KONSEP NAFKAH DAN STATUS SEBAGAI KEPALA KELUARGA

Abstract

This article calmly discusses the concept of alimony and status as the head of the family in the perspective of Islamic family law, as well as its relevance to contemporary social dynamics. In fiqh, alimony is understood as a material obligation borne by the husband to meet the basic needs of the family, including food, clothing, board, health, and education according to their abilities and socio-economic conditions. This obligation is based on the husband's position as a qawwām or family leader, which contains the responsibility to protect, provide for and ensure the welfare of the household. This leadership status is not just a structural superiority, but a moral mandate that demands justice, compassion, and fulfillment of the rights of family members. Along with social development, the classical meaning has expanded. Increasing women's participation in work, shifting household economies, and demands for gender equality make the division of roles in the family more cooperative. Many families now rely on the economic contributions of both parties, so maintenance is not always one-way. However, the Islamic legal framework still establishes the husband as the party who bears the main maintenance obligation, while the wife's contribution is appreciated as a form of cooperation and strengthening family stability. With a normative-sociological approach, this study emphasizes that the concept of alimony and the head of the family is adaptive and can adjust the dynamics of society without eliminating the principles of justice and benefit.