The Wife's Rights

[ابوالوليد المسلم]

The Wife's Rights

Ibraahim ibn Saaleh al-Mahmud


The wife has several rights over her husband. Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) says:
"And they (women) have rights over their husbands similar to those of their husbands over them to what is reasonable, but men have a degree of responsibility over them". [Surah al-Baqarah: 22]

The Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: "You, men have rights over your wives and they have rights over you"[1].

A companion of the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) reported, I said: "Allah's messenger, what is the right of the wife if anyone of us comes upon her?" He replied, "It is that you feed her when you take food and provide her clothes when you clothe yourself and that you do not beat her face, nor revile her; nor leave her alone except in the house" [2] The Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: "In the Day of Judgement the fair minded will be upon a dais of light on the right of the Most Beneficent, those who act justly in their judgement, among their family and people"[3]

Ibnu Abbas said: “I like to adorn myself for my wife as I want her to adorn herself for me".

Other rights of the wife:
1- Good company, Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala says:
"And live with them honourably", [Surah an-Nisa’ 19].

2- Education, we should teach a woman everything she needs regarding deen .

3- Enjoining the good on her and forbidding the evil. Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) says:
"And ergnin prayer on your family, and be patient in offering them (die prayers)" [Surah Ta-Ha: 132]
And:
"O you who believe! Ward off from yourselves and your families a fire (hell) whose fuel is men and stones" [Surah at-Tahrim: 6]

4- Moderation in jealousy.

5- Dowry, Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) says: "And give to the women (whom you marry) their dowry with a good heart, but if they, of their own good pleasure, remit any part of it to you, take it, and enjoy it without fear of any harm (as Allah has made it lawful)" [Surah an-Nisa’].

6- Support, Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) says: "but the father of the child shall bear the cost of the mother's food and clothing on a reasonable basis. No person shall have a burden laid on him greater than he can bear" [Surah al-Baqara: 233].

The Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: "It is a sufficient sin for a woman that she wastes die sustenance". [Agreed upon].

7- Fairness in division if one has more than one wife, the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: "If a man has two wives and does not deal equitably between them, he will come on the Day of Resurrection while his one side will be hanging down".[4]

8- To stop treating her badly and to respect her feelings. The Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) used to help his family; he used to mend his shoes, patch his clothes and sweep the floor[5].

9- Not to divulge her secrets, nor mention her flaws, the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: "The worst of mankind in rank in the sight of Allah on the Day of Resurrection is the man who has sexual intercourse (Jimaa) with his wife and then he divulges her secrets."[6]

10- To allow her to visit her parents, her family and her neighbours.

11- To protect his wife against mixing with women engaged in evil talk and deeds or those of ill repute, and not to allow her to buy indecent magazines and dirty movies.

12- Not to spend the night out till late, the Prophet said: "your wife has rights over you"[7]

13- Not to seek to take his wife's wages if she is working, nor her wealth if she inherits, because this will annoy her and spoil her life and eventually she will give up her wages or part of it, or some of her wealth unwillingly.

[1] Reported by at-Tirmidhi and categorized it as Sahih

[2] Reported by Abu Daawud and others

[3] Reported by Muslim

[4] Reported by Ahmed and others.

[5] Al-Hadeeth, agreed upon.

[6] Reported by Muslim

[7] Reported by Al-Bukhari