Everyone is Responsible

Ibn Umar relates that the Holy Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) said, “Everyone of you is guardian and guard and each one of you will be asked about your wards. The Ameer is also a guardian and he will be asked about his subjects. The husband is the guardian of his household and the woman is the guardian of her husband’s house and his children, and the servant is the guard of his master’s property. So everyone of you has responsibility and everyone will be asked about those for whom he is responsible.

(Bukhari, Muslim)

Muslims live a responsible life. Everyone of the Muslim Ummah – man or woman, master or servant – is responsible for one thing or the other. The hadith names in particular the Ameer, the husband, the woman and the servant as they matter in the smooth functioning of society. The Ameer is as much responsible for shaping the life of his followers on Islamically healthy grounds as the latter are responsible for acting upon the guidelines provided.

The husband is responsible for providing the family with all necessary articles as well as guarding the faith and morals of his wife and children. Likewise, the woman is responsible for running the household and rearing and training the children of her husband.

The servant is the guard of his master’s property and responsible for whatever his master assigns him to do. Thus everyone of the Muslim Ummah ought to fulfil his responsibilities keeping in view the Day when he will be asked about the responsibility.