The Same Applies to Man and Woman
If the union of man and woman is based on mutual complementarity, as indicated in the Quran, human society becomes a unified and harmonious whole, free from internal contradictions. Conversely, if the relationship between man and woman is founded on the idea of absolute gender equality, as proposed by modern civilization, human society will descend into disorder. This often results in the breakdown of family life, as is evident today in the Western world.
The Quran declares: “One of His signs is that He created for you from among yourselves spouses, so that you might find repose in them, and He created between you affection and kindness. Truly there are signs in this for people who reflect.” (Quran, 30:21)
This verse shows that it is a special mercy from God that He created mates of the same kind for human beings. Moreover, this pairing is not merely a physical connection like positive and negative particles in matter. Rather, in human life, God has placed love and mercy between men and women so that they may find peace and comfort in one another.
This applies equally to both men and women. Each is a spouse to the other, and each provides peace and affection to the other.
The contemporary world is filled with unrest, where human beings must face difficulties at every stage. In such a world, both men and women need a source of peace. It is the wise design of the Creator that each has been made a fountain of love and comfort for the other. Thus, while facing life’s struggles, both can find peace and tranquillity through mutual companionship.
For everyone, the struggle of life is a difficult battle. During this struggle, a person often becomes subject to stress. In such moments, every man and woman needs a source of relief—something that eases mental pressure and restores emotional balance. Men and women are, for each other, precisely this source of relief. In this way, both continually draw strength from one another.
When the relationship between husband and wife is properly established, and both understand each other’s importance and needs, every home becomes an institution after marriage. This institution becomes a foundation for both man and woman—a source of strength that prevents either from feeling alone on their journey through life. It enables them to continue this journey successfully, even through difficult times, until they reach their destination.
According to the Quranic view, there is a division of labour between men and women in social life. On this basis, their roles remain fundamentally distinct. In other words, they are like the two wheels of a vehicle: separate from each other, yet working together towards a common purpose.
Modern society has adopted a different pattern. Instead of the principle of division of labour, it promotes the idea of unified roles. Although, in practice, the division of labour still largely exists even in the Western world, the theoretical ideal is that both sexes should perform identical functions. Since this principle is unnatural, such imagined uniformity is neither possible nor found in reality.
In Islam, the distinction recognized between man and woman exists only for practical reasons. In matters of honour and rights, there is complete equality between them. In terms of dignity and respect, no difference or preference is allowed.
As mentioned earlier, the principle of pairs exists throughout the world. The same principle applies to human beings in the form of man and woman. However, this principle indicates a difference between the two genders, not a difference in status. This difference exists so that, by supporting one another, men and women may fulfill the functions of life in the best possible manner. However, no rule is without exceptions.
Every rule has exceptions. This applies to both men and women. Some women may possess abilities generally associated with men, and some men may display traits commonly associated with women. Such exceptions occur in both genders. However, general rules cannot be based on exceptional cases. It is a well-established principle that laws are framed in view of common conditions; exceptional cases can never serve as the foundation for general laws.
In this world, human beings have been granted freedom of thought and action. Therefore, they are free to think and act as they wish. However, this freedom applies only to personal action. When it comes to results, human beings have no control. The outcome will always follow the laws of nature. This means that both men and women may choose to violate the natural principle of pairs, but the result will inevitably be determined by the laws of nature, not by what they personally desire or expect.
