Qawamah in Islamic Legal Discourse: An Analysis of Traditionalist and Modernist Approaches

Abstract

The status and role of women in Islamic societies has become one of the major topics of discussion ever since the women’s rights movement gained momentum globally under the auspices of the United Nations. While discussing the status and rights of women under Islam, it is important to differentiate between the Islamic teachings and the present status of women in the Muslim world with the vast diversity varying from culture to culture and often within the same culture. It is realized that the Islamic perspective concerning many aspects of women related issues of contemporary times is unclear rather misunderstood in the minds of non-Muslims as well as less informed Muslims. The position of women in Islam has been the subject of repeated controversy due to perceived misconception of the religion enforcing gender inequality and oppression for women particularly regarding the family relations. Criticism is raised either on account of doubts created by the Western mind set or on account of some misleading interpretations of basic provisions of the Quran and the hadith; or due to several malpractices or injustices induced by traditions or cultural influences. The present paper is aimed to highlight few deeply engraved misconceptions about the notion of Qawwamah (the family leadership) and in its light the husband wife relationship and family working in Muslim societies focusing Pakistan. It will be discussed in the light of the verse 34 of
* shaguftaomar@yahoo.com The author is In Charge Dawah Centre for Women Dawah Academy, International Islamic University Islamabad. The initial draft of this Paper was presented in an International Conference on “The Role Of Moderation In The Stability Of Society” arranged by Shariah Academy, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Sura Al Nisa which describes the dynamics of family relationships when two equal human beings join together to found an institution of family, the basic and vital unit of the society. The paper further endeavored to highlight some of the inherent tensions existing in traditionalist and modernist interpretive approaches to this concept on two extremes and tried to find out a middle path from these approaches.