In the blessed religion of Islam, a family is an institution of utmost significance. It stresses a peaceful and loving environment in the family. The individuals who influence the environment of and bonding among the family most are the husband and wife. Therefore, Allah Subhana Wa Ta’ala commands the pair to treat each other with respect and give each other their due rights. Allah says:
وَإِنْ أَرَدتُّمُ اسْتِبْدَالَ زَوْجٍ مَّكَانَ زَوْجٍ وَآتَيْتُمْ إِحْدَاهُنَّ قِنطَارًا فَلَا تَأْخُذُوا مِنْهُ شَيْئًا أَتَأْخُذُونَهُ بُهْتَانًا وَإِثْمًا مُّبِينًا
“And if you intend replacing a wife (in) place (of) a wife and you have given one of the heaps (of gold) then (do) not take away from it anything. Would you take it (by) slander and a sin open?” (Surah An-Nisa` 4:20)
Islam honours women as wives. Islam urges the husband to treat his wife in a good and kind manner and says that the wife has rights over the husband like his rights over her. Women, at the time of marriage, are entitled to receive a certain amount of money from their husbands. It is set at the time or before the marriage contract and can be given either at the time of marriage or sometime later. Allah says:
وَيَا آدَمُ اسْكُنْ أَنتَ وَزَوْجُكَ الْجَنَّةَ فَكُلَا مِنْ حَيْثُ شِئْتُمَا وَلَا تَقْرَبَا هَٰذِهِ الشَّجَرَةَ فَتَكُونَا مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
“And O Adam! Dwell, you and your wife, (in) the Garden, and you both eat from wherever you both wish, but (do) not approach [both of you] this [the] tree lest you both be among the wrongdoers.” (Surah Al-A`raf 7:19)
Here are some of the rights of a Muslim wife upon her husband:
- Financial Rights (Living Expenses): “And give to the women their Mahr (obligatory bridal-money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage) with a good heart.” (al-Nisaa’ 4:4)
- Spending on the Wife: “Let the rich man spend according to his means; and the man whose resources are restricted, let him spend according to what Allaah has given him.” (al-Talaaq 65:7)
- Kind treatment: “and live with them honourably.” (al-Nisaa’ 4:19)
- Not Beating or Harming the wife: Islam gives women huge respect and the greatest of that is not to beat or Harm the wife. Narrated from Ubaadah ibn al-Saamit that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “There should be no harming nor reciprocating harm.” (Narrated by Ibn Maajah, (2340)
- Just treatment among co-wives: This is the right of the wife that she and her co-wives should be treated equally, if the husband has more than one wife, about nights spent with them, spending and clothing.
- Protector of Women: Allah says: “Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has made one of them to excel the other, and because they spend (to support them) from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient (to Allah and their husbands), and guard in the husband’s absence what Allah orders them to guard (e.g. their chastity and their husband’s property)….” (4:34)
- The Right to spend her own money: “And if you divorce them before you have touched them, and you have appointed unto them the Mahr (bridal money) then pay half of that (Mahr), unless the women agree to forego it…”(al-Baqarah 2:237)
- Kind and Loving Treatment
- Do not let your life get boring
- Have a fun relationship with her
Rights of a Muslim wife:
- A woman can remarry after her divorce or at the death of her husband
- A wife has the right to take Khula (separation) from her husband
- A husband should help his wife in domestic affairs
- A husband helps her at home for no due reason
- Every husband is responsible for providing his wife with food clothing and shelter
- A husband should not lack in praising the qualities of his wife, in front of her, others
- A husband should help selfishly devote himself towards his wife, giving her unconditional love
- A husband has no right to stop his wife from visiting her parent’s house or close family or to keep
Whatever salary a woman receives is her property, which she may use wherever she wants. She does not have to give any of it to her husband or contribute to household expenses with her husband. Because spending on the wife and children is obligatory upon her husband, even if the wife is rich unless it has been agreed in the marriage contract that the Husband may take from the wife’s Salary then the wife has to give her Salary. Allah says:
وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا تُقْسِطُوا فِي الْيَتَامَىٰ فَانكِحُوا مَا طَابَ لَكُم مِّنَ النِّسَاءِ مَثْنَىٰ وَثُلَاثَ وَرُبَاعَ فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا فَوَاحِدَةً أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰ أَلَّا تَعُولُوا
“And if you fear that not you will be able to do with the orphans, then marry what seems suitable to you from the women two, or three, or four. But if you fear that not you can do justice then (marry) one or what possesses your right hand. That (is) more appropriate that you (may) not oppress.” (Surah an-Nisa 4:3)
Do not let your life get boring. It is advisable for a man to keep the marital life fun and lively. The woman, who makes his home and takes care of his children, deserves to have a fun relationship with her husband. Thus proven, Islam gives women enough rights as a religion, it is then up to us, as men, to further their rights and help them attain the level of equality they deserve – because it is they who bear much trouble to make our lives happier and more comfortable.
