240- The Holy Qur’an on Status of Women in the Society: 1, (Series: Inviting Reflections)

Who will Earn the Bread and Butter for the Household?

Confirming the idea of Unity of Mankind, Allah Almighty addressed the whole humanity in the Holy Qur’an:

 "??? ???????? ???????? ?????? ????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ??????????????? ???????? ??????????? ????????????? ? ????? ???????????? ?????? ??????? ??????????? ? ????? ??????? ??????? ???????"  

(O people! We created you from a male and a female, and made you races and tribes, that you may know one another. The best among you in the sight of God is the most righteous. God is All-Knowing, Well-Experienced). Surah: 49, Verse: 13; and further says about both spouses of a family unit:

"????? ??????? ?????? ?????????? ??????? ???????" (They are as a garment for you, and you are as a garment for them). Surah: 2, Verse: 187

A sound family structure is the foundation of a healthy society. In Islam, women play a vital role in establishing a proper family system. The Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah have spelled out the rights and obligations of male and female in a family. The rights of orphans and the laws of inheritance have also been laid down by the Qur’an. In all Abrahamic religions, Islam is the only religion to make dispensation of inheritance for women obligatory. Moreover, the laws of marriage and divorce have been laid down in the Qur’an as well. In the Islamic scheme, it is interesting to note that though the women have not been stopped to earn the bread and butter for a household, it is specifically mentioned that the provision of livelihood is the responsibility of the husband. The Holy Qur’an has mentioned it specifically, the verse reads:

  ??????????????? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???????????--?????? ??????? ???? ??????? ???????????? ? ??????? ???????????? ???? ??????????? ??????????????? ?????????????? ? ??? ????????? ?????? ?????? ????????? ? ??? ???????? ????????? ??????????? ????? ????????? ???? ?????????? ? ??????? ?????????? ?????? ??????? (Mothers may nurse their infants for two whole years, for those who desire to complete the nursing-period. It is the duty of the father to provide for them and clothe them in a proper manner. No soul shall be burdened beyond its capacity. No mother shall be harmed on account of her child, and no father shall be harmed on account of his child. The same duty rests upon the heir). Surah:2, Verse: 233. It is further ordained in the following Qur’anic verse: 

  "??????? ?????????? ?????????????? ???????? ? ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ?????? ??????? ??????? ????????? ???????? ?????????" (Give women their dowries graciously. But if they willingly forego some of it, then consume it with enjoyment and pleasure). Surah: 4, Verse: 4. 

In the above verses though the breast feeding by the mother has not been made mandatory; nevertheless, it is preferred that they should feed their children for complete two years. However, the husband has been demanded of shouldering the full burden of raising his children. It has also been emphasized that the husband should pay the dowries (as agreed between the two parties) at the time of marriage---which is an open social contract.  

In case of separation and divorce, the injunctions are clearly stated. A Qur’anic verse reads:

????? ????????????????? ??? ?????? ??? ????????????? ?????? ?????????? ??????? ????????? ???????? ??? ?????????? ?????? ??? ????????? ???? ?????????? ??????? ????????? ???????? ?????????? ? ????? ?????????? ???????? ???????????? ? ????? ????????? ????????? ?????????? ? ????? ??????? ????? ??????????? ??????? (If you divorce them before you have touched them, but after you had set the dowry for them, give them half of what you specified-unless they forego the right, or the one in whose hand is the marriage contract foregoes it. But to forego is nearer to piety. And do not forget generosity between one another. Allah is seeing of everything you do). Surah: 2, Verse: 237

It is understood that a female member of a family, as compared to a male member in a family, has been assigned half of inheritance share because, in Islamic Scheme, earning livelihood for the family is the responsibility of the husband or other male head of the family. Moreover, the expenses for the education of the children and all other commodities of life, for both children and the spouse, are responsibility of the husband. With regard to education and upbringing of children in a befitting manner is duty of both—father and mother.

In order to maintain modesty and decency in the society, those who accuse chaste ladies of fornication and fail to produce evidence are liable to major punishment i.e. flogging them with eighty stripes publicly. A Qur’anic verse reads:

" ??????????? ????????? ?????????????? ????? ???? ????????? ???????????? ????????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???????? ????? ??????????? ?????? ????????? ??????? ? ?????????????? ???? ?????????????"(Those who accuse chaste women, then cannot bring four witnesses, flog them with eighty stripes, and do not accept their any evidence anymore. For these are the sinners). Surah: 24, Verse: 4.

Fulfilling the needs and taking care of all family members is mandatory on the head of the family. The Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, is reported to have proclaimed about himself:

"???? ???????? ?????? ????? ??????? ???????: ????? ???????? ????? ????? ????? ???????? ?? ??????: ?????????? ?????????? ????????? ?? ???? ?????????? ?????????"  (On the authority of ‘Ayesha RA, it is reported that the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said: “The best of you is that who is the best for his family [members]; and I am the best, among you, for my family”. Please see:  Jami’ Tirmidhi, Hadith # 3895.