Fruitful Living
Role of Muslim women in marriage (Part 2)
In Islam, marriage is a sacred bond based on mutual love, compassion, and responsibility. The Qur’an describes spouses as “garments for one another” (Qur’an 2:187), symbolising protection, comfort, and dignity. Within this partnership, the role of the Muslim woman is vital for nurturing both the husband and the wider family.
Her responsibilities to her husband include fostering mutual respect, supporting him emotionally, safeguarding the home, and preserving his honor in his absence, as enjoined in Qur’an 4:34. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasised kindness and mutual care, reminding husbands and wives that “the best among you are those who are best to their wives” (Tirmidhi, Hadith 3895).
To her children, a Muslim woman is the first teacher and nurturer, instilling faith, morality, and discipline. Her role extends beyond physical care to building strong spiritual foundations for future generations.
For the family as a whole, she cultivates an environment of mercy, patience, and cooperation, ensuring the home remains a sanctuary of Islamic values. Thus, in marriage, the Muslim woman’s role is not one of subservience, but of partnership and leadership in nurturing a righteous family, the cornerstone of a strong society.
Influential women in early Islam
Numerous women in Islamic history shaped the faith’s intellectual, social, and political foundations:
- Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (RA): A successful merchant and the Prophet’s first wife, she financed the early Muslim community and offered emotional support during the Prophet’s first revelations (Al-Bukhari, Sahih, Book 58).
- Aisha bint Abu Bakr (RA): Among the most influential scholars of Islam, narrating over 2,000 Hadiths, and teaching companions jurisprudence, theology, and ethics (Abbott, 1985).
- Nusaybah bint Kaʿb (RA): A courageous warrior, she protected the Prophet during the Battle of Uhud (Ibn Sa’d, Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir).
- Rufayda al-Aslamiyya (RA): Regarded as the first Muslim nurse, she pioneered organized medical care during battles (Al-Tabari, History of the Prophets and Kings).
These examples challenge the stereotype of passive Muslim women; instead, they reveal active participants in religious, economic, intellectual, and political life.
Contemporary challenges and misunderstandings
Although Islam introduced revolutionary rights for women, in many societies cultural traditions and patriarchal practices have overshadowed its principles. This has led to widespread misunderstandings of women’s roles.
Hijab and public life: The Qur’an commands modesty in dress and behaviour (Qur’an 24:31), but modesty is not intended as a barrier to education, professional careers, or community engagement. Many scholars emphasise that hijab symbolises dignity, identity, and moral consciousness rather than exclusion from public life (Cooke, 2004).
Women as homemakers only: While the role of a homemaker is deeply respected, Islam does not confine women to domestic spaces. Khadijah (RA), the Prophet’s first wife, was a prominent entrepreneur, and historical records show women in Medina engaging in trade and agriculture without restriction (Haddad & Esposito, 1998).
Economic dependency: Economic hardship makes exclusive dependency unrealistic. Islam permits women to work and support families, especially in cases of widowhood or financial strain (Qur’an 4:32).
By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai, the Author
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Throughout His ministry, Jesus modeled perfect discernment. He confronted false teaching with truth (Matthew 22:29), He discerned the motives of those around Him (Luke 5:22), and He resisted the devil’s temptations by anchoring Himself in Scripture (Matthew 4:1–11).
When faced with flattery or traps from the Pharisees, Jesus was never deceived. He saw beyond words to the intentions of the heart. His example shows us that discernment is not merely intellectual but spiritual — it is empowered by the Holy Spirit.
As His followers, we are called to walk in the same wisdom. Philippians 1:9–10 captures this prayer beautifully: “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.” (NIV)
How to live with discernment
So how do we practice discernment in our daily lives? Scripture provides practical steps:
- Renew your mind in God’s word
Just as Jesus countered temptation with Scripture, we too must fill our hearts with God’s truth. Daily reading and meditation anchor us in what is eternal.
