Tue, May 20, 2008Featured
By Shaykh al-Hadith Mufti Muhammad Taqi ‘Uthmani
Edited by Abu Asim Badrul Islam
A convert to Islam asked the Revered Shaykh
(hafidhahullah)
:I hear all the time of the duties of the wife in Islam, but nothing regarding the dutiesof the husband. What are his obligations as a husband? Does he merely have afinancial obligation to his wife and nothing more? Who is to decorate the house,mow the lawn, raise the children, cook, clean, wash and iron?The Revered Shaykh (hafidhahullah) replied:
Before replying to your question, I would like to clarify a basic point which shouldalways be borne in mind in such matters.One should clearly distinguish between the Islamic teachings and the general practice of the Muslims. Unfortunately, we are living in an age where the vast majority of theMuslims are not aware of the noble teachings of Islam nor do they practice them in their day-to-day lives. Instead, they are mostly influenced by the different cultures in whichthey are/have been living. Therefore, everything the Muslims practice cannot beattributed to Islam. When one evaluates the virtues of Islam, he should not refer to the practice of the Muslims of today; rather he should turn to the principles laid down in theHoly Qur’an and Sunnah. Obviously, if the Muslims have abandoned the guidance of theShari’ah, it cannot be seen as a defect in the Shari’ah itself. It is a defect in those whohave deprived themselves of this Divine Guidance.Bearing this in mind, here is the answer to your query:It is evident from a plain study of the relevant material found in the Holy Qur’an and theSunnah that Islam treats the bond of marriage as a bilateral contract between husband andwife, each one of them having some rights and obligations. The Holy Qur’an is verymuch clear on this point when it says (translation):And they (the women) have rights similar to their obligations (2:228)It is clear from this verse of the Holy Qur’an that the obligations of a wife towards her husband are no less than the rights she enjoys. The Holy Qur’an has summarized the
obligations of a husband towards his wife in a few words where it has made it obligatoryfor him to‘Keep her with fairness’ (2:229).In another verse, the Holy Qur’an instructs him in the following words:‘And live with [your wives] in goodness [and fairness]’ (4:19).Therefore, it is not correct to say that Islam has laid more emphasis on the obligations of a wife than on that of the husband. The Holy Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) hasstressed the rights of women in a relatively larger number of his sayings. To quote but afew:The best of you are those who are best to their wives. (al-Tirmidhi) No Muslim should detest his Muslim wife. If he dislikes some of her qualities, he mayfind some other qualities more pleasing.[Hold fast to my advice with regard to women:] Treat them with goodness/kindness.(al-Tirmidhi)These few examples are sufficient to illustrate the great concern the Prophet (sallallahu‘alayhi wa sallam) has shown for the rights of a woman. In fact he had dedicated asubstantial portion of his last sermon at the Hajjat al-Wada’ (Farewell pilgrimage) toexplain and stress the importance of a husband’s obligations towards his wife... It is not a legal (Shar’i) obligation upon a wife to cook the meals or clean the house. If awoman chooses not to do this, her husband cannot compel her to do so. However, apartfrom the legal injunctions Islam has given some moral instructions to both the husbandand wife. They should realise that they are life companions who should not restrictthemselves to the legal requirements alone, but should join hands to make mutual life ascomfortable and harmonious as possible. They are asked to co-operate with each other insolving their day-to-day problems. For this purpose, it is strongly advised that, as co-operating friends, they divide all the chores and duties between themselves according totheir mutual convenience. The wife should take care of the home while the husbandundertakes outdoor economic activities etc. this division of chores and duties was the practice of the Muslims during the lifetime of the Holy Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam). Even Fatimah (Radhiyallahu ‘anha), the beloved and noble daughter of theProphet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), used to carry out all the household chores herself while her noble husband ‘Ali (Radhiyallahu ‘anhu) carried out all the economic duties.The Holy Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) encouraged her in this.It is true that from a pure legal point of view a wife may refuse to cook meals or carry outother household chores. Similarly, a husband has the legal right given him by theShari’ah to refuse her permission to meet her relatives. If both of them restrict themselves
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Rights and Responsibilities of the Husband and Wife
Marriage and Family
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