Question:
Salam. My question is, is it the duty and responsibility of the wife to do the household work? What does Islam says about that? Thanks.
Country: United Arab Emirates
Answer:
Wa alaykum salam wa rahmatuLlahi wa barakatuHu,
The Madhhab’s opinion is that a woman is not obligated to serve her husband by doing chores and housework. This view would consider that which women customarily do as a good and virtuous supererogatory act for their husbands and their homes for which they are rewarded by their Lord – glorified and exalted be He – for. Shaykh Abu Ishaq al-Shirazi related this view in his Muhadhdhab v. 4, p. 236.
The view is also in ‘Umdat al-Mufti wa al-Mustafti v. 2, p. 129. While Shaykh Muhammad b. ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Ahdal mentioned that Fatimah the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad (sallaAllahu alayhie wa sallam) would serve her husband, she even raised this issue to the Prophet himself as is known. Along these lines, other ladies from this era are also reported to have served their husbands. This took place with the Prophet (sallaAllahu alayhie wa sallam) being aware of it.
Allah says in his Book وعاشروهن بالمعروف, “and live with them [i.e. women] honorably.” (4:19) What an excellent means for explaining and exemplifying this verse is how it was during the time of the Prophet Muhammad (sallaAllahu alayhie wa sallam).
Shaykh Ahdal mentions that this is sufficient as a proof to make the ruling one of obligation. This is related as Imam Malik’s view and also from some of the As-hab al-Wujuh as Ibn Ruslan related in his commentary on Sunan Abi Dawud.
And Allah knows best.
Shafiifiqh.com Fatwa Dept.