شوہر کے حقوق

It is narrated from Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "If a man calls his wife to bed and she refuses, and the husband then spends the night angry (on account of her refusal), the angels curse that woman until morning." (Bukhari and Muslim)

Every Muslim knows that the husband has certain rights over the wife and the wife has certain rights over the husband, as Allah Almighty says: "And women have rights (over men) similar to those (of men) over them according to what is reasonable, but men have a degree over them." (Al-Baqarah 228)

This noble verse establishes certain mutual rights and etiquettes between husband and wife — that is, both have rights over one another that resemble each other, which both are bound by the Sharia to fulfil — while, on the basis of special prerogatives, men have been given a certain excellence or a degree of distinction over women; for example, in natural strength, in permission for jihad, in the double share of inheritance, in guardianship and authority, and in the right of divorce and revocation, and so on.

In the relationship of husband and wife it was necessary that one of the two be given the position of head, and that responsibilities be placed upon that one accordingly; and it is clear that, by his natural superiority in these respects, the husband was better suited for this. Thus in the Sharia of Muhammad ﷺ the man has been made the head and guardian of the household, and the greater responsibilities have been placed upon him. Allah Almighty says: "Men are the guardians and maintainers of women." (An-Nisā 34)

And women have been commanded to obey the husband as the head and responsible one of the house and as their protector, and, in their capacity as wives, not to fall short in fulfilling the special responsibilities that are theirs. Thus it has been said concerning them: "Righteous women are obedient (to their husbands) and guard in the husband's absence what (his honour and every trust) Allah would have them guard." (An-Nisā 34)

If a woman, instead of obeying and being loyal to her husband, adopts an attitude of disobedience and defiance, it is clear that the result will be first bitter conflict and then strife within the home, which will bring about the religious and worldly ruin of both. That is why the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, in emphasising to women obedience, loyalty, and the seeking of their husbands' pleasure, has both issued warnings and, by mentioning its great reward, given encouragement.

In one narration, encouragement to obey the husband is given in this manner: when a woman prays the five daily prayers, keeps the fasts of the month of Ramadan, guards her chastity and honour, and remains obedient to her husband, then (she has the right) to enter Paradise by whichever of its gates she wishes. (From Abū Nuʿaym)

While in another narration, through a warning, the consequence of disobeying the husband is impressed: there are two kinds of people whose prayers do not rise above their heads — the slave who flees from his master, until he returns; and the woman who disobeys her husband, until she desists from disobeying him. (As reported in the hadith)

How great a place obedience to the husband holds for a woman can be well judged from this saying of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: that it is not permissible for any human to prostrate to another human, but had it been permissible, the wife would have been commanded to prostrate to her husband.

To what extent a woman has been urged to fulfil her husband's natural desires can be judged from this hadith: when a man calls his wife to fulfil his natural need (that is, for intimacy), the wife should come to her husband even if she is at the hearth. (From Tirmidhī)

The warning regarding the husband applies where the wife, despite having no lawful excuse, refuses to come to her husband's bed. From this hadith it is learnt that the husband's displeasure is a cause of Allah's displeasure; and when the husband's displeasure carries such importance in the matter of satisfying natural desires, then consider how much importance it must carry in a religious matter. So love your husband and value his companionship; he is the adornment of life, the support of life, and a great helper and aid on the path of life. Give thanks to Allah Almighty for this great blessing, and value this blessing with all your heart and soul.