Sexism In Islam?
Thank You so much for that, @faisalharoon . You are right about me asking the question however, I keep stumbling back to this confusion as I still don’t understand that what circumstances could possibly there be in which the husband has to exercise this “leadership” position that he has been granted with. Whatever hypothetical situation I think of, I feel that a husband needs to/should consult with his wife and then reach to a mutual consensus to protect the integrity of the household instead of just going on and making a decision. I understand that this is the burden of responsibility but the word “قوامون” sounds like wives will have to submit their will, their rights, and their whole decision making ability to the husbands just because of their “responsibility of earning”. It seems like husbands can override any decision of their wives (not saying that they do or they will but THEY CAN). If that is not the case then, as said earlier, I cannot think of the situation in which this “leadership position” or final authority/word is needed. As an understanding couple, I think that every decision has to be mutually agreed upon. If one person has the authority to override, than this might sow the seed of grudge and discontent in the other person which can bring “the institution” to the grounds. Moreover, the reasoning that males have more physical ability to endure the hardships of earning is fading away as more and more females are proving their powers in various fields of life, sometimes doing even better than males, being supermoms, and managing households. 1400 years ago that wasn’t happening but it could be said that, at that time, women were not allowed to participate in bread earning activities and were kept inside instead of saying that their physical bodies were incapable of doing that.
Sir Nadeem, 1: Humbly, he can do it regardless cuz it’s his earning. I am pretty sure you or anyone else would say the same if it were wife earning it and wanted to spend on her parents. 2: These things need to be pre-decided. Moreover, What if wife wants to do it and husband opposes it? I am pretty sure a wife can’t override this decision just cuz husband is earning. What do you propose then? 3: As you mentioned by yourself, any “for no purpose” request is not a very good example at all and again the assumption is it is coming from wife. What if it’s coming from husband? Can he go for it just cuz he’s bread earner? 4: She can definitely go for it if she is earning WHILE husband is disagreeing. Again, this is not something you need to override but just discuss. Moreover, the assumption is that only wives are irrational which again, sorry to say, sounds a bit sexist. Same question as in before, what if husband is in that place? Who’s there to override?