The Rights of A Wife in Islam.

All the previous civilizations, they have considered the women to be an ‘instrument of the devil’.

The Qur’an refers to the women as ‘Mohsana’, that is a ‘fortress against the devil’. And if a woman, who’s good, marries a man, she prevents him from going on the wrong path and keeps him on the ‘Siratulmustakeem’ – that is the correct path.

There’s a Hadith in which Prophet Muhammed (may peace be upon him), he said that, ‘there is no monasticism in Islam’.

And again according to Sahih Bukhari, Volume No. 7, Ch. No. 3 Hadith No 4 it says that the Prophet ordained the young men, ‘all those who have the means to marry, they should marry - For it will help them to lower their gaze and guard their modesty.’

There is another Hadith related by Anas, in which the Prophet said… ‘Anyone who marries completes half his deen’.

Once somebody asked me, that…‘does it imply that if I marry twice I will be completing my full deen?’

The person misunderstood the message of the Prophet.

When the Prophet said that… ‘When you marry you complete half your deen’ - It means that when you marry it shields you from promiscuity, it shields you from fornication, it shields you from homosexuality, which lead to half the sin in this world Only when you marry, do you have opportunity to become husband or a wife - Only when you marry do you have opportunity to become a father or a mother And the duties of the mother and the father and that of a husband and wife are very important in Islam.

So it makes no difference whether a man marries once twice or thrice or four times - He yet completes only half his deen.

The Qur’an say’s that… ‘We have put love into the hearts of the husband and wife’.

If you read Surah Rum, Ch. 30, Verse No. 21 it says that… ‘And amongst our signs We have created for you mates or companions, so that you may dwell in them in tranquillity and we have put love and mercy between your hearts’.

According to Surah Nisa, Ch.4, Verse No.21, marriage is considered as a misaq, a sacred agreement, a sacred contract.

According to Surah Nisa, Ch.4, Verse No.19, it says… ‘You are prohibited to inherit women against their will’ - Means, to marry the permission of both the parties are required.

It is compulsory that the man and women both should agree to marry No one - not even the father can force their daughter to marry against her wishes.

There’s a Hadith in Sahih Bukhari, Volume No. 7, Ch. No. 43, Hadith No. 69, which says ‘that a lady she was forced by her father to marry against her wishes’ - And she went to the Prophet and the Prophet invalidated the marriage’ [18]

Another Hadith in Ibn-e-Humbal, Hadith No. 2469, it says ‘that a daughter was forced by her father to get married - And when the daughter approached the Prophet, the Prophet said you can either continue, or if you wish you can invalidate the marriage.

That means, the consent of both the male and the female is required In Islam, a women is considered as a homemaker - She is not considered as a housewife, because she is not married to the house. Many people use terminology, without understanding what it means – ‘Housewife’ means ‘you’re the wife of the house’

So I believe, from now onwards the sisters would prefer calling themselves ‘homemakers’, than ‘house wives’, if they are occupied more in the home.

In Islam, a woman, she is not married to a master that she should be treated like a slave - She is married to, it is equal.

And there is a Hadith which says in Ibn-Hambal - Hadith No 736, 7396. - It says that…‘the most perfect of the believers are those that are best in character and behavior, and those that are best to their family and their wives’.

Islam gives equal rights to the man and woman and as mentioned by the honorable justice M. M. Kazi, that Qur’an clearly mentions that men and women, husband and wife have equal rights in all aspects, except leadership in the family.

It is mentioned in the Qur’an in Surah Baqarah Ch.2, Verse No.228.

- It says that…‘the women have been given rights similar against them on equitable terms but the men have a degree higher’

And I perfectly agree with Justice M.M. Kazi when he said that most of the Muslims have misunderstood this verse, when it says ‘men have a degree higher’ - As I said we should analyze the Qur’an as a whole.

And it’s mentioned in Surah Nisa, Ch. 4, Verse No.34 which says –

‘The men are the protectors and maintainers of the women, for Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) has given one of them more strength than the other and they give them their means’

People say the word ‘Kawwam’ means, ‘one degree higher in superiority’ - But actually the word ‘Kawwam’ comes from the root word ‘Ikamah’ ‘Ikamah’ means for example ‘when you give the Ikamah before prayers - You stand up’. So ‘Ikamah’ means to standup - so the word ‘Kawwam’ means one degree higher in responsibility, not one degree higher in superiority.

Even if you read the commentary of ‘Ibne-Kathir’ - He says that the word ‘Kawwam’ means one degree higher in responsibility, not one degree higher in superiority. And this responsibility should be carried out by mutual consent of both husband and wife.

It is mentioned in Surah Baqarah, Ch.2, Verse No.187, which says – [19] Which means…‘Your wives are your garments, and you are their garments’

What’s the objective of garments - It is used to conceal and to beautify The husband and wife, should conceal each-others faults, and they should beautify each other - It’s a relationship of hands and gloves.

The Qur’an mentions that…‘even if you do not like your wife, you should treat her kindly’.

It is mentioned in Surah Nisa, Ch.4, Verse No.19, that… ‘Treat your wives on a footing of equity and kindness even if you dislike her - For you may be disliking a thing for which Allah has made good for you’.

Even if you dislike your wife you have to treat her kindly and with equity Just because the rights of a wife are equal to those of the husband in Islam, will you call such rights in Islam as modernizing or outdated?