Islam's Response to Contemporary Issues — Page 94
94 islam’s response to contemporary issues equal rights as for men, as men have rights upon women. There is thus total equality and there is no difference whatsoever between the fundamental human rights of women and men. ) But men have a degree of advantage over them. And Allah is Mighty and Wise. 23 In another part of a verse of the Holy Quran, it is stated: Men are appointed guardians over women because of that in respect of which Allah has made some of them excel others despite the fact that they spend of their wealth. 24 From the Arabic word Qaww a m u n (guardians made responsible to keep their wards on the right path), some medieval-minded ulamas (doctors of religion) deduce and claim the superiority of men over women whereas the verse only refers to an advantage that the breadwinner has over his dependants. As such, the guardian is better qualified to exert moral pressure on the wards to continue to remain on the right path. As far as basic human rights are concerned, it does not in any way refer to women being unequal or to men’s superiority over women. The last part of the verse refers to the above-mentioned advantage and makes it manifestly clear that despite this advantage, the fundamental rights of women are exactly equal to those of men. The Arabic letters wa is to be translated as ‘despite the fact that’ or ‘while’ and in this context seems to be the only correct translation.