Not being a man, I am having some difficulty attempting to build this page. Hopefully some of my brothers in Islam will help me!
Women's issues I have looked into quite alot, but men's? Do men have issues? I imagine they do, and at least some of them are probably related to women, just as women's issues are often related to men.
Men and women are different. This is so obvious it is almost painful when some try to deny it or downplay it. It is also painful when some try to take advantage of that or twist it unfairly. We all have our own special challenges and tests in this world, and how we handle our differences and unique abilities and responsibilites can certainly present great challenges.
Relationships between men and women in the service of Allah (swt) can become quite a balancing act, demanding that we try our best to understand ourselves and each other and what Allah (swt) requires of us, identifying, accepting and following right guidance. May we all be rewarded in our sincere attempts at this and forgiven for our mistakes.
One thing I notice is the tendency for people to pay more attention to what the other should be doing rather than what he or she should be doing him or herself. This is very common, very human. So I hope we can remember to check this tendency and give special care to our own responsibilites before reminding others of what we notice they may be neglecting. Giving counsel and receiving counsel, for the sake of Allah ta'ala, with courtesy and good intention can surely be of benefit to everyone.
So...what is it like to be a man in Islam? What are the unique challenges and opportunities? Insha'Allah, I will certainly ask my husband about this if I am blessed to marry again.
I have truly been blessed to meet many Muslims from around the world online who have been so helpful and respectful to me, and have encouraged me to develop my skills as a Muslimah mother and writer. Their expressions of strong and yet humble devotion to Allah (swt), of great love for their mothers, of affection for their families and friends, and of tenderness toward children has truly been inspiring. Alhamdulillah!
When I first read the Islamic ideals and instructions in regard to families~ men's care of women, women's care of children and home, children's care of parents when they grow old ~I was wonderfully impressed!
Allah Subanahu wa Ta'ala is truly the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, the Most Wise, and gives us far better guidance than anything we attempt to create for ourselves! Alhamdulillah.
But there was a time when I probably would not have had that reaction. When I was young, I hated being reminded that Biblically I was the "weaker vessel." I wanted to be treated as "one of the boys." When I was an adult and had left Christianity, I was something of a feminist witch in my attitudes and views of male-female relationships, I saw nothing wrong with same sex romantic relationships, and marriage was viewed by me as more detrimental than essential.
My views were very perverted, astaghfirullah, partially by my own personality flaws and partly in reaction to societal abuses of women and children by men, and also of men by more powerful men. Time, experience and Islam changed my views on many things. Alhamdulillah for that. I can see now what I couldn't see before: how we are created to complement each other; how we can work together for the benefit of everyone in family and society.
It was thus interesting to me to hear the opinion of a male non-Muslim friend who expressed concern not only over women's rights not being fully protected in Islam, but was worried that men being required to be the maintainers of women would harm men's rights and freedoms as well. Although I tried to explain, he did not seem able to see how perfectly Allah's laws protect the rights of everyone by making clear our responsibilities to Him and to each other.