The Obligation of believing that there are differences..

Från: Umm-Aicha (Ursprungligt meddelande) Skickat: 2005-04-05 22:18

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 Committee of Muftis in the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia

Translated by Abu Sumayyah Aqeel Walker

The physical, figurative and legislative (i.e. regarding religious
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; both 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 establishment 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 is 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 outside 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) absence 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
Translated by Aqeel Walker <o:p></o:p>

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<o:p>As salam alaykom wa rhamatuallahi wa barakato</o:p>

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