- Guard what enters your heart
Proverbs 4:23 warns: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (NIV) Be intentional about what you read, watch, and listen to.
- Seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance
Discernment is not only mental; it is spiritual. Romans 8:14 reminds us: “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” Ask the Spirit to reveal truth and expose deception.
- Evaluate the fruit
Jesus taught us to recognise people and ideas by their fruit (Matthew 7:16). Ask: Will this produce holiness, peace, and love in my life, or will it lead to sin, compromise, and confusion?
- Walk in community
God often uses other believers to sharpen us. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Surround yourself with people who love truth and can lovingly challenge you when needed.
Illustrations of discernment
Think of Daniel in Babylon. Surrounded by a culture hostile to his faith, he discerned what to reject and what to accept. He refused the king’s food that violated God’s law (Daniel 1:8), yet he willingly studied Babylonian wisdom, using it to serve with excellence while remaining faithful to God. That balance is discernment in action.
Or consider the Bereans in Acts 17:11. They were commended because they “examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” Their discernment was not suspicion but a sincere desire to confirm truth through God’s Word.
Conclusion
To live like Jesus is to live with discernment. It is to resist the temptation of simply going along with the crowd and instead anchor every decision, thought, and influence in the truth of God’s Word.
Discernment protects us from deception, equips us to live faithfully, and enables us to shine as lights in a dark world. As Paul wrote: “Test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:21–22 (ESV)
Let us, therefore, make it our prayer to be discerning people — wise, Spirit-led, and anchored in Scripture. In doing so, we will live not just as believers in name, but as true followers of Jesus, reflecting His life in a world desperately in need of His light.
- Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee,
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In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
We begin in the name of Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, sending endless praises upon Him, and invoking peace and blessings upon His noble Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), his family, and his companions.
Introduction
Throughout human history, women have often suffered marginalisation and discrimination. In some societies, they were denied property rights, inheritance, and education, while others reduced them to mere objects of ownership (Engineer, 2008). Unfortunately, these misconceptions have carried into modern times, with many still perceiving Islam as an oppressive religion for women.
In truth, Islam came to restore women’s dignity, ensuring their legal, economic, and social rights. The Qur’an and the Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) teachings positioned women as equal spiritual beings and essential contributors to family and society (Barlas, 2019).
Women Before Islam
Pre-Islamic Arabia, known as the Jahiliyyah era, was marked by profound injustices against women. The birth of a daughter was often considered a source of shame, leading to the horrific practice of female infanticide. The Qur’an strongly condemned this crime: “And when the girl [who was] buried alive is asked, for what sin she was killed” (Qur’an 81:8–9). Beyond this, women were regarded as part of a man’s inheritance, transferred like property to male relatives upon a husband’s death. They had no recognised rights to inheritance, education, or social participation, and were excluded from leadership and decision-making roles (Stowasser, 1996). This oppressive environment highlights the transformative nature of Islam, which elevated women’s status by granting them dignity, rights, and responsibilities.
How Islam liberated and empowered women
With the advent of Islam, a radical transformation occurred in the condition of women. The Qur’an firmly established spiritual equality between men and women, affirming: “Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women… Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward.” (Qur’an 33:35). This verse placed women as equal participants in faith, worship, and accountability before Allah.
Islam also granted women rights that were unprecedented at the time. These included:
- Inheritance: “For men is a share of what the parents and close relatives leave, and for women is a share… a legal share.” (Qur’an 4:7).
- Consent in marriage: “O you who believe, it is not lawful for you to inherit women against their will…” (Qur’an 4:19).
- Independent economic rights: “For men is a share of what they earn, and for women is a share of what they earn.” (Qur’an 4:32).
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) reinforced this vision by declaring: “Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim, male and female.” (Ibn Majah, Hadith 224). By institutionalising these rights, Islam recognised women’s agency in family, society, and the marketplace centuries before modern feminist discourse (Mernissi, 1991).
By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai, the Author
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