَيْهِنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ وَلِلرِّجَالِ عَلَيْهِنَّ دَرَجَةٌ ﴾
And (women) have (rights) the like of which are incumbent upon them,
according to what is fair; and men have a degree over them.
And Allah (is) All-Mighty, All-Wise. [2:228]
Barbarism and ignorance were prevalent during the time when this verse was revealed. A common misconception regarding women in Islam is that they are subjugated, degraded and oppressed.
However, it is worth noting that during the pre-Islamic period, known as Jāhiliyyah (ignorance), women were regarded as being intellectually and physically inferior to men; their basic human rights were violated by everyone, especially by those who believed they were following God’s law.
Debates were held regarding whether they were human. Household objects were treated with more respect than them! Many were treated as commodities, being passed from one man to the next.
If we look at recent history, we learn that prior to 1882, when a woman got married in the UK, her wealth was passed to her husband. If a woman worked after marriage, her earnings also belonged to her husband. [1]
In 1923 women were, in theory, legally allowed to divorce, however, the process made it almost impossible. [2]
It wasn’t until 1969 that they were given the same rights to divorce as men. It was not until 1926 that women in the UK were allowed to own and sell property on the same terms as men. [3]
It was not until 1928 that women over the age of 21 were able to achieve the same voting rights as men in the UK. [4]
Islam granted all these rights to women from the onset! Islam liberated women. The status given to them was equal to men. In the time of Jāhiliyyah, in a patriarchal society, the Prophet g not only fought hard to implement these rights, but he also put an end to infanticide.
We must not forget that it was not uncommon for baby girls to be buried alive during Jāhiliyyah. We are told in the Qur’ān that these girls will rise out of their graves and ask for what crimes they were killed.
﴿ وَإِذَا الْمَوْءُۥدَةُ سُئِلَتْ ﴾
And when the female infant buried alive is asked; [81:8]
Burying a daughter alive was considered a matter of honour. According to pre-Islamic Arabian custom, having a daughter was a source of disgrace to the family.
Women were discriminated against around the world, and pre-Islamic Arabia was no different. Women could not own their own wealth.
Prior to marriage, it belonged to their father and brother, and after marriage it was transferred over to the husband along with the woman herself. It was impossible for a woman to leave her husband, while he, on the other hand, had the right to divorce her as many times as he wished. She would remain in limbo for long periods of time, not knowing whether she was still in marriage with the man who had divorced her, often living a life deprived of basic human rights and in total disgrace.
A man would take on many wives, and upon his death, these wives (other than his biological mother) were inherited by his sons like commodities.
A woman on the other hand, however, was prohibited from inheriting anything from anyone. Men were given the right to do and say as they pleased, as their rights and privileges were not limited.
In the above verse (2:228), Allah f mentions the rights of women before those of men due to the inequality at the time.
Despite being in the 21st Century, women all around the globe are still fighting for equal rights; they are still being paid less than men for doing identical jobs.
It is worth noting that on June 10, 1963, the Equal Pay Act was signed into law, mandating that men and women receive the same pay for the same work. Yet, 55 years later, the American workforce still struggles with a gender pay gap that affects all women, especially women of colour. [5]
The status and rights of women in Islam remains as it was revealed to the beloved Messenger g.
Islam teaches us that both men and women have rights they must fulfil. With rights come responsibilities. For example, it is the responsibility of the husband to provide for his wife and children.
It is the responsibility of the wife to take care of her husband and children. It is her duty to please her husband and to raise her children with a good Islamic education. It is her duty to provide her husband with physical, mental and emotional support.
A family unit is a very important element of society. A broken home brings about a negative impact on society. We need to ensure that our children have a loving environment that they deserve and that they are nurtured with the teachings of Islam.
When everyone looks after their responsibilities and fulfil each other’s rights, it helps keep a balanced environment, one full of blessing and happiness.
May Allah f give us the understanding to realise each other’s rights and live with love and harmony, Āmīn.
[1] See: Married Women’s Property Act 1882.
[2] See: The Matrimonial Causes Act 1923.
[3] See: Law of Property Act 1925 – Married Women.
[4] See: 1928 Equal Franchise Act.
[5] See: America’s Equal Pay Act of 1963.
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“And (women) have (rights) the like of which are incumbent upon them, according to what is fair; and men have a degree over them. And Allah f (is) All-Mighty, All-Wise.”
Qur’an [2:228]
