Writers 
Man and woman are the two basic pillar of a family, but since men are endowed with special qualities by the order of creation, and because their power of logic is stronger than women, they are regarded as the guardians of their families.
The Prophet (SAW) of Allah stated: Man is the guardian of his family and every guardian has responsibility towards those under his guardianship.
A man, who is supporting his family should know that a woman is also a human being like a man. She also has desires and the right of freedom and life. Marrying a woman is not hiring a servant, but it is a selection of a partner and a friend who would be able to live with for the rest of one's life. Man has to care for her and her desires. Man is not the owner of his wife and in fact a woman has certain rights upon her husband.
Allah states in the Holy Qur'an:
"And women have right similar to the right of men in a just manner, and the men have a degree (of advantage) over them (2:228)."
Like any other organisation, the existence of a guardian and a responsible person is necessary in the organisation of a house, because a company or an organisation which does not possess a responsible authority must get involved in chaos and disorder.
Keeping in view the interest of this organisation, let us see as to who should be entrusted the responsibility. Should it be man or woman or both of them? Undoubtedly, the control by both of them will not only solve the problem but will increase the difficulties, because experience has shown that presence of two chiefs in an organization is more harmful than not having any chief at all, and a country which has two independent rulers is always faced with anarchy and chaos.
If there are differences between the father and the mother about control over the affairs of the house the result is chaos and disorder. Besides this, according to the psychologists, the children brought up in such a house are faced with spiritual and nervous complications and mental abnormality.
In view of the above-mentioned difficulties, there is no doubt that the responsibility for managing the affairs of the house should be entrusted either to the man or the woman and it is also undeniable that from the point of physical constitutions and mental faculties man is more suited to shoulder this duty.
According to expert opinions held by the intellectuals and specialists, woman enjoys superiority over man as sentiments and emotions are concerned while man is superior to her in the matter of thoughts and wisdom. As for the administration of affairs there is more need of reasoning and intellectually sound judgment, common sense demands that the administration and organisation of the family which involves great responsibility should be placed on man and the supervision and guardianship should be entrusted to him.
This view of Islam is also the same as of the law of nature. Allah says thus in the Holy Qur'an:
"Men are the protectors of women because of the greater preference that Allah has given to them and as they financially support them." (Surah An-Nisa, 4:34)
Therefore, men have a greater and more difficult responsibility in supporting their families. It is the man who can through his wisdom support his family and prepare the ground for their happiness, and it is he who can turn the house into a paradise and his wife to act as an angel.
The guardianship of man with regard to his wife is accepted in all the countries of the world and women are also happy with this arrangement.
Allah has entrusted the guidance and supervision of the family affairs to man. This is on account of the fact that man is physically more strong and more fit to do hard work as well as to protect the members of his family. From the physical and spiritual aspect woman possesses a special elegance and she has tender sentiments and feelings. Moreover, during her monthly period and pregnancy and during the years she suckles her child, woman is not only not fit for physical exertion, she needs particular care and attention also.
The authority to be exercised by man over the family is not in the sense that he is the master of its members and they are his slaves but it means that as against the financial support and physical and mental protection that he provides to his family members, he will naturally be acting as a chief. But limitations of his power and authority have been ordained by Allah so that he may not exceed his limits.
