GUIDING LIGHTS: Spiritual Role of Women in Islam

THE BOSS AT HOME testified to it. A capable woman can be in charge and shoulder such responsibilities. Similarly, a home is also an institution. Likewise, a head or a boss is required to run this institution successfully. In this regard, the Quran has called the man a Qawwam. The Qawwam of any home has the position of a manager or an administrator, standing above members of equal position. A house could become prey to anarchy if this principle were not accepted. Being a Boss means having responsibility for, not superiority over another. Similarly, Qawwamiat is also a responsibility. It fulfills the administrative need rather than exercising superiority over one another. If the difference between this practical need and ideological authority is fully understood, then the concept of Qawwamiat will be easy to understand.

THE BOSS AT HOME On a journey to the USA, I learned of an American lady who married a Pakistani Muslim, Naseer Ahmad