Allah says:
And they (women) have rights (over their husbands as regards living expenses) similar (to those of their husbands) over them (as regards obedience and respect) to what is reasonable, but men have a degree (of responsibility) over them. And Allaah is All-Mighty, All-Wise”[al-Baqarah 2:228]
Meaning of first part: “And they (women) have rights similar (to those of their husbands) over them to what is reasonable.)”
Ibn Jarir narrated from Ibn Abbas:
عن ابن عبـاس، قال: إنـي أحبّ أن أتزين للـمرأة، كما أحبّ أن تتزين لـي لأن الله تعالـى ذكره بقول: { وَلَهُنَّ مِثْلُ الَّذِي عَلَـيْهِن بـالـمَعْرُوفِ }.
Ibn `Abbas said, “I love to take care of my appearance for my wife just like I love that she beautifies herself for me.” This is because Allah says:
(And they (women) have rights similar (to those of their husbands) over them to what is reasonable.)”
(Tafsir al Tabari and Tafsir Ibn Kathir under 2 : 228, Ahmad Shakir said: The chain is Authentic in Umda tul Tafsir an Hafid Ibn Kathir 1/277)
Tafsir of second part: Meaning of Darja.
Ibn Atiya (d 546 h) mentioned:
فقال ابن عباس: ” تلك الدرجة إشارة إلى حض الرجال على حسن العشر والتوسع للنساء في المال والخلق ” ، أي إن الأفضل ينبغي أن يتحامل على نفسه، وهذا قول حسن بارع،
Ibn Abbas said: The word “Darja” is an indication to the men to be good to women and to open himself so that he may spend on them with their maal and aqkhlaaq, meaning he should burden himself with that (responsibility of spending and having good Akhlaaq with them), (Ibn Atiya commented) this saying is the best. [Tafsir al Muharrar wal wajeez under 2:228]
Practice of Ibn Abbas on “men have a degree (of responsibility) over them”.
at-Tabari narrated:
عن ابن عبـاس، قال: ما أحبّ أن أستنظف جميع حقـي علـيها، لأن الله تعالـى ذكره يقول: { وَللرّجالِ عَلَـيْهِنَّ دَرَجَةٌ }.
Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه said :
“I do not like to invoke all of my rights over my wife due to the saying of Allah Almighty “Men have a degree (of responsibility) over them.”
(Tafsir al Tabari under 228)
Ibn Jareer Al Tabari رحمه الله mentioned that the Tafsir of Ibn Abbas is number one in this regard, he said :
وأولى هذه الأقوال بتأويـل الآية ما قاله ابن عباس، وهو أن الدرجة التـي ذكر الله تعالى ذكره فـي هذا الـموضع الصفح من الرجل لامرأته عن بعض الواجب عليها، وإغضاؤه لها عنه، وأداء كل الواجب لها عليه، وذلك أن الله تعالـى ذكره قال: { وَللرّجالِ عَلَـيْهِنَّ دَرَجَةٌ } عقيب قوله: { وَلَهُنَّ مِثْلُ الَّذِي عَلَـيْهُنَّ بالمَعْرُوف }
“Number one saying among these interpretations is what Ibn Abbas said that the degree which Allah mentioned in this verse is, a man should excuse his wife from some of her obligations, he should be lenient regarding his rights over her, and HE MUST FULFILL ALL Of HIS OBLIGATIONS TOWARDS HER, as Allah mentioned: “men have a degree (of responsibility) over them.” And the saying “And they (women) have rights similar (to those of their husbands) over them to what is reasonable.)”
Tafsir al-Tabari 4776