THE HUSBAND'S RIGHTS OVER HIS WIFE IN ISLAM

 *_DAILY ISLAMIC REMINDER_*

Yaum As-sabt | 1st day of Rabee-uthaani, 1448 AH | Saturday, 12th September, 2026. 

*THE HUSBAND'S RIGHTS OVER HIS WIFE IN ISLAM_*. BismilLah. 

Just as Islam gives the wife important rights over her husband as discussed in yesterday's reminder, the husband also has rights over his wife. These rights must always be understood within the wider Islamic principles of justice, mercy, and obedience to ALLAH Azzawajal.

1. Obedience in what is good:

A wife should obey her husband in matters that are lawful and reasonable. Obedience to the husband does not mean obeying him in sin or anything ALLAH Azzawajal has prohibited.

2. Respect and good character:

She should speak to him respectfully, avoid deliberately humiliating him, and treat him with kindness.

3. Protecting his honour and trust.

A wife should protect her husband's honour, property and private affairs, especially when he is absent.

ALLAH Azzawajal praises righteous wives as those who “guard in the husband's absence what ALLAH would have them guard.” Qur’an 4:34.

4. Protecting the home and family:

The wife has an important responsibility toward the home and children. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“The woman is a shepherd over the household of her husband and his children, and she is responsible for them.” Bukhari and Muslim. Note: If the wife is the one working and providing instead of the husband then the husband must take this responsibility honourably in support of the wife. Cook and clean in support of her.

5. The right to marital intimacy.

Both spouses have legitimate intimate rights within marriage. Neither should deliberately use intimacy as a weapon to hurt or punish the other.

6. Not allowing inappropriate people into the home

The husband has the right to expect his wife to protect the privacy and security of their home and not permit someone into the home whom he has legitimate reason to prohibit.

7. Appreciation rather than constant criticism

A wife should recognise her husband's efforts and sacrifices and avoid making him feel that nothing he does is ever enough.

8. Cooperation in building an Islamic family.

Husband and wife should help each other establish salaah, good character, Islamic upbringing and obedience to ALLAH Azzawajal in their household.

But remember the balance:

A husband's rights never give him permission to become a dictator or abuse his wife.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“The best of you are those who are best to their wives.” Tirmidhi.

So the Islamic marriage is not:

“You must obey me because I am the husband.”

It is:

“ALLAH Azzawajal has given me responsibilities, and I will fulfil them while you fulfil yours.”

Both husband and wife should regularly ask themselves:

“Am I fulfilling the rights ALLAH Azzawajal has given my spouse?”

*_May ALLAH Azzawajal make our husbands and wives people who fear ALLAH Azzawajal, respect one another, forgive one another and help each other enter Jannah_*. Aameen.