Woman Between Islam and Western Society
6. The Rights of Husband and Wife
~ 367 ~
liberty to disclose to others matters which he wishes
to have kept in strict confidence.
A woman is man’s secret-keeper. She is bound to
remain so till the end of her days.
THE MANAGEMENT OF THE HOME
Addressing women, the Qur’an says: “Stay in your
homes.”
17
The commentators of the Qur’an have
explained that in this verse a woman’s staying at
home means that her sphere of activities should be
her home.
18
In modern times a woman has become an external
show-piece, whereas according to the scheme of
Islam a woman should stay at home and look after
the internal responsibilities. Housekeeping, family
requirements, management of all affairs at home,
looking after the children — all are the woman’s
responsibility: “staying at home” covers it all.
Looking after a home is like looking after a state,
even if it is on a much smaller scale. It is certainly as
important and respectable a task as that carried out
by a head of state: a woman should, therefore,
