Alhamdulillahi, As-salaat wasalaam ala Rasooihi! Praise be to Allaah and may the blessings of Allaahbe upon His Messenger (salallahual alayhi wa sallam). (Amin).
A Man of Taqwa
In this world, Allaah has created man and woman to be mates to each other. All women and men are descended from the same original human being as Allaah says.
"O People! Beware of your Lord Who created you from a single soul and created there from it mate and brought about from those two many men and women. And beware of Allah by Whom you ask one another and the wombs. Allah is surely watching you." (Q4[Nisaa]:1).
Indeed, the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) deepened this relationship by stating that men and women are twins: "An nisaau shaqaaiqu ar-rijaal." "Women are the full siblings of men" (lbn Asaakir) If we want a world of peace andtranquility; then it stands to reason that for each lmraatus-solihaa (a woman of piety) there should be a man of piety (rajulun muttaqi) too. That is what a twin mean, two identical things or a. complementary pair; Allaah stressed the importance of this concept- from the very beginning. After our grand ancestor, Prophet Adam (alayhi sallam), was created, Allaah did not give him his place of abode until He gave him his mate first. Allaah says:
"And We said: 0 Adam! Dwell. you and y our wife in Paradise... " (Q2[Baqarah1:34)
Allaah enjoins same on every man:
"And among his signs are that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may attain calm unto them and He placed between you affection and compassion. Surely in that are signs for people who reflect, :(Q30[Rum]:21).
The sad reality is that very few men and women attain calm or tranquility with one another; whether in a marriage situation or otherwise. Allaah says in the Quran,
"... Allaah has made for you in your habitations homes of rest and quiet ... " (Q 16[Nahl]:80)
how many Muslim homes can be described as .homes of rest and quiet in these times? If husband and wife do not find affection. compassion and mutual understanding in their marriage. then they need to look at their lslaam and the completeness of their Uboodiyyah (slavery and complete worship) to Allaah. This way affection compassion and great calm or peace of home life will insha Allaah be found. Eventually. such peace will envelope the entire society. All of this goes back to the man. The Muslim householdis arranged in the same way as the ummah as a whole.
There is an Amir (Head) who is in charge and has final authority as well as final responsibility over the household just as the khaJifah has over the ummah. The khalifah is required to consult with the people of knowledge before taking important decision. Then he is commanded to take to what he sees as the best and most correct decision even though it may not be the favaured opinion amang those with whom he consulted. Likewise the Muslim husband. His wife is his fellow adult in the household. He is encouraged to consult with her in decisions in which she may have some constructive inputs to offer.
Mother and father must work together on these issues with final authority-and decision- making always belonging to the father. The Muslim father has been ordered by Allaah to do everything in his power to protect his wife and children from the fire. This is his responsibility and his authority - even if it goes against their (i:e. wife or children) opinions. Allaah says:
"O you who believe, guard yourselves and your family members from a fire whose fuel is people and stones. Over it are ferocious and powerful angels. They do not disobey any of AIlaahs orders and do whatever they are told." (Q61[Saff]:6)
To make this easy, Allaah has given the man authority over the woman and has enjoined on the woman obedience to the man;
"Men are in authority over women with that which Allaah Has preferred some of you over others and with that which ;they spend of their wealth. So the righteous (women) are the obedient (to Allaah and to their husband) ... " (Q4[Nisaa1:34)
Only the ignorant will think that man can handle this responsibility on his own, the wise know that only a man that is filled with taqwa (fear of Allaah) can successfully discharge this obligation with the help of Allaah. Now. it should be obvious to you, dear reader, why we have profiled a man of taqwa in this article for you to take a cue from. Wa ma taufeeq illabillah (And Allaah is the Source of success).
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited