A TESTIMONY
During one of my travels in the United States, I met an American Muslim woman now living in Utah named Jeanine Aisha Mirza. She is married to a Pakistani Muslim, Naseer Ahmed Mirza. In an interview I came across, she made a striking observation: while many Americans believe that Muslim wives are oppressed, her personal experience paints a very different picture. As she put it: “While most Americans are under the impression that Muslim wives are oppressed,” Ms. Mirza said, “I haven’t found that to be true. It’s just a different division. Outside the home, my husband’s the boss. But in my house, I’m the boss.”
I have encountered many similar testimonies. In the United States, many women are hesitant to marry white American men because of a constant fear of divorce. As a result, many serious-minded women prefer to marry Muslim men—especially those who have come to the U.S. for higher education.
Jeanine Aisha Mirza, through her experience, highlighted an essential principle of Islam. Islam does not assign a lesser status to women compared to men. Instead, it establishes a balanced system of division of responsibilities based on equality and mutual support. Islam divides life into two broad spheres: the external and the internal. The external sphere—public and financial affairs—is primarily the man’s responsibility, while the internal sphere—home and family life—is the woman’s domain.
This division is not based on superiority or inferiority, but on harmony and practicality. It allows both men and women to focus their efforts where they are naturally best suited. The man is free to dedicate himself to his external responsibilities, while the woman can fully manage the internal affairs of life.
This division can be understood in two ways. First, it can be seen as a model of mutual independence. Second, it can be likened to a cogwheel system—a mechanical structure in which each gear has a distinct shape and role, yet all are interdependent. Each gear functions only in cooperation with the others. If one stops, the entire system comes to a halt.
A woman must live with the understanding that she is one of two essential gears in this system. If she moves in harmony, the entire wheel of life turns smoothly. But if she resists her role, the balance of the entire system collapses.
This principle of responsibility division is not limited to gender roles—it reflects a broader law of nature. Consider a business organization: some employees work in offices, others in the field. This division is necessary for the organization to function effectively. If employees reject their assigned roles, the business will ultimately fail.
The same applies to the business of life. God has entrusted men and women with the joint responsibility of managing the world. He has assigned each a specific domain of responsibility and provided them with the natural abilities required for it.
Both reason and revelation support this division. For life to function smoothly, each gender must be content within their respective role and fulfill it with full dedication. Men should not try to become women, and women should not attempt to imitate men. Those who accept this natural and divine arrangement will find success in this life—and in the Hereafter as well.
