Islam on Marital Rights — Page 11
ISLAM ON MARITAL RIGHTS 11 of the orphan; and qaam-ar-rajolul-mar-a-ta would mean that he maintained and looked after the woman and managed her affairs; he protected her or became her guardian. Qawwaamun alaiha means the provider of her sustenance. Therefore, the Quranic words Qawwaamoona alan-nissa in the above verse would mean that the men are the managers of the affairs of the women or that they undertake the maintenance of women. Thus the correct and true meanings of the word Qawwaam are - the managers of affairs or the providers of sustenance. 'The ruler' or 'the governor' is incorrect. The sense of providing sustenance', 'to reform or educate' and 'to guard and look after' is also implied by the word. Qawwaam. It is obvious that anyone who assumes the duty of providing sustenance would automatically be responsible for looking after the moral, spiritual and physical welfare of the protégé. In consideration of this extra responsibility imposed upon men, they have been rightly assigned the role of authority over women. After all, it is not possible for each and every human being to hold the same and equal position. Each individual is an essential part of this huge machinery of world affairs and holds his separate position. If it had not been so, this machinery could not have worked. That is why the Holy Quran says that Allah has exalted some of you over the others. . EXTRA RESPONSIBILITY. The Quranic words "because Allah has made some of them excel others" further explain the reasons why men should hold a position superior to that of a woman. One reason is that man has been created physically stronger than woman for which reason he has been assigned the role of a bread winner for his family. For the same reason he is required to fight in defense of his country and the nation when the need arises. Another reason is that he spends his wealth to provide for the woman's necessities. Man earns while the woman spends. These are the reasons for which. Islam has placed man above the women in a sphere already specified. . In the Tafseer-i-Baizaawi the part of the verse: "Because Allah has made some of them excel others. . . " has been commented upon as follows: