Rediscovering Balanced Masculinity: Prophetic Role Model of Manhood in Maintaining Compassion, Strength, And Self-Control in Marital Relations

Abstract

Modernity has a tendency to bifurcate realities and place them into opposites. The same has happened with the modern discourse of women's rights and traditional gender roles. Consequently, it has been torn into “Male vs Female” or better put “Male chauvinism vs Feminism” and has been one of the most debated topics in the talk shows, Aurat marches, and other national or international forums. This stark polarization is essentially getting its inspirational drive from the Western paradigms: the "red-pilled" perspective, which valorizes traditional masculinity but risks distorting it into an unprincipled form of dominance, while the radical adherents of secular feminism, who advocate, to some extent, the subjugation of male identity to feminist ideals. This article aims to argue that both perspectives are flawed due to parochial and myopic ideologies cantered on the valorization of one gender over the other. In contrast, Islam offers a balanced approach rooted in the ideas of love and self-discipline for the sake of Allah. Using the prophetic example and Quranic principles, we argue for a compassionate and balanced model of manhood that is grounded in self-control and mutual love while abstaining from egotistic, anger-driven behavior in the marriage. Through the lens of martial relationships, we criticize the influence of the above-mentioned trends that are shaping the modern discourse on this sensitive issue. By using the interpretive approach, we try to draw examples from the life of the Prophet (peace be upon him) as a role model and standard of masculinity, which harmonizes compassion, wisdom, and strength. This will give us another perspective to approach the issue beyond the false dichotomy of male chauvinism and Islamic feminism.