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Wa Alaikum Salaam Wa Rahmatullah!
This was taken from www.assalafi.com
The Obligation of believing that there are differences between the man and the woman
By the Noble Shaikh Bakr bin Abdullah Abu Zayd
Member of the Permanent Committe of Muftees in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Translated by Abu Sumayyah Aqeel Walker
The physical, figurative and legislative (i.e. regarding religous laws) differences between the man and the woman are confirmed by divine preordainment, the texts of the Islamic religious sources, what can be obviously perceived, and the intellect.
This can be clarified as follows: That Allaah - far removed is He from imperfections - created the man and the woman as two separate halves for the human species; male and female. Allaah said: "And that verily He (Allaah) created the two mates, the male and the female." (An-Najm:45)
They both share in the establisment of this existence, each according to what is particular to his or her gender. They also both share in the establishment of this existence in regards to the matter of making worship for Allaah, the Most High. In this matter there is no difference between the men and the woman in the generality of the religion of Islaam. This means that there is no difference between them in the matter of belief in At-Tawheed (Allaah's uniqueness and His right to be worshiped alone), in Al-I'tiqaad (the creed of beliefs that are incumbent upon every Muslim), in the realities of Al-Eemaan (faith), in submitting one's face to Allaah, the Most High, in the matters of reward and punishment, in the generality of encouraging to do good and discouraging from committing evils, and in the matter of the virtuous acts. There is also no difference between the two sexes in the generality of legislation in regards to rights and obligations comprehensively. Allaah says what means:
"And I did not create the Jinns and human beings, except (for the purpose) that they worship Me." (Ath-Thaariyyaat:56)
And He says what means:
"Whoever works a righteous deed, whether he is a male or a female, while he (or she) is a believer, then We will give him a life that is good." (An-Nahl:97)
And He said what means:
"And whoever does righteous deeds, whether he is a male or a female, while he (or she) is a believer, then these people will enter the Paradise and they will not be dealt with unjustly in the least amount." (An-Nisaa':124)
However, it is according to Allaah's preordainment and His decree that the male is not like the female in the manner of his physical creation, his appearance and his make up. In the masculine gender there is a type of perfection in his creation, and natural strength. The female is less complete than the male in her creation, her physical strength and natural make up. This is due to what she experiences of menstruation, pregnancy, breastfeeding, taking care of the affairs of the breastfeeding child, and rearing the future generation of the Ummah (the Muslim nation). For this reason the female was created from the rib of Aadam ('alayhis-salaam). Thus, she is a part of him (the man), and she follows him, and is to be obedient to him. The man has been entrusted with looking after her affairs, protecting her and spending (his wealth) on her and on whatever they may have of children. From the results of this difference in their creation are the following: the difference between them in strength, in physical abilities, in intelligence, in their thinking, in their gentleness, in their goals and objectives, and in their actions and functions. And in what differences these things contain is sufficient (as a proof), let alone if we add to that what the scholars of modern medicine have ascertained of amazing conclusions regarding the differences in creation between the two sexes.
A large portion of the laws of the Islamic legislation are connected to these two types of differences (i.e. the differences in their physical creation, and in their responsibilities). Thus, with the profound wisdom of Allaah, the All Knowing, the All Wise, these two differences necessitate the difference, the differing degrees and difference in virtue between the man and the woman in some of the laws of the Islamic legislation. They also necessitate differences in the important matters and duties that are appropriate for each of them in his creation, his make up, his abilities and his performance of functions. These differences affect what is particular to each of the sexes in his or her arena of human life, so that the life can be complete, and so that each of them can establish that which is important to him in life.
Thus, Allaah specified certain laws for the men, and they are laws which are appropriate for their creation, their make up, their build, the particular characteristics of their build, their qualifications, what is sufficient for them in regards to their performing necessary duties, their patience, their tolerance, their sobriety, and their duties outide of the home, and their effort and spending upon those who live in the home.
Allaah has also specified certain laws for the women, which are appropriate for their creation, their make up, their build, their particular characteristics, their qualifications, their duties, their weakness in patience and tolerance, their general duties and important functions in the home, their taking care of the affairs of the home and their rearing of those who live in the home of the future generation of the Ummah (Muslim nation).
Allaah mentioned the statement of the woman of 'Imraan when she said:
"And the male is not like the female." (Aal 'Imraan:36)
Glory be unto Him, Who possesses the creation, the command, the judgement and the legislation.
"Is it not that the creation and command belong to Him (Allaah)? Blessed be Allaah, the Lord of all the worlds (all that exists)." (Al-A'raaf:54)
Therefore, this is what Allaah wants in the existence and the decree regarding the creation, the make up of things and those things that He has given. This is also what Allaah wants in the affairs of religious legislation regarding the command, the judgement and the legislation. Thus, both of these two aspects of Allaah's desire have met for the benefits of the creatures (i.e. humanity) and the establishment and maintaining of the existence. This is also beneficial for the organization of the individual's life, the household , the community, and the society of humanity.
This (which follows here) is a portion of what has been made specific for each of the two sexes:
Among the laws that are specific to men:
That they are the maintainers who are in charge of the homes by protecting, looking after, and safeguarding the virtues of the family members, and preventing any vices, and defending the sacredness of the family from offenders, and they are the maintainers and protectors of the homes along with those who live in them by earning wealth and spending upon the family members.
Allaah, the Most High, said:
"The men are the maintainers and protectors over the women due to what Allaah has favored one of them (the men) over the other (the women), and due to what they (the men) spend of their wealth. Therefore, the righteous women are the devoutly obedient women, the women who guard in the (husband's) absense what Allaah would have them guard." (An-Nisaa':34)
(To be continued)
Ash-Shaikh Bakr bin 'Abdullah Abu Zayd
Source: Hiraasatul-Fadheelah, pp. 15-18
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vtorres
09-12-2002 @ 12:00 AM
14-12-2002 @ 12:00 AM