In the thirteenth episode of his Ramadan Program on the Egyptian Television, The Grand Imam says, “The concept of qiwamah (guardianship) is misunderstood by those People calling for adopting the Western concept”.

     His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Prof Ahmed Aṭ-Ṭayyeb has said that the concept of ‘guardianship’ is misunderstood by some people belonging to Islam, as well as others calling for adopting the Western concept which stipulates that the family does not start with a husband and a wife, but it begins with two friends living as spouses would live. If things go well and they both agree to have a family and children, they register this marriage and call it a civil marriage.

     The Grand Imam has also added that Islam does not single out men or women except by piety. The Holy Qur᾿ān shows that both Adam and Eve followed the whispers of the devil and ate from the forbidden tree, so they both became equally sinful. Therefore, the Qur᾿ān makes men and women equal in commissioning, committing sins and punishment.

     The Grand Imam has showed that the Qur᾿ān warns: “So let him (the Devil) not get you both (Adam and Eve) out of Paradise, or you [Adam] will be distressed”. It doesn’t say “you both (Adam and Eve) will be distressed”. Hence, the man is notable for suffering, the case which confirms that it is man who is actually charged with more burdens, because women cannot physically bear the burdens of men. Likewise, the man cannot perform woman’s tasks related to the family and raising the children.

     The Grand Imam has explained that the verse states that, “Men are protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has made some of them excel the other, and because they (the former) spend from their money”. This shows the rationale behind guardianship; yet we find a fierce criticism of this verse. He has explained that the meaning of guardianship is recognized in the framework of equality between men and women in Islam, provided that equality is understood in its right conception, and that guardianship does not mean preference. No one can say that the male gender is better than the female one, but distinction is made in terms of the responsibility that helps to straighten up the affairs of the Muslim family.

     The Grand Imam's program is broadcast at 6:15 p.m. daily, throughout the Holy Month of Ramadan. It discusses a number of Muslim family issues, the rights established in Islam for the husband and the wife, and how to preserve the family as a basis for a solid human community.