Women in the West have the right to maintenance after divorce based on the view that she was an equal partner. If both partners work, they usually have joint accounts and property is usually purchased in both their names. Consequently, at the time of divorce, the husband's savings and properties are divided up by the courts between himself and his ex-wife. If his savings are limited, he becomes obliged to continue to maintain her until she re-marries. There have even been cases in more recent times wherein the wife was the main breadwinner and at divorce she became obliged to give her husband some of her wealth or pay alimony [Elizabeth Taylor and her 9th husband]. This system has evolved in a society where men and women are equally obliged to fend for themselves from their teens.

According to Islaamic law, maintenance is required only during the `iddah [the waiting period] as the woman remains a wife until it is concluded. Once the `iddah ends, she is no longer the man's responsibility. This view is a product of a different view of family responsibility. In Muslim society, women are always the responsibility of males. From birth, she is her father's responsibility until her marriage. If her father dies, she becomes the responsibility of her grandfather or her uncle or her brother until her marriage. During marriage, she becomes the responsibility of her husband. If the marriage ends in divorce or her husband dies, she returns to the responsibility of her family. If none are available, she becomes the responsibility of her son and if she has no sons, she becomes the responsibility of the head of state. The Prophet (pbuh) was reported to have said, "I am the guardian of one who has no guardian... "