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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Woman’s Dignity in the Words of Amir Ul-muminin Ali Ibn Abi Talib What is the role of married life and that of housekeeping from His Holiness Ali’s (P) point of view? The importance of man and woman’s role in family life is considered one of the ambiguous subjects at present. What is the role of married life and that of housekeeping from His Holiness Ali’s (P) point of view?

In Imam Ali’s (P) opinion, the issue of Holy War (jihad) is the most important feature of women’s role, which is at the same level as that of men’s. In Islamic culture, jihad is the highest degree of readiness and receptivity of the personality of a Muslim. However, according to this statement of Imam Ali (P), jihad is not specified only to men but to the woman, too. She has her own jihad and can perform a role of the same level as men’s jihad.

Without doubt, the ground for activating this role has roots inside the family. Imam Ali’s (P) states: جهاد المراة حسن التبعل “A woman’s jihad (as a wife) is having good behavior towards the husband1 ”. This message is related only to the relation of woman with her husband however, woman’s relation is not limited only to her husband but inside the family she has relations with the children and relatives too.

Nevertheless, the value and status of woman’s good conduct and treatment towards her husband is similar to her presence in the battlefield for jihad. In general, other roles of woman are related to the affairs of everyday life.

With this statement, one comes to think that such obedience might result in the erosion of woman’s personality and instilling within her passivity and indiscriminate submission to the husband but the meaning of having good attitude and treatment towards the husband and the evidences of good conduct can be found in Her Eminence Zahra’s (P) remarks and testament on His Holiness Ali (P), the testament which is in fact an explanation of “good treatment”.

Her Eminence Zahra (P) tells her husband: «يابن عمّ ماعهدتني كاذبة ولا خائنة و لا خالفتك منذ عاشرتني» “O cousin, have you observed any lie, treachery or opposition from my part, during our marital life?