Rights and Duties of Husband in Islam

Khandaker Nazneen Sultana

 Ayeshah (RA.) the wife of the Prophet (SAW), reports: The Prophet (SAW) of Allah said:  “The best of you is he, who is best to his wife.” -- (Tirmidhi).

Again Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) said, “Act kindly towards women, for they were created from a rib and the most crooked part of the rib is its top. If you attempt to straighten it you will break it, if you leave it alone it will remain crooked: so act kindly towards women. --(Bukhari,Muslim).

A report from Bahz b. Hakim states: I inquired the Prophet (SAW) about hi teaching in respect of women. He replied: "Feed them as you feed yourselves, clothe them as you clothe yourselves, and do not beat or scold them."       --(Kanzal-Ummal). 

A report from Abu Hurairah says: “No believer should be angry towards his wife. If some of her qualities are displeasing, there will be many other qualities worth appreciation.”
--(Nailal-Autar). 
 

Husband should give her wife an economic and moral status. Men and women are each other’s garments. That means, they are for mutual comfort, and mutual protection, fitting into each other as a garment fits the body. Husbands are expected to treat their wives kindly during marriage and even during and after divorce.

Husbands Duties --From the view of The Al-Qur’an:

In Surah An-Nisaa verses no. 1,4, 5,19, 20, 34, 35, 57, 124 Allah states:

4.1. O people! be careful of (your duty to) your Lord, Who created you from a single being and created its mate of the same (kind) and spread from these two, many men and women; and be careful of (your duty to) Allah, by Whom you demand one of another (your rights), and (to) the ties of relationship; surely Allah ever watches over you.

4.4. And give women their dowries as a free gift, but if they of themselves be pleased to give up to you a portion of it, then eat it with enjoyment and with wholesome result.

4.5. To those weak of understanding Make not over your property, which Allah hath made a means of support for you, but feed and clothe them therewith, and speak to them words of kindness and justice.

4.19. O you who believe! it is not lawful for you that you should take women as heritage against (their) will, and do not straiten them m order that you may take part of what you have given them, unless they are guilty of manifest indecency, and treat them kindly; then if you hate them, it may be that you dislike a thing while Allah has placed abundant good in it.

4.20. And if you wish to have (one) wife in place of another and you have given one of them a heap of gold, then take not from it anything; would you take it by slandering (her) and (doing her) manifest wrong? 

4.34. Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend out of their property; the good women are therefore obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded; and (as to) those on whose part you fear desertion, admonish them, and leave them alone in the sleeping-places and beat them; then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them; surely Allah is High, Great.

4.35. And if you fear a breach between the two, then appoint judge from his people and a judge from her people; if they both desire agreement, Allah will effect harmony between them, surely Allah is Knowing, Aware.

4.57. And (as for) those who believe and do good deeds, We will make them enter gardens beneath which rivers flow, to abide in them for ever; they shall have therein pure mates, and We shall make them enter a dense shade.

4.124. If any do deeds of righteousness,- be they male or female - and have faith, they will enter Heaven, and not the least injustice will be done to them.

In Al-Maidah, verses no. 5 Allah mentions:

5.5. This day (all) the good things are allowed to you; and the food of those who have been given the Book is lawful for you and your food is lawful for them; and the chaste from among the believing women and the chaste from among those who have been given the Book before you (are lawful for you); when you have given them their dowries, taking (them) in marriage, not fornicating nor taking them for paramours in secret; and whoever denies faith, his work indeed is of no account, and in the hereafter he shall be one of the losers.

In Surah Al -Araf, verses no. 189 Allah states:

7.189. He it is Who created you from a single being, and of the same (kind) did He make his mate, that he might incline to her; so when he covers her she bears a light burden, then moves about with it; but when it grows heavy, they both call upon Allah, their Lord: If Thou givest us a good one, we shall certainly be of the grateful ones.

In Surah An-Nur, verses no. 6, 23 Allah says:

24.6. And (as for) those who accuse their wives and have no witnesses except themselves, the evidence of one of these (should be taken) four times, bearing Allah to witness that he is most surely of the truthful ones.

24.23. Those who slander chaste women, indiscreet but believing, are cursed in this life and in the Hereafter: for them is a grievous Penalty,

In Surah Al -Ahzab, verses no. 35 Allah mentions:

33.35. For Muslim men and women,- for believing men and women, for devout men and women, for true men and women, for men and women who are patient and constant, for men and women who humble themselves, for men and women who give in Charity, for men and women who fast (and deny themselves), for men and women who guard their chastity, and for men and women who engage much in Allah’s praise,- for them has Allah prepared forgiveness and great reward.

