The Quest of a Curious Muslim — Page 48
WHO HAS THE FINAL WORD IN MARRIAGE? HUSBAND OR 48 big responsibility that a person would gladly relinquish their responsibility and look for a way out. This is especially true if they know that failure to fulfill the requirements of the given responsibility will result in severe punishment, and that too from Allah, as He says, “Know that Allah is severe in punishment” (Holy Quran, 5:99). In Islam, men and women have been charged with responsibilities for which both will be held accountable. Although they share equal rights, the responsibilities and their accountability is different based on the physical, emotional and psychological capacities and inclinations of each gender. A wise man once said, “It is more important to treat one fairly than equally because not everyone is equal”. Sometimes treating someone equally could be unfair. Islam adheres to this rule and gives a fair and just responsibility to men and women. Concerning the question under discussion, the Holy Quran states, “And they [the women] have rights similar to those [of men] over them in equity; but men have a rank above them” ( 2 :229). In this verse God tells us that as far as personal rights are concerned, women and men are equal. But in some