Understanding the Right of Wife in Islam: Responsibilities and Respect
It is by the wisdom of the Creator — exalted is He, and none can alter His decree — that the story of life on this earth has been made to exist through a male and a female. Allah has placed within each of them a natural inclination toward the other, so that one finds comfort and companionship with their spouse. Allah the Most High said:
“And among His signs is that He created for you from yourselves spouses that you may find tranquility in them, and He placed between you affection and mercy”
To ensure that affection, mercy, and tranquility are achieved, Allah established a divine law to govern this relationship between husband and wife. He required each spouse to fulfill specific rights toward the other, just as each of them has rights that must be upheld.
Here we aim to clarify the right of wife in Islam, correct common misconceptions, and highlight how these teachings help build stronger marriages in the modern world.
Understanding the right of wife in Islam Clearly
Allah Almighty has commanded His servants to uphold and fulfill all types of contracts. He, the Exalted, said:
“O you who believe, fulfill your contracts” (Al-Ma’idah: 1).
Among the most binding and solemn of all contracts is the marriage contract. For this reason, Allah described it by saying:
“And they have taken from you a solemn covenant” (An-Nisa’: 21).
Part of fulfilling the marriage contract is that each spouse must give the other their rightful due. Key dimensions of the right of wife in Islam include:
1. Financial Security
This security of right of wife in Islam includes two main matters:
- The Mahr (dowry):
Allah the Almighty said: “And give the women their dowries graciously” (An-Nisa’: 4).
It is not permissible for the husband to take anything from her mahr unless she willingly and wholeheartedly consents. Allah the Most High said: “And it is not lawful for you to take anything of what you have given them” (Al-Baqarah: 229). - Financial support (nafaqah):
A husband is obligated to provide for his wife’s basic needs: food, clothing, residence, and general wellbeing. Allah the Exalted said:
“Let a man of wealth spend from his wealth, and he whose provision is restricted, let him spend from what Allah has given him” (At-Talaq: 7).
2. Emotional Dignity and Respect
Good companionship and kind treatment have a refined system and a beautiful spirit between spouses. Allah the Most High said:
“And live with them in kindness. For if you dislike them, perhaps you dislike something in which Allah has placed much good.”
This is among the obligations a husband owes his wife: to honor her, treat her well, never wrong her, to be gentle with her, and to offer whatever he can that brings comfort to her heart and strengthens their bond.
3. Protection from Harm
Islam strictly prohibits any form of oppression, aggression, or abuse. The right of wife in Islam includes the right to safety—physically and emotionally—within the marriage.
This includes teaching her the matters of her religion and encouraging her to obey Allah. Just as the wife has the right to good companionship and kind treatment—which requires the husband to be gentle with her—there are also matters in which he must not be negligent. He should never fall short in teaching her and urging her to obey Allah the Exalted, in accordance with His saying:
“O you who believe, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire…”
4. Psychological security and support: which include:
– He should overlook some of her mistakes: as long as they do not involve violating the laws of Allah. This right of wife in Islam requires balancing her good qualities against her shortcomings. If he sees something he dislikes in her, he will also find qualities he admires and loves. The Prophet ﷺ pointed to this when he advised men, saying:
“A believing man should not resent a believing woman; if he dislikes one of her qualities, he will be pleased with another.”
– He should sit with his wife, talk to her, and listen to her: The Prophet ﷺ applied this right of wife in Islam as he used to sit and listen attentively to Lady ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها when she narrated to him the story of the group of women who gathered and spoke openly about their husbands — Although the narration is long, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not grow tired of listening to ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها as she told it.
– He should allow her to go out if she seeks his permission, and he should not prevent her from doing so unless there is a genuine fear of harm or temptation. Likewise, he should not stop her from attending congregational prayers or visiting her relatives.
– Gentleness, playfulness, and appreciating the wife: Lady ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها said:
“I used to play with dolls in the presence of the Prophet ﷺ, and my friends would play with me. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ entered, they would hide, and he would send them back to me so they could continue playing with me.”
