The Role of Financial Responsibility in Men's Guardianship (Qawamah) Based on Verse 34 of Surah An-Nisa in Light of Doubts

The Sacred Law, acknowledging the physical, spiritual, and psychological distinctions between men and women, has established the principle of guardianship (Qawamah) for men in Verse 34 of Surah An-Nisa. This principle is attributed to "inherent virtue" and the responsibility of "financial expenditure." Scholars have examined the significance of financial support as a determining factor for guardianship, particularly referencing the phrase "and by what they spend of their wealth." Some critics have expressed concerns regarding this verse, viewing men's financial contributions as a means of imposing control over women and likening men's guardianship to a form of religious oppression, akin to a system of slavery. This article intends to explore the notions of guardianship, maintenance (Nafaqah), and the dual nature of guardianship as both a right and a duty. It will also investigate the basis for men's obligation to provide maintenance and its implications for the legal framework surrounding men's guardianship. The goal is to offer well-founded responses to the critiques found in the book "Critique of the Quran" and to analyze the role of financial responsibility in men's guardianship as a combination of rights and duties, with the possibility of defining and restricting this scope by both partners in situations where the husband is unable to effectively manage the family.