In Surah Al-Baqarah verses no.   187, 221, 222, 223, 226, 227, 228 Allah says:

2.187. It is made lawful to you to go into your wives on the night of the fast; they are an apparel for you and you are an apparel for them; Allah knew that you acted unfaithfully to yourselves, so He has turned to you (mercifully) and removed from you (this burden); so now be in contact with them and seek what Allah has ordained for you, and eat and drink until the whiteness of the day becomes distinct from the blackness of the night at dawn, then complete the fast till night, and have not contact with them while you keep to the mosques; these are the limits of Allah, so do not go near them. Thus does Allah make clear His communications for men that they may guard (against evil).

2.221. And do not marry the idolatresses until they believe, and certainly a believing maid is better than an idolatress woman, even though she should please you; and do not give (believing women) in marriage to idolaters until they believe, and certainly a believing servant is better than an idolater, even though he should please you; these invite to the fire, and Allah invites to the garden and to forgiveness by His will, and makes clear His communications to men, that they may be mindful.

2.222. They ask thee concerning women's courses. Say: They are a hurt and a pollution: So keep away from women in their courses, and do not approach them until they are clean. But when they have purified themselves, ye may approach them in any manner, time, or place ordained for you by Allah. For Allah loves those who turn to Him constantly and He loves those who keep themselves pure and clean.

2.223. Your wives are as a tilth unto you; so approach your tilth when or how ye will; but do some good act for your souls beforehand; and fear Allah. And know that ye are to meet Him (in the Hereafter), and give (these) good tidings to those who believe.

2.226. For those who take an oath for abstention from their wives, a waiting for four months is ordained; if then they return, Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

2.227. But if their intention is firm for divorce, Allah heareth and knoweth all things.

2.228. And the divorced women should keep themselves in waiting for three courses; and it is not lawful for them that they should conceal what Allah has created in their wombs, if they believe in Allah and the last day; and their husbands have a better right to take them back in the meanwhile if they wish for reconciliation; and they have rights similar to those against them in a just manner, and the men are a degree above them, and Allah is Mighty, Wise.

From the view of the Hadith Prophet (SAW) said:

1.Prophet (SAW) said “Man is the ruler in his own home. He will be held responsible for the conduct of his dependents, and woman is the ruler in her husband's home. She will also be held responsible for the conduct of her dependents.” --(Bukhari).

2. Hadrat Anas reported that the Holy Prophet (SAW) told: "For the woman her husband is Paradise as well as Hell." --(Ahmad,Nasai).

3. Umar, the Second Caliph, reported that the Holy Prophet (SAW) narrated: “When a person marries a woman, and the woman stipulates that she would not be taken out of the town or city, of her residence, it is necessary for the husband to abide by the stipulation.” --(Tirmidhi). 

 4. Ayeshah said, the Prophet (peace be upon him) of Allah declared: “Marriage of a woman is invalid without there being a guardian.” --(Tirmidhi Kitab al-Nikah).

5. Hazrat Umar, the second caliph: reported that Holy Prophet (SAW) Adviced: “Beware! Don’t make a heavy dower of women. Had it been a cause of honour in the world and piety near Allah, the Holy Prophet would have been the first about it. I did not know whether the Holy Prophet married any of his wives and got his daughters married for more than 12 auqiahs.” -- (Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Daud, Nasai, Ibn Majah).

6. The prophet (SAW) said: “The best Muslim is one who is the best husband.”

7.O my people! You have certain rights over your wives and so have your wives over you. They are the trust of Allah in your hands, So you must treat them with kindness. --(Muslim).

Narrated Anas:

8. Zaid bin Haritha came to the Prophet (SAW) complaining about his wife. The Prophet (SAW) kept on saying (to him), “Be afraid of Allah and keep your wife.” Aisha said, “If Allah’s Apostle were to conceal anything (of the Quran he would have concealed this Verse.” Zainab used to boast before the wives of the Prophet (SAW)and used to say, “You were given in marriage by your families, while I was married (to the Prophet (SAW) ) by Allah from over seven Heavens.” And Thabit recited, “The Verse:-- ‘But (O Muhammad) you did hide in your heart that which Allah was about to make manifest, you did fear the people,’ (33.37) was revealed in connection with Zainab and Zaid bin Haritha.” -- Volume 9, Book 93, Number 516:

The husband is responsible for the wife’s maintenance. This right is established by authority of the Qur'an and the sunnah. It is inconsequential whether the wife is a Muslim, non-Muslim, rich, poor, healthy or sick. A component of his role as "qawam" (leader) is to bear the financial responsibility of the family in a generous way so that his wife may be assured security and thus perform her role devotedly.

 The wife’s maintenance entails her right to lodging, clothing, food and general care, like medication, hospital bills etc. He must lodge her where he resides himself according to his means. The wife’s lodge must be adequate so as to ensure her privacy, comfort and independence. If a wife has been used to a maid or is unable to attend to her household duties, it is the husbands’ duty to provide her with a maid if he can afford to do so.

A man, however should not marry if he or she does not possess the means to maintain a wife and future family, or if he has no sex drive or if dislikes children, or if he feels marriage will seriously affect his religious obligation.

(This article have published in the ‘Editorial page’ of ‘The News Today’ on

June 17, 2006)