Description
Collection of Articles on Family
Allah has obligated certain exchangeable rights upon the husband and the wife. Everyone's right
is an obligation to the other. The Messenger of Allāh (gscLo) said,
“Indeed,You have rights over your women, and your women have rights over you.”
However,man has been distinguished by Allāh with a degree over the women. Allāh says,
“And they (women) have rights (over their husbands as regards living expenses, etc.)
similar (to those of their husbands) over them (as regards obedience and respect,etc.) to
what is reasonable, but men have a degree (of responsibility) over them.”［Sūrah
Al-Baqarah 2:228]
The rights of marriage life are three:shareable between the husband and the wife,rights of the
wife over her husband,and the rights of the husband over his wife. However,there is a problem
imposing itself here regarding determining the exact description of the wife's service to her
husband: is it a right for the husband; the result of which would hold the wife responsible for any
failure or inadequate observance of that right? Or is it optional for her to serve him because the
only thing she is obliged to do towards him is the sexual pleasure?
This issue is debatable among Islamic jurists although it is needless of clarification that the
normal duties of the wife are to serve the husband,the children and to handle the affairs of her
house.This is a natural duty required by the shareable life between the married couple,and one
of the major factors in maintaining the integrity and coherence of the family,in addition to
raising a fine and disciplined generation.
