Al- Qawama
is a right to the woman
By: Bassam Jarrar
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erse
No
Men are the protectors
and maintainers of women
The “Qawwam”
is the one who stands amply firm with a steady purpose. As such, we say : Mr So – and – So is
abundantly fasting and standing (Sawwam Qawwam) .Hence, looking after the interests of women is the
most important duty of men. What invites attention is that the wording is a
decisive one which indicates that the issue deals with an innate natural law.
Because Allah has given
the one more than the other
Many interpreters believe that the meaning of
the above is synonymous with preference over women. This School of thought is
invoked by an old conception implemented by many and is related to their
personal perspective towards women. Yet, the Koranic
version is very clear as Allah (glory be to Him) says:
“Because Allah has given one more than the other” this means that men are given
more and women are given more. It is well known in Arabic, that (Alfadl) means more or abundance. Man has, no doubt, an
excess endowed by the “Wise Creator” which tallies with his function. On the
other hand, the (woman) has an excess endowed by Allah which conforms to her
duty.
Therefore,
we cannot make preference between men and women until we determine the
functions of either party. This is exactly similar to the case of the medical
practitioner and the Engineer. If the matter deals with the construction of a
house, the engineer is preferable; whereas, the medical practitioner is
superior in fighting illness and so on.
Being
so the case, then why men are much more looking after the interests of women?
The answer to this is that the inborn abundance in men enjoins on them a duty
towards women. Meanwhile, the abundance on women gives them a right upon men. As
such, the abundance (more) in men produces an obligation and that of women vests
them with a right.
No
doubt, the abundance (more)
in men made them more capable to earn economically; whereas, the
abundance in women hindered their capabilities to earn. Therefore, the
abundance in (man), as aforementioned, produces an obligation and that of the
woman gives a right. Based on this, (man) is much frequent in protecting and
maintaining (woman’s) interests due to the obligation emanating from his
abundance. and due to the rights resulting from the
abundance of the woman.
What
calls attention in human community is that accomplishing an obligation creates a
corresponding equivalent right. It also invites
attention that every function in the community has a corresponding right which
helps in performing it. The head of state, for instance, is the one who bears
much more responsibilities than others. As such, he is the most eligible for
the greatest rights. To the extent he bears responsibilities, the public vest
him with rights that help him in carrying out his duties. His obedience from
the community is socially ordained. Once people feel remissness and abuse on
his part, they face him with disobedience, denial and contempt as obedience,
consent and respect are given only to those who are devoted and who perform
their tasks efficiently.
If
(man) is abundant and he performs his duties and carries out his functions, he,
by all means, will be rewarded with equivalent rights. It is remarkable that
the meaning of (Qawama) by many is synonym to the
right of the man upon the woman, while (Alqawwam) in Arabic
it refers to the obligation imposed upon (man) to the woman, so, it is the
right of the woman rather than that of the man. The right of the man is
represented by the result emanating from performing his obligation. It is the
expected reward in performing the function.