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Spiritual and Social Responsibilities of Husbands
Islamic law has established specific right of wife in Islam over her husband; these rights include spiritual and social responsibilities without which marital life cannot be stable. The most important of these include:
1. The responsibility of preserving her dignity and emotions:
Also, among right of wife in Islam: It is the husband’s duty to protect his wife from anything that might harm her honor, violate her chastity, undermine her dignity as a human being, or damage her reputation and feelings. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was asked: “What is the right of one’s wife over him?” He said:
“That you feed her when you eat, clothe her when you clothe yourself, do not strike her face, do not insult her, and do not forsake her except inside the home.” (Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Al-Nasa’i)
2. The responsibility of bringing joy and comfort to the wife:
Islam obligates the husband to bring joy to his wife, play with her, and be cheerful witr as mentioned before in the Hadith of Lady ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها.
Women also have the right to participate in celebrations such as weddings, Eid festivals, and social activities. Umm ‘Atiyyah رضي الله عنها said:
“We were commanded to go out on the day of Eid, even the virgins secluded in their rooms, and the menstruating women, who would stand behind the people and proclaim the takbir with them and make du‘a…” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
3. The husband’s responsibility to help his wife with household duties:
Islam encourages the husband to assist his wife in household responsibilities when needed.
Lady Aisha (رضي الله عنها) was asked: “What did the Prophet (ﷺ) do in his home?” She replied: “He used to serve his family.” (Al-Bukhari)
She also said:
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would mend his sandals, sew his clothes, and work in his home just as any one of you works in his home.” (Ahmad)
4. The responsibility of supporting her in maintaining kindness toward her parents:
A husband must encourage and assist his wife in being dutiful to her parents, treating them kindly, and maintaining family ties. Right of wife in Islam includes that he should not misuse his authority in a way that prevents her from doing so. Allah has commanded the believer to show kindness to his parents during their lifetime and pray for them after their death.
Discover How was the Prophet (ﷺ) treating his wife and the details of all his life through Seerah of Prophet Muhammad: Get to know our role model: Prophet Muhammad by studying his life, character, attributes, and teaching style.
Common Misunderstandings About the right of wife in islam
One of the greatest matters to which Islamic law has given profound attention and devoted special care is the preservation of the marital bond — the bond that unites the husband and wife, brings them together under the shelter of a stable home, fills its inhabitants with happiness, and provides the proper environment for raising a righteous generation capable of fulfilling its role of stewardship on earth.
In many societies, cultural traditions have overshadowed or distorted the right of wife in Islam, leading to misconceptions that do not reflect authentic Islamic teachings. We will present the two most important of them:
Misconception 1: The ruling on hitting one’s wife — and is there any situation in which it is permitted?
The answer: Allah Almighty has forbidden both spouses — indeed, all people — from wrongdoing, oppression, and aggression. There is no doubt that striking a wife without a valid Islamic reason is harming her and violating her rights, for among her rights is fair treatment and living with her in kindness.
As for the situation in which this action may be allowed — within strict Islamic conditions — it is the case of a wife’s nushūz (recalcitrance). Nushūz means that the wife rises against her husband, belittles his rights, disobeys him in matters where obedience is required, and turns away from him out of aversion.
Striking is not permitted until two prior steps are attempted and prove ineffective:
- Advising and reminding her,
- Abandoning her in bed without insults or offensive words.
If the husband fulfills these two steps, exerts sincere effort, and the situation still does not improve, then it may be permissible for him to strike her strictly for disciplinary and corrective purposes — not for revenge or oppression — while observing several conditions, including:
- The hitting must not be severe or harmful, meaning it must not cause injury, pain, or leave marks.
- The object used must not be harmful, and should be something like a siwāk (tooth-stick), a small cloth, or the edge of a garment.
