THE DUTIES OF MEN: The Guardian of the Family

Man and woman are the two basic pillars of a family, but since men are endowed with special qualities by the order of creation, and because their power of logic is stronger than women's, they are regarded as the guardians of their families.

The Almighty Allah regards men as the guardians of their families and states in the Holy Qur'an that: ﴾Men are the maintainers of women, because Allah has made some of them to excel others..﴿ (4:34

Therefore, men have a greater and more difficult responsibility in supporting their families.

It is the man who can, through his wisdom, support his family and prepare the grounds for their happiness and it is he who can turn the house into a paradise and his wife to act as an angel.

"The Prophet (peace be upon him and his household) of Allah stated: 'Man is the guardian of his family and every guardian has responsibilities towards those under his guardianship'."¹

A man, who is supporting his family, should know that a woman is also a human being like a man. She also has desires and the rights of freedom and life. Marrying a woman is not hiring a servant, but it is a selection of a partner and a friend who would be able to live with for the rest of one's life. Man has to care for her and her desires. Man is not the owner of his wife and in fact a woman has certain rights upon her husband.

Allah states in the Holy Qur'an: ﴾... And women have rights similar to the rights of men in a just manner, and the men have a degree (of advantage) over them...﴿ (2:228).

^{1- Mustadrak, vol 2, p 550.}