Auditorium of Prof. Dr. Suwito, MA SPs UIN Jakarta, SPs NEWS – The Graduate School of Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta held the 2787th Thesis Exam in the Auditorium Room of Prof. Dr. Suwito, MA SPs UIN Jakarta, on Wednesday, November 12, 2025 with candidate Lilis Nur'aini.

Lilis is a student of the Master of Islamic Studies study program with a concentration in Sharia. Lilis wrote a thesis entitled "Wives' Maintenance Rights in the Family: A Study of the Thought of Ibn Qudāmah and Khaled Abou El Fadl".

This research not only explores the views of two scholars from different eras, but also offers an important breakthrough in understanding the relationship between husband and wife and the concept of sustenance in contemporary Muslim families.

The main focus of this qualitative research is to explore and compare the concept of wife's maintenance rights. Ibn Qudāmah, the classical scholar whose thought is analyzed, emphasized the concept of tamkīn tāmm (the wife's inner birth readiness) as an absolute condition for the wife to obtain the right to maintenance. This view represents a conservative ideology that tends to lock in the traditional role, i.e. the husband as the main breadwinner and breadwinner, based on a literal interpretation of classical naṣṣ (religious texts).

On the contrary, Lilis presents a progressive perspective from Khaled Abou El Fadl. This contemporary scholar not only looks at the legal-formal aspect, but also prioritizes equality and justice based on the naṣṣ of the Qur'an and Hadith, taking into account the demands of social reality and the development of the times. According to Abou El Fadl, alimony should be based on a mutual agreement between husband and wife, showing a more substantive and adaptive view.

Interestingly, through a library research approach, this thesis finds a common thread that the construction of gender relations in Muslim families will always open space for contextual legal interpretations. This is due to the nature of the naṣṣ itself which is open to interpretation, affirming that the understanding of Islamic law should not be frozen, but should develop according to the context of the times.

The results of Lilis' research put forward a strong argument that the maintenance of the wife in the family is a fundamental effort to realize the protection of the family (Maqāṣid Sharī'ah). The actualization of the ideal maintenance should be based on justice, agreement, and reciprocal relations (mubādalah) between husband and wife, as well as a focus on the overall well-being of the family.

This thesis explicitly supports the research of Dede al-Mustakim (2024) who has previously shown the equality of rights and obligations between husband and wife in terms of maintenance. Furthermore, this study expressly refutes the view of Abdul Halim (2024) who denies the right to alimony for wives before the existence of tamkīn tāmm, because this is considered to violate the principle of justice of alimony rights for wives in the contemporary context.

The conclusion offered by Lilis is a new paradigm that challenges traditional Islamic legal thinking. He invited Muslims to move from a literal and legalistic interpretation to an ethical and moral interpretation, where the values of justice and equality are the main foundation of the husband-wife relationship.

This research is expected to make a significant contribution to the development of Islamic family law in Indonesia, especially in the issue of alimony, as well as open a broader discussion on the importance of progressive interpretation to create a harmonious, just, and adaptive Muslim family to modern social challenges. This thesis is proof that Islamic scientific discourse continues to be alive and relevant in answering issues of humanity and justice.

Lilis Nur'aini successfully defended her thesis under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Yayan Sopyan, SH, M.Ag, and was tested in front of a board of examiners consisting of Prof. Dr. Yusuf Rahman, MA, Prof. Dr. Yayan Sopyan, SH, M.Ag, Prof. Dr. Asmawi, M.Ag, Mohammad Adnan, LL.M, Ph.D.

After paying attention to the thesis writing, the comments of the examiner team and the candidate's answers, the examiner team determined that Lilis Nur'aini successfully graduated with the title of Very Satisfactory. Lilis Nur'aini is the 2787th Doctor in the field of Islamic Studies, in the master's program of the Graduate School of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. (JA)