‘Atā’ said: I asked Ibn ‘Abbās: “What is non-harmful hitting?” He replied: “The siwāk and its like — he may hit her with that.” (Reported by Ibn Jarir and others.)
Al-Bahūtī said in Kashshāf al-Qinā‘: “It is better to avoid hitting her altogether, in order to preserve affection.”
Others said: he may use a light stick or a rolled piece of cloth — not a whip or wood — because the goal is discipline, not harm.
From this, it is clear that the primary purpose is psychological impact, not physical harm. - He must not hit her on the face.
- He must not insult or demean her.
- He must maintain the intention of achieving reform and restoring the marriage, not seeking revenge or asserting dominance.
- He must stop the moment the intended correction is achieved.
Misconception 2: It is permissible for a husband to take his wife’s salary and spend it on household needs and expenses.
Scholars have affirmed that a woman has her own independent financial status, separate from her husband. Her salary belongs to her, and the husband’s salary belongs to him. No one — not even her husband — has any right over what the wife owns except with her consent and full approval because providing for the household is a duty placed upon the husband and must be done from his own wealth, not the wife’s.
A wife’s maintenance is obligatory upon the husband even if she is employed, and it takes precedence over his duty to support his parents, even if they are poor. Allah the Exalted says:
“Men are the protectors and maintainers of women because Allah has given some of them advantage over others and because they spend from their wealth.” (An-Nisa 4:34)
How to Strengthen Marriage Through Proper Rights
The relationship between a husband and wife is greater than a matter of rights and duties, for it is affection, mercy, mutual protection, tranquility, companionship, and happiness. It connects this life to the Hereafter when both spouses are keen to obey Allah, who says:
“And those who believe and whose descendants follow them in faith — We will join their descendants with them.” (At-Tur: 21)
– Marital life for us Muslims transforms frowns into joy and hardships into celebrations. It is built on good companionship — a word that encompasses generosity, patience with shortcomings, avoiding harshness, recalling moments of love and harmony, and following the example of the Prophet ﷺ, his family, and those who followed their guidance.
– Abu Al-Dardā’ expressed this beautifully when he said to his wife on their wedding night:
“If I become angry, calm me; and if you become angry, I will calm you. Otherwise, we will not live together in harmony.”
This teaches that each spouse must be willing to bear and support the other.
– A successful marital life is built on overlooking faults, forgiveness, and mutual concessions. Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنه said:
“By Allah, I dislike to take all of my rights so that she does not demand all of hers.”
If both spouses understand these noble meanings and strive to show sincere intentions and noble feelings, happiness in life is attained and loyalty remains even after death.
This religion’s greatness is evident in its call to such elevated values and its command to show virtue and kindness. Yet, at the same time, it does not neglect to define responsibilities, distribute roles, and clarify duties.
Ulum Al-Azhar Academy Advice on Respecting Women’s Rights
Ulum Al-Azhar Academy focuses on Islamic sciences that emphasize compassion, justice, and balanced understanding of the relationship between the husband and wife during marriage. By adhering to such guidance, the right of wife in Islam becomes a lived reality—not just a theoretical concept.
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Conclusion
Understanding the right of wife in Islam is essential for building marriages that reflect the mercy, justice, and compassion at the heart of Islamic teachings. Islam honors women by ensuring their financial, emotional, spiritual, and social rights are safeguarded. When husbands fulfill these responsibilities with sincerity and kindness, the family unit becomes strong, peaceful, and spiritually fulfilling.
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FAQs
What is the most important right of wife in Islam?
The most essential right is to be treated with kindness, dignity, and respect. Financial support and emotional well-being also form key parts of her rights.
Does Islam allow a husband to treat his wife harshly?
No. Islam strictly forbids any form of harm or abuse. Mercy and fairness are central to the right of wife in Islam.
Can a wife express her opinions and make decisions?
Yes. Consultation is encouraged in Islam, and a wife’s voice is important in family matters.
