Entry: As mentioned earlier, a woman in a family can be a mother, a daughter, a sister, or a wife. The wife plays a very important and graceful role in life; although her position may not reach the stature of a mother, she can still make a significant contribution to organizing the life of her husband and raising righteous and good children. For this reason, Islam has granted many rights to wives. In this part of the research, we will consider the position of the wife in Islam and her rights.
The Position of the Wife in Islam
The lives of men and women are interconnected; neither can navigate this journey without the other. In many aspects, Allah Almighty has placed men over women and women over men, emphasizing their mutual dependence in life. For each party, He has assigned rights to the other, which necessitates fulfilling these needs reciprocally while respecting each other’s rights and fostering order, balance, and coherence within the family. The majority of family disputes, especially between husband and wife, arise from neglecting each other’s rights and failing to show mutual respect.
Many men claim sovereignty over their wives, implying that the wife is entirely powerless at home. Some even exaggerate this to the extent that they deny the right of a wife to offer advice regarding the marriages of their daughters and sons. Therefore, if they observe the rights that Allah and His Messenger have specified in the verses and hadiths for both men and women, they will find peace beside each other and lead a fulfilling life.
The religion of Islam has granted women full rights within the family—whether as mothers, sisters, wives, or daughters—and has bestowed upon them such comprehensive rights that are not found in the laws of any other nation or religion. The Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, contain regulations that guarantee the honor and respect of women, especially within the family. One of the blessings of Almighty Allah and His mercy and grace upon His servants is that He established married life on a solid foundation of love and compassion, which are essential for its sustainability.