Fatwa ID: 08409
Answered by: Maulana Sakib Shadman
Question:
I wanted to know if the husband will be rewarded more for doing his job compared to the wife doing her job?
A man has to provide for and protect his family while the woman takes care of the household chores and the upbringing of the children. I heard that men will get hoors because they have a bigger role compared to the wife…does that mean his job is more important and he gets rewarded more than his wife and she will always be rewarded less compared to him?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
First and foremost, I believe that the reason why you are experiencing so many doubts in regard to Islam and women’s role in our Deen is due to you learning Deen from the Internet and other unreliable sources. Please learn about Islam from proper reliable scholars.
It is correct that men and women have different roles in regards to taking care of one’s family. Men are primarily responsible for financially providing for the family whereas women are primarily responsible for household tasks.
However this does not make one person’s job more important than the other. In fact most people would argue that the wife’s job is more difficult and crucial to the betterment of the children and harmony of the household. Thus, just because the role of a woman is different, it does not mean that she will be rewarded less by Allah Ta’ala. In some respects, her role is even more important than that of a man’s role, since she is the primary influence on the lives of her children.
We can see from the following Quranic verse that women are equal to men in terms of Reward for their good deeds;
“So, their Lord answered their prayer: “I do not allow the labour of any worker from among you, male or female, to go to waste. You are similar to one another.” [Surah Āli-ʿImrān: 195]
Again, even though men and women have different roles, they are similar in their virtue. This is further emphasised in the following Quranic verse;
“And whoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female, while being a believer – those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged, [even as much as] the speck on a date seed” [Surah An-Nisāʾ: 124]
Thus if a Muslimah fulfils her responsibility as a wife, mother, and as a humble servant of Allah Ta’ala, her reward will be multiplied exponentially with Allah Ta’ala and she can hope to attain the highest ranks in Paradise. She will not be disadvantaged compared to Muslim men in this regard. Allah Ta’ala is Al-Aadil (most Just). Allah will not treat anybody unfairly on the Day of Judgement, regardless of their gender.
Surely, Allah does not wrong (anyone), even to the measure of a particle. If it is a good deed, He multiplies it, and gives a great reward out of His Own pleasure. [Surah An-Nisāʾ: 40]
In conclusion, when a person learns about Islam through unreliable sources, they are lead to believe that men and women are polar opposites and that women are discriminated against in Islam. However this could not be further from the truth. Our beloved Messenger of Allah (SAW) said that “Woman are counterparts of men”. In other words, women are similar to men in terms of their nature, character, and their Ahkam (rulings).
While it is true that men will have Hoors in Jannah, women will not have a less pleasant experience in Jannah. They will receive a great reward in Jannah according to that which they desire, and they will not feel discriminated against compared to men. They will be just as content in Paradise as men and while their reward in Jannah may be slightly different, it will not be less.
Narrated Abu Hurairah: that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Allah Most High said: ‘I have prepared for My righteous worshipers what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived.'” And that is testified to in Allah’s [the Mighty and Sublime] Book: No person knows what is kept hidden for them of delights of the eyes (Quran 32: 17).
Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.
Written by Maulana Sakib Shadman
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ الْخَيَّاطُ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ الْعُمَرِيُّ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَجِدُ الْبَلَلَ وَلاَ يَذْكُرُ احْتِلاَمًا قَالَ ” يَغْتَسِلُ ” . وَعَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَرَى أَنَّهُ قَدِ احْتَلَمَ وَلاَ يَجِدُ الْبَلَلَ قَالَ ” لاَ غُسْلَ عَلَيْهِ ” . فَقَالَتْ أُمُّ سُلَيْمٍ الْمَرْأَةُ تَرَى ذَلِكَ أَعَلَيْهَا غُسْلٌ قَالَ ” نَعَمْ إِنَّمَا النِّسَاءُ شَقَائِقُ الرِّجَالِ ” .
Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu’minin:
The Prophet (ﷺ) was asked about a person who found moisture (on his body or clothes) but did not remember the sexual dream. He replied: He should take a bath. He was asked about a person who remembered that he had a sexual dream but did not find moisture. He replied: Bath is not necessary for him. Umm Salamah then asked: Is washing necessary for a woman if she sees that (in her dream)? He replied: Yes. Woman are counterparts of men
Sunan Abi Dawud 236
Chapter 97: A Person Who Sees Some Wetness (On His Clothes) After Sleeping, Book 1: Purification (Kitab Al-Taharah)
Grade: حسن إلا قول أم سليم المرأة ترى الخ (الألباني)
https://sunnah.com/abudawud:236
ومعنى شقائق الرجال كما قال الرافعي وابن الأثير وابن منظور والمناوي أنها نظائر الرجال وأمثالهم في الأخلاق والطباع والأحكام.
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ص630 – كتاب فتاوى الشبكة الإسلامية – معنى شقائق الرجال – المكتبة الشاملة
حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، يَبْلُغُ بِهِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ” قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى أَعْدَدْتُ لِعِبَادِي الصَّالِحِينَ مَا لاَ عَيْنٌ رَأَتْ وَلاَ أُذُنٌ سَمِعَتْ وَلاَ خَطَرَ عَلَى قَلْبِ بَشَرٍ وَتَصْدِيقُ ذَلِكَ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ : ( فلاَ تَعْلَمُ نَفْسٌ مَا أُخْفِيَ لَهُمْ مِنْ قُرَّةِ أَعْيُنٍ جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ ) ” . قَالَ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ .
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3197
Chapter 33: Regarding Surat As-Sajdah, Book 47: Chapters on Tafsir
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:3197
