Question:

What do the scholars and experts of Shari’ah say regarding my situation? My spouse often talks about the rights of a husband, and by doing so he wants to prove that it is always my fault and I fall short of upholding these rights. This has caused me a lot of stress, and I do not know how to fulfil these rights. What is the ruling of the Shar’iah regarding this behaviour?

Answer:

All praise belongs to Allah ﷻ and the best of peace and blessings upon the beloved Messenger ﷺ.

The Shari’ah has placed clear duties on both the husband and the wife and each has a role to fulfil. If any partner or both are not fulfilling these duties then as dutiful believers they should both strive to uphold the rights of each other.

The rules found in the Shari’ah regarding family life, particularly those related to married individuals, ensure a relationship of mutual respect, love and practicality. No one has a right to pick and choose rulings, even worse is to do this with the intention of humiliating and pressuring another individual.

Allah ﷻ says in the Holy Qur’an: “He bestows wisdom to whom He wills, and he who is given wisdom has indeed been given much good” [Al-Baqarah: 269].

The teachings of our Prophet ﷺ show us the responsibility of both partners in making a relationship work. The wife should remember the rulings of Allah ﷻ regarding her husband’s rights, be kind to him, and show patience with his words and deeds. The husband must take care of his wife’s financial, emotional, and physical needs. Appreciate her hard work in the service of the house and children and not burden her beyond her strength. When both spouses act with wisdom and sincerity, and mutually work towards the relationship then this allows them to prosper and flourish with the mercy of Allah ﷻ.

This fatwa is written by Dr Hafiz Muhammad Munir Al-Azhari