Principles of Islam
25. Marriage
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Except for man’s role as managers, man and woman
have completely equal status. For instance, if a
woman kills a man, and the crime is proved, the
woman will be required to pay the penalty (Qur’an,
2:178). There is no legal discrimination in the eyes of
the Shari’ah between woman and man. The laws
applicable to men are also applicable to women.
The Prophet Muhammad was once asked who of all
women was the best. He replied, ‘One who makes
her husband happy when he sees her, who obeys
her husband when he asks her for anything and
who does not do anything against his will as
regards either herself or his wealth.’ (An-Nasa’i,
Sunan, Kitaban-Nikah,
6/68). This
hadith
very aptly
points out a woman’s duties towards her husband.
On the subject of their wives, the Qur’an enjoins
men: ‘Treat them with kindness; for even if you do
dislike them it may well be that you may dislike a
thing which God has meant for your own good.’
(Qur’an, 4:19).
This teaching means that even if outwardly
unpleasant, a wife should not cause aversion,
because God has not made anyone imperfect in all
