Are you a Muslim wife and want to know the rights of a wife over your husband? There is a misconception that Islam doesn’t give proper rights to women. Islam gives too many rights to a wife over a husband in marriage life. Even before the marriage, the decision of husband selection.
Before Islam, there were no good rules and rights for women. Ignorance and Cruelty were everywhere in the societies. Daughters were buried alive at a young age because they were born female. It was such a shameful cruel act of the past before Islam. This article explains the rights of wives in the light of the Quran and Hadith.
I will discuss all the fundamental rights of a Muslim wife over her Husband in Islam with the help of Islamic Shareeha.
Read more: Husband Rights in Islam
Wife Rights Over Her Husband in Islam
1. The Decision of Life Partner (Before Marriage Right)
Islam gives equal rights to both genders in the selection of partners. When a child goes to a younger age, he/she gets to know right and wrong. He/she is now mature and in life, they have the ability to make opinions about the things happening. Their opinion depends upon the nourishment, education, company, and culture of society. So, if a boy or girl is mature in terms of these qualities of maturity then, Islam gives her the right to select a partner which is according to her personal will and requirements.
Allah says: Meaning (مفہوم) is, “husband and wife are dresses of each other”. As a young mature person selects his/her dress according to their will, then it is clear according to Islam that they can make a selection of partner according to their desire and need.
Prophet (PBUH): Prophet (PBUH) that all marriages and my daughter’s marriages were according to Allah’s order and permitting. Prophet (PBUH) asked her daughter Hazrat Fatima before the marriage with Hazrat Ali (R.A). Thus Prophet gave us the message that we have to ask the desire of your daughter about marriage.
In Islam, a boy, and girl who are going to marry say, I accept him/her three times, not their parents or any other person can say at the time of Nikah. They are not enforced by someone. So, they are allowed to select a life partner by themself. Although a parent’s suggestion is involved it is better because they are experienced and know well about the people and their background.
2. Right of Equality
“And they (women) have rights similar to those (of men) over them in kindness, and men are a degree above them. Allah is Mighty, Wise.” [Quran 2, 228].
Islam gives equal rights but their duties are different. Their rights to eating, wearing, praying, and all other domestic affairs at home are equal. Their duties like providing accommodation, food, and dress are not the same. A man has a degree above because of his hard duties and responsibilities. He is the head of the whole family and can make decisions on his own. We can’t regret this right given to the husband by Almighty Allah.
3. Right of Heritance
“Unto the men (of a family) belongeth a share of that which parents and near kindred leave, and unto the women a share of that which parents and near kindred leave, whether it be little or much – a legal share.” [Surah Nisa, 7].
This is a well-appreciated rule of Islam given to a woman. She is eligible to take from her father’s property and from her husband’s property. When a woman is a wife she has 1/8 of the husband’s property to take.
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4. Man Can’t Force Marriage
“O ye who believe! It is not lawful for you forcibly to inherit the women.” [Nisa, 19]. Islam doesn’t encourage forcibly marrying a woman who does not agree. It is necessary for a man to first make sure that she has agreed to marry him. Also, at Nikah’s time, it is necessary to ask both about their will. If three times they accept, then their Nikah is valid according to Shareeha, otherwise not.
5. Right of Mahr
Mahr (dowry) is an amount of currency, property, jewelry, or any other gift agreed upon by both sides (boy and wife) at the time of Nikah. It is a right that the man is obliged to pay her wife. The wife can demand whenever she wants or can forgive it.
“And give unto the women (whom ye marry) free gift of their marriage portions; but if they of their own accord remit unto you a part thereof, then ye are welcome to absorb it (in your wealth).” [Nisa, 4].
Keep in mind that if the marriage contract is done without any mention of the mahr, then still it is valid.
“There is no sin on you, if you divorce women while yet you have not touched (had sexual relation with) them, nor appointed unto them their Mahr (bridal-money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage)” [al-Baqarah, 236].
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6. Can’t Take Back Mahr
“And if ye wish to exchange one wife for another and ye have given unto one of them a sum of money (however great), take nothing from it. Would ye take it by the way of calumny and open wrong?” [Nisa, 20].
7. Right of Respect and Kindness
“and live with them honorably” [Nisa 19].
“Prophet (PBUH) said: “Be kind to women.” [Bukhari 3153, Muslim 1468].
The Prophet (SAW) said: “The most perfect Muslim in the matter of faith is one who has excellent behavior, and the best among you are those who behave best towards their wives.” [Mishkat].
In a hadith Holy Prophet (PBUH) said: “I entreat you to treat women well for they have been created from a rib and the most crooked part of a rib is the upper part. If you insist on straightening it, you will break it. If you leave it, it will remain crooked. So, I entreat you to treat women well.” [Bukhari, 5186].
8. Right of Taking Divorce (Khula)
Yes, it is the right of the wife that she can take a divorce(khula) if she is not happy with her husband or for any other harmful reason. After that, she can remarry to another person. She has to complete a time period called (iddat) before remarrying. Such a beautiful right of a woman Islam offers. But a woman must be aware when acting upon this right.
She can be concerned with the court for divorce (khula). She has to return the gifts taken by her husband if he demands them.
You should also know: Is Mutah(temporary marriage) allowed in Islam?
9. Right of Secret Keeping
Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: “The most wicked among the people in the eye of Allah on the Day of judgment is the men who go to his wife and she comes to him, and then he divulges her secret.” [Muslim, 3542].
10. Spending on Wife
“but the father of the child shall bear the cost of the mother’s food and clothing on a reasonable basis“ [al-Baqarah, 2:233].
In Islam, it is mandatory for a woman to spend her life with her husband and his children. In this way, she is not responsible for the arrangement of food, accommodation, and dress. She couldn’t do any job without her husband’s permission, that’s why it is the responsibility of her husband to spend money and provide all the necessary things for his family.
“Let him who hath abundance spend of his abundance, and he whose provision is measured, let him spend of that which Allah hath given him. Allah asketh naught of any soul save that which He hath given it. Allah will vouchsafe, after hardship, ease.” [Talaq, 7].
“The one who strives for the sake of his family is like the one who struggles in the way of Allah.” [Quran].
“You will be rewarded for whatever you spend for Allah’s sake even if it were a morsel which you put in your wife’s mouth.” [Sahih al-Bukhari].
Prophet once said: “Take what is sufficient for you and your children, on a reasonable basis.” If your wife asks you to get her something and you can’t get it, say I’ll get it Insha’Allah.
11. Accommodation, Food, and Dress
It was narrated that ‘Ayesha said: “Hind bint ‘Utbah, the wife of Abu Sufyaan, entered upon the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, Abu Sufyaan is a stingy man who does not spend enough on me and my children, except for what I take from his wealth without his knowledge. Is there any sin on me for doing that?’ The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Take from his wealth on a reasonable basis, only what is sufficient for you and your children.” [Bukhaari, 5049; Muslim, 1714].
A place to live, food, and dress are three basic financial rights of a wife that the husband is bound to provide for her wife. The Standard of these things depends upon the financial condition of the husband. If the husband is rich then he should provide high-standard quality food and dress. And if the husband is not rich, then he should do according to his financial status.
In this modern life, there are too many other things that are necessary for a human. Like mobile, internet, AC room, and other modern society requirements that were not present in the Prophet’s (SAW) life. So, now Muslim scholars say that these things are also included in the obligation of the husband if she needs them. It will be called “Ehsan” on the wife.
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12. Sexual Rights
People hesitate to tell you about this right? Perhaps, it is the most important right of both genders in marriage life.
Islam emphasized more number of births of children. Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: “Marry an affectionate woman who gives birth to many children, for I will vie in glory with the prophets (or he said with the other nations) because of your number (on the Day of Judgment).” [Abu Daawood and An-Nasaa’i]. So it is not possible without this right. It is a need of every young human.
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Marry those who are loving and fertile, for I will be proud of your great numbers before the other nations” [saheeh by al-Albaani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, 1784].
13. No Harming
No doubt this is a universal right for every living but especially for a wife. Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “A believer must not hate (his wife) believing woman; if he dislikes one of her characteristics he will be pleased with another.” [Muslim].
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said “Fear Allah concerning women! Verily you have taken them on the security of Allah, and intercourse with them has been made lawful unto you by words of Allah.” [Muslim].
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14. Equality Between Co-wives
In Islam, a man can have more than one wife. In such a situation, it is mandatory for a man to treat both wives equally.
The husband should spend nights with every wife equally.
Lessons of Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) Life:
- A husband should help his wife in Domestic Affairs
- Helping wife in cooking
- Helping her in children’s matters
- Loving and Respecting her
- Appreciating her good deeds
- Admiring her beauty
- Act patiently
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