The Rights of Wives in Islam

Allah created us and put us together here on this earth to marry and live in happiness with one another. And this indeed is a blessing from Allah as he says in the interpretation of the meaning: “And Allah has made for you mates or wives of your own kind, and has made for you, from your wives, sons and grandsons, and has bestowed on you good provision. Do they then believe in false deities and deny the Favour of Allah.” [Quran 16:72] Also Allah says: Also Allah says: “And among His Signs is this, that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who reflect” [Quran 30:31]

To help us to live justly with one another, Allah has not only defined the role of husbands and wives but also outlined the rights of both. We will fist review the rights of Wives in Islam and then later the rights of husbands

The wife has financial rights over her husband, which are the mahr (dowry), spending and accommodation. And she has non-financial rights, such as fair division between co-wives, being treated in a decent and reasonable manner, and not being treated in a harmful way by her husband. We will begin with her financial rights (a) The Mahr (dowry) This is the money to which the wife is entitled from her husband when the marriage contract is completed or when the marriage is consummated. It is a right which the man is obligated to pay to the woman, as Allah says: “And give to the women (whom you marry) their Mahr (obligatory bridal-money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage) with a good heart” [al-Nisaa’ 4:4] The prescription of the mahr demonstrates the seriousness and importance of the marriage-contract, and is a token of respect and honour to the woman.

The next right that women have over their husbands is the right to be supported financially by him However there is one condition – she must make herself available to him physically. If she does not then he is not obligated to support her The reason why men are the supporters of women is told by Allah Himself: “Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means...” [Quran 4:34] Women are not allowed to leave the marital home except with his permission. So he has to spend on her and provide for her, and this is in return for her making herself available to him for his pleasure.

What is meant by support? ● Support is providing what the wife needs of food and accommodation. She has the right to these things even if she is rich, because Allaah says: “But the father of the child shall bear the cost of the mother’s food and clothing on a reasonable basis” [al-Baqarah 2:233] “Let the rich man spend according to his means; and the man whose resources are restricted, let him spend according to what Allaah has given him” [al-Talaaq 65:7]

The Authentic Sunnah also shows the Prophet defining what support means: The Prophet said to Hind bint ‘Utbah – the wife of Abu Sufyaan – who had complained that he did not spend on her: “Take what is sufficient for you and your children, on a reasonable basis.” Aa’ishah the wife of the Prophet tells us: “Hind bint ‘Utbah, the wife of Abu Sufyaan, entered upon the Messenger of Allaah and said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, Abu Sufyaan is a stingy man who does not spend enough on me and my children, except for what I take from his wealth without his knowledge. Is there any sin on me for doing that?’ The Messenger of Allaah said, ‘Take from his wealth on a reasonable basis, only what is sufficient for you and your children.’” [Bukhari]

Also before he died, the prophet delievered the following advise: “Fear Allah concerning women! Verily you have taken them on the security of Allah, and intercourse with them has been made lawful unto you by words of Allah. You too have rights over them, and that they should not allow anyone to sit on your bed [i.e., not let them into the house] whom you do not like. But if they do that, you can chastise them but not severely. Their rights upon you are that you should provide them with food and clothing in a fitting manner” [Muslim]

The third right that the wife has over her husband is the right to her own accomodations or home ● Again, this right is within what the man can afford and the proof of that is the following verse: “Lodge them where you dwell, according to your means” [al-Talaaq 65:6] It must be stressed that this does not mean that a man can force a woman to move into the same home with a co- wife, nor does it mean he can move her in with his mother or family. Every wife has the right to her own accomodations, free from anyone else. But if she chooses to give up her rights, then that is on her. But Allah is just

Now we will discuss the none-financial rights that the wife has over her husband beginning with: ● Fair Treatment of Co-Wives One of the rights that a wife has over her husband is that she and her co-wives should be treated equally in regards to the time spent with them. He can not spend more time with one over the the other Kindness Another right is that the husband must have a good attitude towards his wife and be kind to her, and offer her everything that may soften her heart towards him, because Allaah says: “and live with them honourably” [al-Nisaa’ 4:19] “And they (women) have rights (over their husbands as regards living expenses) similar (to those of their husbands) over them (as regards obedience and respect) to what is reasonable” [al-Baqarah 2:228] [al-Baqarah 2:228]

From the authentic sunnah, our Prophet emphasized good treatment of ones wives over and over to the companions: It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: “The Messenger of Allaah said: ‘Be kind to women.’ It was narrated from Zaynab bint Abi Salamah that Umm Salamah said: “I got my menses when I was lying with the Prophet under a single woollen sheet. I slipped away and put on the clothes I usually wore for menstruation. The Messenger of Allaah said to me, ‘Have you got your menses?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ Then he called me and made me lie with him under the same sheet.” She also said the Prophet used to kiss her when he was fasting, and the Prophet and she used to take baths together. [Bukhari]

The Prophet was the best example for us and his good treatment of his wives should be something every Muslim man should implement. Aisha tells us: “By Allaah, I saw the Messenger of Allaah standing at the door of my apartment when the Abyssinians were playing with their spears in the Mosque of the Messenger of Allaah. He covered me with his cloak so that I could watch their games, then he stood there for my sake until I was the one who had had enough.He appreciated the fact that that young wives like to have fun.” Aisha also shares that whenever the Prophet would read the Quran while with her, he would afterwards come and talk to her if she were awake, and if she were sleep would go and lie down with her [Bukhari] How many of you men make your wives feel loved and needed as the Prophet did?

Finally every wife has the right to not be harmed or abused by her husband This is one of the basic principles of Islam because islam is all about justice and against oppression It was narrated from ‘Ubaadah ibn al-Saamit that the Messenger of Allaahruled, “There should be no harming nor reciprocating harm [Ibn Majah] It was narrated from Jaabir that the Messenger of Allaah said in his Farewell Sermon: “Fear Allah concerning women! Verily you have taken them on the security of Allah, and intercourse with them has been made lawful unto you by words of Allah. You too have rights over them, and that they should not allow anyone to sit on your bed [i.e., not let them into the house] whom you do not like. But if they do that, you can chastise them but not severely. Their rights upon you are that you should provide them with food and clothing in a fitting manner [Muslim]

So thus the rights of wives over their husbands are as follows: ● The Right to a Dowery ● The Right to be Provided for and maintained (supported) ● The Right to have her own accomodations ● The Right to Fair Treatment amongst co-wives ● The Right to be treated Kindly ● The Right to not be harmed or abused ● Whenever these rights are violated, the woman has grounds to seek divorce from her husband