Equal Contributions in Marriage - NikahExplorer

Allah has asked all Muslims who are married to live together in peace and harmony and to contribute equally to marriage. Contributing equally into a marriage has various connotations but in our society and this day and age, Muslim couples believe in extremes which destroys the essence of what is really meant by the equality in contribution.

When Allah asks us to contribute equally in marriage, it does not mean financial support. Infact Allah has very clearly, in the Quran, given that responsibility to the husband. Allah has said in the Quran, “Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means”. So equality here does not apply to finance or even strength. When we talk about equal contributions it means equality in emotional support, in happiness, in giving each other company, in making time for each other and in supporting each other to build a home. That is what equality on contribution means.

Many times we hear complains of husbands and wives about their spouses. The husband complains that the wife does not give him space, does not let him hang out with friends, is too demanding of his time, and is too controlling. The wife complains that the husbands do not help with the housework, do not exercise, do not help with the kids’ homework and are generally bad conversationalists.

While all these complaints may be valid, what we must realize is that they are coming from both parties, the husband and the wife. Both of them are to blame since both of them are not contributing equally to the marriage. That is what Muslim couples of this day and age must understand and seek to fix. This cannot happen if there are no efforts from both sides. But first we must set aside our egos and understand fully what exactly equality in marriage means. The emotional support aspect is required to be fulfilled by both, the husband and wife, for the marriage to be successful and infact is one of the most important ingredients. Even though husbands are known to be less emotional than their wives, it would not hurt from the to make an effort for their marriage to remain healthy. Let all us married couples strive to contribute equally in our marriage as much as possible and make it lovable in the eyes of Allah. Ameen.