Woman Between Islam and Western Society
6. The Rights of Husband and Wife
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woman. His thinking is more realistic. A woman’s
thinking, on the contrary, is often marked by
limitations. She easily falls prey to emotion. She
inherits this as part of her nature, and so far as her
sphere of home-based activity is concerned, her
limitations or emotions are in no way a deficiency.
However, a woman must be aware of her natural
shortcomings. She can advise the man, but
inflexible insistence on her part is not proper.
The system of the house is similar to a miniature
democracy. But every democratic system has a
leader. And according to
shari’ah
the leader of the
democracy at home is the man.
THE GUARDING OF THE SECRET
Another right of man over woman has been
described in the Qur’an in these words: “... and
guard in (the husband’s) absence what God would
have them guard.”
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Woman is man’s garment. Just as a garment is closest
to man so a woman is closest to man. A husband and
a wife are the only companions between whom there
is no secret even of hidden parts.
