25. MARRIAGE

25. Marriage ~ 69 ~ Except for man’s role as managers, man and woman have completely equal status. For instance, if a woman kills a man, and the crime is proved, the woman will be required to pay the penalty (Qur’an, 2:178). There is no legal discrimination in the eyes of the Shari’ah between woman and man. The laws applicable to men are also applicable to women. The Prophet Muhammad was once asked who of all women was the best. He replied, ‘One who makes her husband happy when he sees her, who obeys her husband when he asks her for anything and who does not do anything against his will as regards either herself or his wealth.’ (An-Nasa’i, Sunan, Kitaban-Nikah, 6/68). This hadith very aptly points out a woman’s duties towards her husband. On the subject of their wives, the Qur’an enjoins men: ‘Treat them with kindness; for even if you do dislike them it may well be that you may dislike a thing which God has meant for your own good.’ (Qur’an, 4:19). This teaching means that even if outwardly unpleasant, a wife should not cause aversion, because God has not made anyone imperfect in all