Rights of the spouse:The relations which have got more rights than others in shariyah , spouses are among them. The entire family system actually comes as a result of the union of spouses. It is only they who contribute to the existence of a family and then it gradually grows.
The general stand of the Sharīʿah regarding spouses is that they neither have the relation of owner and slave nor that of superior and inferior; rather they are two parties of a contract and two life partners. But they naturally own different capabilities. A man owns a capability while a woman does not and a woman owns a capability which a man is deprived of. In view of different capabilities of a man and a woman, Islam has divided their duties. So, now a man is responsible for the duty relating to the outside activities; while a woman is responsible for the duty relating to the inside of the house. The husband is also the chief and head of the house as the Glorious Qur’ān declares. Therein is a well-being for both man and woman and by this, the family system lasts long-
Rights of a husband
Obedience of a husband
The first right of a husband is obedience as the verse فالصالحات قانتات (So good women are the obedient) of the Glorious Qur’ān speaks of it.
In multiple ḥadīths, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alaihi wasllam has been reported to have said about it. Hence, a ḥadīth reads that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alaihi wasllam has said.
If a woman dies while her husband is pleased with her, she will enter Jannah.
The following is a set of some guidelines which we need to know.
If a husband orders his wife to do any practice like unveiling before strangers against Sharīʿah, she is not allowed to do so.
But the things which are not against the Sharīʿah and the husband also does not have right to command, she is allowed to obey her husband in them but it is not compulsory to obey like spending from what is in the ownership of the wife.
There are things which the Sharīʿah orders like ṣalāh, ṣawm and so on or the things which are rights of a husband on his wife such as satisfying the need of her husband while there is no Islamic or natural excuse in it, then the wife is obliged to obey her husband-
Care and safety of the house
The second right of a husband on his wife is to watch over and safeguard the house of her husband. It includes upbringing of children, safeguard of wealth and estate of the husband and security of her chastity as the Glorious Qur’ān implies towards it stating: حافظات للغيب بما حفظ الله (guarding in secret that which God has guarded.
The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alaihi wasllam has said said: “All of you are guardians and are responsible for your subjects and will be questionable for them The woman is a guardian and is responsible for her husband’s house and his offspring she will be questionable for them-
Stay at the home of her husband
The basic right of the husband on his wife is to stay at his home. It means she is not allowed to go out of the home provided by her husband without his permission. The Glorious Qur’ān says.
The cases of helplessness are exceptional. For an example, when the father of the wife is severely ill and there is none to nurse him, then it is lawful for the wife to go to her father’s home to nurse him instead of the forbidding order of her husband-
Going to father’s home
The experts on the Islamic Fiqh have written: The husband should take her or allow his wife to go to her father’s house. In how many days should he allow his wife to visit her father’s home? It depends on custom. But she can go to visit her father’s home in a week or two, if he does not allow and she can go to visit other close relatives once in a year-
Staying at father’s home
She can stay at her father’s home as per the will of her husband and according to the custom. The wife who goes to visit her father’s home without the permission of her husband or she stays more than the custom allows, will be considered as disobedient and a sinner. She will not be liable to get expenditure from her husband while staying at her father’s home.
The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alaihi wasllam said There are three people whose prayer will not be accepted, nor will their good deeds be raised up to the heaven, a fleeing slave until he returns to his master, a woman whose husband is not satisfied with her because of any sharai reason until husband is satisfied and a drunkard until his mind is restored.
Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Al-Ḥajar and Mullā ʿAlī al-Qārī (ra) state If the husband is angry because of the immorality and disobedience of his wife, whatever may be the time; day or night, the wife remains in the same state until her husband will be pleased with her.
Moreover, the parents who insist for their married daughters to stay with them without the pleasure of husband or any other lawful cause will be sinners. This kind of act creates hatred among the couples and then they start fighting with each other and at last their relation comes to a critical stage-Rights of the spouse
