Islamic Teachings on Ideal Family Life — Page 30
~ 30 ~ Responsibilities of Husband and Wife as Life Partners Husband and wife as life partners have great responsibilities and obligations. Both of them must have a great concern and feelings of love and compassion for each other. Their sentiments and emotions must reflect love and sympathy for each other. The Holy Qur’ ā n has given an excellent example of husband and wife in the following verse, “They (wives) are a garment for you, and you (husbands) are a garment for them. ” (The Holy Qur’ ā n, 2:188) Everyone knows that garments are used for three main purposes. 1. To cover and protect oneself from extreme climatic conditions, etc. 2. To look civilized, nice and elegant. 3. To cover weaknesses, faults and blemishes. As every person likes to have a pretty garment, to beautify himself or herself, the marriage partners playing the role of good garments should bring out and enhance each other’s beauty and should make every effort to make the spouse cheerful and happy. As garments cover any fault or blemish of the body, in the same way, the marriage partner must cover the faults or weaknesses of the spouse. This is only possible if there is open-mindedness, forbearance and patience. These qualities must be exhibited by both sides. It is not possible that one partner shows patience and the other criticism, one overlooks and the other nags.