The Holy Qur'an commands...

The Holy Qur'an commands: Discuss with each other, suggest ideas, and accept each other's opinions. This verse in general denies the superiority of men or fathers. Therefore, the husband and wife should cooperate and consult with each other regarding the physical and mental education and growth of children. The husband should not impose his own opinion and tendency on the others. ________________________ 1 Majma' al-Bayan, 9& 10/ 309.

Chapter Eleven : Superiority Discussing man's superiority is necessary in defending woman's rights, since this superiority means the absolute ruling of man in the family and his managing of his wife and children. Man's superiority or any other kind of superiority is a relationship among people based on the individual's needs, desires, and opinions that are imposed on others paying no attention to others' wants and ideas.

This kind of relationship resembles a tyrant oppressor's relationship, since there are some hidden criteria in such relations that exist in the autocratic ruling. One of the reasons behind superiority is the sense of self-admiration. It can be present in small- or large-scale social relations, between two people or one person and a group. Just as a ruler can rule in this way, a father or a mother can manage the family, imposing their own opinions on the other family members.

Thus, the concepts of 'tyrant' or 'despot' mentioned in the Holy Qur'an are generalizable to any relationship based on one side's self-admiration and oppression. It also includes any kind of disrespecting of other people's positions and opinions. The one, who considers her/himself better than others, humbles them, and considers their opinions wrong, is an oppressor and a tyrant in the Islamic teachings, whether s/he acts this way in the society or in his/her own family.

Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said, "Anyone, who despises people and unduly imposes his power on them, is a tyrant." 1 Social or managerial self-admiration is rooted in the personal ethical vices. Pride is an inner cause of superiority-based relations, just as humbleness is a moral that respect other people and appreciate their personalities, achievements, opinions, and intellect.