Men are the protectors and maintainers of women?

Question

"Men are the protectors and maintainers [qawwamun] of women, because Allah has given the one more [strength] than the other, and because they support them from their means. . ." (Qur'an 4:34)

What is a protector and a maintainer? What is the man protecting and maintaining? Does it include his sense of honour? Is the behaviour of a woman affiliated with him in blood or marriage his duty to 'maintain' in the way he thinks best (In accordance with Islamic law)?

How does this interfere with the free will of a woman who choose to disobey a man who advises her?

Does a man have the authority to chastise and force a woman to obey him?

If this is the case - what does this say about the existence of 'free will' amongst Muslim women vs Muslim men?

Answer 1

It depends what country you're in. In North America, women are free to ignore a man's advise, chastisement and honour. It's a non-issue here and it's the law that women are free to do as they please ... within the American and Canadian law system.



Nothing can remove a North American woman's right to refuse to "obey" a man. No man may "force" a woman to do ANYTHING.



.

Answer 2

The word protector encompasses the physical care for womenand the word maintainer encompasses its economic side.



Women are always the responsibility of men economically. The husband should support the financial needs of the wife and children. Should the husband die, the father is obligated to provide for her. Should the father die, her brother is obligated to provide for her. A woman is never left alone in dire economic needs as long as she has remaining male relatives, they are all obligated to provide for her financially.



While the physical (protector) and economic (maintainer) aspects of women are part of men's responsibilities; the mental or emotional aspect is never a part nor will ever be a part.



Women and men are viewed in the qur'an with equality. They are different but equal. The practice of free will of men is the same with women.



You are just confused with the cultural practices of some muslims versus the real islam. And in some of these cultural practices, patriarchal tendencies are very much obvious.



Read the qur'an without your pre-conceived cultural baggages and biases. Soon new horizon of understanding the qur'an will be opened for you.

Answer 3

Ever heard of yin and yang? That is the balance of both energies that is necessary for life. In some very modern societies where such nonsense still exists, we might remember it was not so long ago that woman and animals were considered the chattels of men in a very progressive country.

Answer 4

Not so much anymore.World has changed.