Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

In the reference of your explanation.

Men are the protectors and maintainers of women because Allah has given the one more than the other, and because they (the men) support them (the females under their care) from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient and guard in (the husband`s) absence what Allah would have them guard (their chastity, their husband’s property and honor, etc.).

What if bread winner is a women? then is the same rule applies to a man or not?

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

What if bread winner is woman

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: ….What if bread winner is a women? then is the same rule applies to a man or not?

Islam has made it the duty of the men to bear the complete financial responsibility of the women in their lives. Although it is not the prescribed duty and responsibility of the woman to be the ‘bread-earner’ of the family, Islam does not prohibit her from doing so, if indeed she wishes to do so.

The woman in Islam is entitled to her own wealth, and even if she happens to be a millionaire and her husband a pauper, she is not required by Shariah to spend even a penny of her wealth on the upkeep of her household and her family, if she does not wish to do so. If the wife chooses to indeed be a full or even part ‘bread-earner’ of the family, she is doing something over and above her prescribed duty, and her husband should appreciate her ‘ehsaan’ (a deed over and above one’s duty).

Regardless of who earns and spends on the family, the role of the husband and wife would not change as the ‘president’ and ‘vice-president’ of the family….and it would remain the duty of the ‘vice-president’ wife to remain devoutly obedient to the lawful commands of her husband.

Even in an organization or in a country leadership, the leadership role does not change just because the ‘vice-president’ does a favor or gives a loan to the ‘president’!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 228:

…..And women shall have rights similar to the rights against them (in marriage) according to what is equitable; but men have a degree (of advantage) over them, and Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan