Islam is a religion of compassion, love, tolerance and solidarity. It calls for the protection of rights because they are essential to human relations. These principles are outlined in the Qur’an and the Sunnah.
It is hard to see why someone would issue a statement contradicting these teachings. That is why I was shocked when I read a ruling by one of our prominent scholars, Sheikh Abdullah ibn Jabrain, over a dispute between a husband and wife over who should pay the medical expenses for treating the sick wife. The husband refused to pay because, he said, this was not part of his obligations toward the wife.
The sheikh agreed that the husband should not pay for the treatment, the medicines or the doctor’s fees because none of these were among the essentials the husband is obliged to provide for his wife. The sheikh further said that if the husband pays these expenses, he would be doing this out of generosity and kindness.
I tried to understand what was actually meant by the ruling but I couldn’t. I still don’t understand how someone who is given guardianship over his wife can refuse to treat her.
I don’t understand how someone who is legally required to care for his wife would refuse to fulfill his responsibilities. I don’t understand how a Muslim husband, whom Islam holds responsible for his wife and children, would fail to prove to them that he can protect and care for them.
And I don’t understand why the woman — who is constantly reminded of her duties toward the husband — should be denied medical care when she falls sick.
If providing medical care is not an important thing for the husband to do, what else is important for him to do? Before getting married a woman may count on her father to care for her needs. But after marriage it is the husband who is responsible for her.
What is the wife supposed to do if the husband refuses? Return to her father’s home or stay without medical care until she dies? And in this case, who will be held accountable for causing her death?
It is hard to understand why some scholars issue rulings that make Islam look like a religion that doesn’t care for women by giving interpretations that diverge from what Islam really stands for.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) says: “The most perfect Muslim in the matter of faith is one who has excellent behavior; and the best among you are those who behave best toward their wives.”
Are we really aware of the true meanings of this saying?
