The Position of Man and Woman

n the internal organization of the family, a man is in the position of the head and the overall supervisor. In fact, it is the eldest member of the extended family who occupies the position of the head. A man’s major responsibilities lie outside the family. He is to support the family economically and materially; he has to look after the relations of the family with the rest of the society. its economy and policy and he has to take care of the demands of internal discipline within the family. A woman’s major responsibilities lie within the family. Her too, the eldest woman is regarded as the centre of the family organization but within each circle and fold the relative central position is enjoyed by that woman who constitutes its core. A spectrum of mutual rights and responsibilities has been evolved in such a way that balanced relationships are developed between all. The Qur’an says:

“Men are those who support women, since God has given some persons advantages over others, and because they spend their wealth (on them)”. [Q 4:34]

“Women have the same rights (in relation to their husbands) as is expected in all decency from them; while men stand a step above them. God is mighty, wise”.

[Q 2:228]

This is the interests of proper organization and management within the family. There is equality in rights. There is demarcation of responsibilities.

Man has been made head of the family so that order and discipline are maintained. Both are enjoined to discharge their respective functions with justice and equity.

The question of equality or inequality of the sexes has often been raised. This issue, is, however, the product of a certain cultural and legal context, and is really not relevant to the Islamic context where the equality of men and women as human beings has been Divinely affirmed and legally safeguarded. There is differentiation of roles and responsibilities and certain arrangements have been made to meet the demands of organizations and institutions not on the basis of superiority or inferiority of the sexes but in the light of the basic facts of life and the needs of society. Every role is important in its own right and each person is to be judged according to the responsibilities assigned to him or her. Their roles are not competitive but complimentary.