Diversity of Functions

The divine scheme furnishes evidence of divine wisdom in all its aspects.
Men and women are spiritually akin one to another and are equally the recipients of God’s favours and bounties, but their functions are not identical.
In view of this diversity there is a corresponding diversity between their respective faculties and capacities.

This is indicated in the Holy Quran as is said:

“Our Lord is He Who has endowed everything with itsappropriate faculties and then guided it to their proper use.” (20:51)
“God has fashioned mankind according to the nature designed by Him, there is no altering the creation of Allah.” (30:31)

Vain and ruinous are all attempts to convert men into women and to convert women into men. Each has his or her appropriate function, the due discharge of which constitutes the dignity, enjoyment, fulfilment and beauty of life.
A contemplation of the diversity of the faculties of males and females reveals the diversity of their functions as designed by nature.
For instance, woman is well equipped for child bearing, while man is incapable of it.
On the other hand, man is well fitted to command in the field; to appoint a woman to military command in the field would be an invitation to disaster.
This is not a question of superiority or inferiority; it is a question of natural capacity and proper functioning.
The proper discharge of the function of child-bearing imposes certain handicaps upon women, from which man is free; but the glorious honour of the crown of motherhood is reserved for woman, man cannot aspire to it.
The upbringing of children during their early years is primarily the responsibility of the mother; the father’s role at that stage is supplementary to that of the mother.
At that stage the child turns instinctively to the mother rather than to the father for nurture, comfort or security.
When a child is rebuked or disciplined by the mother, it feels no resentment towards her; while it resents being punished by the father.
The bond that nature forges between
mother and child is characterized by far greater tenderness than that which is developed between father and child.
Woman is vulnerable and is in need of man’s strength for support and protection.
A woman may be forced against her will; a man cannot be forced against his inclination.

As wife and mother the primary and normal sphere of woman’s activities is the home; as breadwinner the normal sphere of man’s activities and operations is the outdoors.
A social system, which is based on wisdom and beneficence, brings about and helps to maintain an accord and balance between the two.
Islam claims to do that.

by Muhammad Zafrulla Khan
Source: ahl-ul-bayt.org