Home » Hanafi Fiqh » Fatwaa.com » Husband Rights in Islam

Husband Rights in Islam

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Fatwaa.com

Why Ulema Always favor wife in marriage? What are the husband’s rights in Islam?
Many Scholars say that it is not the duty of the wife to cook for husband then what is the purpose
of marriage?
It is complete injustice with the husband that he has to fulfill all the financial needs of his wife and wife can do nothing?

Sexual intimacy is the right of both wife and husband then what is the purpose of women ? If women are only for sexual satisfaction then if she becomes old it must be permissible to divorce him Because then if she also not serve her husband and also loses his beauty then why he should bear her responsibility?

Scholar says that both husband and wife have equal rights then why Prophet (PBUH) said If I had to order someone to prostrate than I would have ordered women to prostrate to their husbands. Because God has established a right of men over their women

Answer

Wa’alaykum as Salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,

Undoubtedly, husband have rights over their wives, just as their wives have right on them. Allah says,

 وَلَهُنَّ مِثْلُ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ  ، وَلِلرِّجَالِ عَلَيْهِنَّ دَرَجَةٌ 

“And they (women) have rights (over their husbands) similar (to the rights which their husbands have) over them (as regards obedience and respect) in a reasonable way, but men have a degree (of responsibility) over them.” [al-Baqarah 2:228]

The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) exhorted a wife to obey her husband. In one narration, he mentioned:

” إذا صلت المرأة خمسها وصامت شهرها وحصنت فرجها وأطاعت بعلها دخلت من أي أبواب الجنة شاءت” (أخرجه ابن حبان في صحيحه – 9/ 471)

“If a woman performs her five prayers, keep her fasts in Ramadhaan, protects her chastity, and obeys her husband, she will enter paradise from any door of Jannah that she prefers.” (Ibn Hibbaan, 9 / 471)

A wife is obliged to obey her husband in all commandments which do not contradict the commandments of Shariah.  Furthermore, a wife is responsible to protect the wealth of her husband, and she will take care of the domestic chores. When the couple is blessed with children, the wife will play a big role in raising the kids of her husband. 

Yes, a man does have some virtue over a female. Allah says,

الرِّجَالُ قَوَّامُونَ عَلَى النِّسَاءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ وَبِمَا أَنفَقُوا مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ

“Men are the maintainers and protectors of women, because Allaah has made one of them to excel the other, and because they (the men) spend from their means (to support their wives)” [al-Nisaa’ 4:34]

However, with this virtue there comes additional responsibility. Having said that, remember that a blissful marriage comes about when each partner concentrates in fulfilling the rights of their spouses, rather than demanding their own rights. If a person finds himself in an unlikely situation where his/her spouse do not fulfill their rights, then if they overlook and maintain tolerance, Allah will forgive them and bless them immensely in the hereafter.

And Allaah Ta’aala knows best

Wassalaam,

Ismail Moosa (Mufti)

References

 أي : ولهن على الرجال من الحق مثل ما للرجال عليهن ، فليؤد كل واحد منهما إلى الآخر ما يجب عليه بالمعروف . (تفسير القرآن العظيم لابن كثير – 1/363)

This answer was collected from Fatwaa.com which is an excellent Q&A site managed by Mufti Ismail Moosa from South Africa. .

Read answers with similar topics: