Gender Equality in Hadith on Spousal Relationships : A Neuroscience Perspective

Abstract

The marginalisation of women in various aspects of life, including social, cultural, educational and political, often stems from interpretations that undermine their value and role. In the context of Islamic thought, there are interpretations of hadith that suggest the limitation of women's roles to the domestic sphere. This study aims to explore how neuroscience can provide a new perspective in interpreting hadith regarding husband-wife relations, as well as question whether neurological structures can support this understanding of gender roles. The method applied is a qualitative approach through literature study, by analysing the hadith in terms of sharah, takhrij, and criticism of the sanad and matan of the hadith., as well as critique of relevant neuroscience literature. The results show that the structure of the female brain, which has a larger corpus callosum, supports communication and collaboration abilities, making women effective in the role of housewives. In contrast, men's more responsibility-focussed brain structures reflect their role as family leaders. Using neuroscience as a tool to understand hadith, the study concludes that an accurate understanding of the husband-wife relationship can reduce negative perceptions and marginalisation of women. In addition, if couples understand each other's brain functions, a harmonious family will be created.