First it is important to know that: ‘the
best and most correct way to understand the meaning of a Quranic verse is to look at the
explenation of the verse given by the Companions of the prophet’
The new
Renaissance of Islam which is just beginning will, it is hoped, sweep away cobwebs and let
let in full light of reason and understanding.
The need for
an explenation of the verses Qu’ran arose quite early. Even before the whole of the
Qu’ran was revealed, people used to ask the Prophet all sorts of questions as to
the meaning of certain words in the verses revealed, or of their bearing on problems as
they arose, or details of certain historica lor spiritual matters on which they sought
more light. The Prophet’s answers were carefully stored in the memory of the
Companions (ashab) and were afterwards written down. In the next generation, the
Tabi’un, were those who had not personally conversed with the Prophet, like the
Companions, but had conversed with the Companions and learned from them. Subsequent
generations went always went back to establish a chain of evidence through the
Tabi’un and the Companions.
(‘The Meaning of The Holy
Quran’ Abdulah Yusuf Ali , chapter: ‘Commentaries on the Qur’an’ ,
page: xvii )
the verse: And women shall have rights similar to the rights
against them, according to what is equitable; but men have a degree (of responsibility)
over them. And Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise (2:228).
In other words, Allah :
(1) gave men and women similar rights; then
(2) He gave the men a greater degree of responsibility
over the women than that of women over men. It follows that the rights owned to the wife
are unnegotiable, whereas the husband has to give up certain rights. This is not a feminist reading but the actual
explanation of Ibn `Abbas (companion of the
prophet) according to al-Tabari in his Tafsir,
and the latter preferred it over all other commentaries of that verse (Al-Tabari said the best
explanation is that of Ibn `Abbas).
Al-Tabari in his Tafsir narrated from Ibn `Abbas: "The
daraja mentioned by Allah Most High here is the
*forfeiting, on the man's part, of some his wife's obligations towards him* and his
indulgence towards her, while he is *fully obligated to fulfill all his obligations
towards her*, because the verse came right after { And they (women) have rights similar to those (of men) over them in
kindness} . Hence Ibn `Abbas said: 'I would not like to obtain all
(astanzif) of my right from her because Allah Most High said { and men are a degree above them} .'"
(Source: fatwa by Sheikh G.F. Haddad at
livingislam.com)
Further:
Careful reading of the verse in Arabic, and in the context of other
verses, does not imply inequality. Rather, {And they [the women] have [rights] like [the
obligations] they are under with beneficence} , as well as other verses, emphasizes the equality of man and woman in rights
and obligations, in nature and mental characteristics, in responsibility and
accountability towards Allah ( but Allah swt gave the men a greater degree of responsibility over
the women than that of women over men.) His Message. For example, the Qur’an
says what means:
Then their Lord responded to them, “I do not
waste the deed of any doer among you, any male or female. The one of you is as the other
(Aal `Imran 3:195)
Surely the male donors and the female
donors and [those] who lend to Allah a fair loan, it will be doubled for them, and they
will have an honorable reward (Al-Hadid
57:18)
Surely [for] male Muslims and female
Muslims, and male believers and female believers, and devout males and devout females and
sincere males and sincere females, and patient males and patient females, and submissive
males and submissive females, and male donators and female donators, and fasting males and
fasting females, and males who preserve their private parts and females who preserve their
private parts, and males who are much mindful of Allah and females who are much mindful of
Allah – for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a magnificent reward. (Al-Ahzab
33: 35)
We should understand that equality is something different from sameness. Actually
it is the latter that the feminist movement nowadays call for, while Islam and sound
intellect totally reject it. Men and women are different emotionally as well as in
physical characteristics and endurance. Hence they were naturally created for two
different, but complementary, functions and roles. This has been demonstrated by the
variance of roles of men and women in all ages, civilizations, and cultures. The long
history of humanity did not witness women prophets. It would be absurd to ascribe this to
male self-imposed supremacy or coercion. Rather one should ask: Why did Allah exclusively
send His messages through men, unless this is His will and the norms of His creation.
The emotional character of women, their motherly
instinct, and their basically tender, compassionate nature qualify them for their vital
roles as careful mothers, affectionate wives, daughters, and sisters. Such roles are
essential to form happy households, to raise healthy generations, and to create a
closely-knit society.
Equally, men bear the major responsibility of
earning for a living, harnessing and developing the resources of the earth, facing life
hardships, and defending his family and the community against dangers. A man is
responsible to financially support his wife (even if she is rich), his daughters until
they are married, his sons until they are able to support themselves, his needy parents,
as well as other blood relatives. To fulfill these major responsibilities, he should
assume the role of Protector/ Guardian/ Leader, and this is what is meant by “a
degree above them.” (in Islam men have a
greater degree of responsibility over the women than that of women over men. It follows
that the rights owned to the wife are unnegotiable, whereas the husband has to give up
certain rights – like Ibn Abbas explainedin the hadith )
Thus, leadership (and the role of protector/guardian) does not thus imply
any sort of inequality or dictatorship, also it implies no
superiority or advantage before the law, since
men are obligated to give their wives ‘kind treatment and companionship (this
right of the wife is strongly emphasized by the Qur'an the Prophet ).
The Qur'an states:
O ye who believe! Ye are forbidden
to inherit women against their will. Nor
should ye treat them with harshness, that ye may take away part of the dower
[money given by the husband to the wife for the marriage contract] ye have given them,
except where they have been guilty of open lewdness; on the contrary live with them on a footing of
kindness and equity. If ye take a dislike to them it may be that ye dislike a
thing, and God brings about through it a great deal of good. ( Qu’ran An-nisa 19)
Prophet Muhammad. (saw) said:
The best of you
is the best to his family and I am the best among you to my family. [Ibn Hibban]
The most
perfect believers are the best in conduct and best of you are those who are best to their
wives. (Ibn-Hanbal, No. 7396)
Islam further emphasizes the importance of taking counsel and mutual agreement in
family decisions. The Qur'an gives us an example: "...If they (husband wife)
desire to wean the child by mutual consent and (after) consultation, there is no blame on
them..." (Qur'an 2: 233).
Men should remember that they are obligated to be just and fair
to their wives ( in this way they must exercise
their role as protector/leader/guardian):
"Allah commands justice,
the doing Of good, and liberality to kith And kin,
and He forbids All shameful deeds, and injustice And rebellion:
He instructs you, That ye may receive admonition.
(The Noble Quran, 16:90)"
Tafsir Ibn
Kathir on this verse:
The Command to be Fair
and Kind
Allah tells us that He commands His servant to be
just, i.e., fair and moderate, and that He encourages kindness and good treatment.
Source: www.tafsir.com and check chapter sixteen verse 90.
Useful links:
http://www.islam-for-everyone.com (by Nabil Haroun, originator of the website
)
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?cid=1123996016410&pagename=IslamOnline-English-AAbout_Islam/AskAboutIslamE/AskAboutIslamE