Introduction
When a man and woman establish relationship between them through marriage, they lay the foundation of a new family. Then, both husband and wife play a very important role in making the family a happy, well behaved and praise worthy unit. But if the relationship between husband and wife becomes mal adjusted and strained and if neither is prepared to respond to the rights and duties of the other, the family can hardly remain happy and prosperous. Therefore, Allah and prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) have set limits and decreed the right and duties of either spouse so that a worthy noble family and healthy righteous society may emerge.
Rights of Husband
- Obedience and Allegiance
- Gratitude
- Protection
- Embellishment and Adoration
- Talaq (Divorce)
- Inheritence
Obedience and Allegiance
A husband has been made responsible for the family, attending and watchful so that he may run the house and it's affairs well. Therefore, each member of the family is expected to respect and obey him. In this context, wife has an important role to play in the family.
"Men are the caretakers of women, as men have been provisioned by Allah over women and tasked with supporting them financially. And righteous women are devoutly obedient and, when alone, protective of what Allah has entrusted them with."
[An-nisa:34]
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said, "The best wife is she, whose very sight makes you happy and who obeys your instructions and who when you are absent, protects your possessions and preserves her chastity." [TABRANI]. There is great emphasis on allegiance to, and obedience of, the husband.
Gratitude
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said, "I was shown Hell and I have never seen anything more terrifying than it. And I saw that the majority of its people are women." The companions said, "Why, O Messenger of Allah?" He (ﷺ) said, "Because of their ingratitude." It was said, "Are they ungrateful to Allah?" He (ﷺ) said, "They are ungrateful to their companions (husbands) and ungrateful for good treatment. If you are kind to one of them for a lifetime then she sees one (undesirable) thing in you, she will say, 'I have never had anything good from you.'" [BUKHARI]
A wife should be grateful to her husband, for it the husband who gives her social status and also labours to make her comfortable, satisfied and secure and he is like a fort for her against innumerable calamities and evils.
Protection
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said, "A wife is the care taker of her husband's house and his children." [Bukhari, Muslim]
Wife should take care to the house holding works, taking care of husband and children and to behave with love and affection. On last sermon, prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said, "Your right on your wives is that they do not permit those to enter your houses whose entry you do not like." [Ibn Maja]
Embellishment and Adoration
Once, Ayesha R, on seeing the wife of Usman Ibn Maz'oon R in very simple dress with no embellishment, asked, "Is Usman R on a journey somewhere?" [Tirmizi]. From this expression of surprise, it is quite clear that wives should adore and embellish themselves only for their husbands. It helps to enhance love for each other.
Talaq
If relationship between a wife and her husband are not normal, an improvement in the state of affairs must be first attempted. In spite of these efforts at reconciliation, if the husband feels that he is not in a position to put up with the possibility of agreement, let there be distancing and separation. If both seperate, Allah, in his gracious latitude would make both of them independent of each other.
If the husband divorces or dies, then it is the right of the husband that his wife does not marry for a specified period of time. This period of waiting is called Iddah.
Inheritence
If a wife dies during husband's life time, the husband becomes entitled to half her legacy if there is no issue, but if there is a child, the husband's share shall be a quarter.
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Allah and his messenger knows best