The Ruling on a Wife Serving Her Husband
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Question:
This is a questioner from Sudan who sent this message in his own style. He says in this question: "Your Eminence! Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings. The question: We have a sister in Allah who is one of the women who call to Allah to the extent of her simple knowledge of the Shari'ah. She is a university graduate and has married one of the brothers. After a period of marriage, the sister in question came up with the idea that a wife's obedience in serving her husband in the home is not obligatory for the woman; rather, the only thing obligatory for her is the bed. So she does not cook, does not sweep the house, and does not do any of the tasks. She insisted on her opinion, and the brothers advised her many times, but to no avail. She says that she wants a fatwa from Your Eminence, Shaykh 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn Baz, on this matter. They had already contacted her directly to advise and guide her, so she asked you for direction. May Allah reward you with good."
Answer:
It is obligatory for the wife to obey her husband and to treat him with kindness, just as he treats her with kindness. Allah the Exalted said: [Surat al-Nisa: 19] And Allah the Exalted said: [Surat al-Baqarah: 228].
So it is obligatory for her to obey him regarding the bed and his need for her. It is also obligatory for her to serve him with the customary service that someone like her would provide to someone like him. If someone like her is served, then he must serve her. If someone like her does not serve in the custom of their country, where they serve their wives, then she must serve him; because these are matters of custom that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) left open and the Qur’an left open: [Surat al-Nisa: 19] [Surat al-Baqarah: 228].
So if she is from a family where the women are served and do not serve, he should serve her if he is able. And if it is their custom that she serves her husband and attends to the needs of the house, such as cooking and the like, then she must do so. The wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) served him in his house; they served him (peace and blessings be upon him) in his home and prepared food and necessities for him. They are the noblest of women, may Allah be pleased with them and grant them satisfaction.
So it is obligatory for the woman to fulfill her duty, to serve him in his house, and to provide him with the customary food, drink, clothing, and the like, unless it has become established in the town and known in the town that someone like her does not serve, but is served in matters related to cooking and the like; in that case, he should bring her a maid if it is feasible, if he is able to do so. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh.
This is a questioner from Sudan who sent this message in his own style. He says in this question: "Your Eminence! Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings. The question: We have a sister in Allah who is one of the women who call to Allah to the extent of her simple knowledge of the Shari'ah. She is a university graduate and has married one of the brothers. After a period of marriage, the sister in question came up with the idea that a wife's obedience in serving her husband in the home is not obligatory for the woman; rather, the only thing obligatory for her is the bed. So she does not cook, does not sweep the house, and does not do any of the tasks. She insisted on her opinion, and the brothers advised her many times, but to no avail. She says that she wants a fatwa from Your Eminence, Shaykh 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn Baz, on this matter. They had already contacted her directly to advise and guide her, so she asked you for direction. May Allah reward you with good."
Answer:
It is obligatory for the wife to obey her husband and to treat him with kindness, just as he treats her with kindness. Allah the Exalted said:
And live with them in kindness
وَعَاشِرُوهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِAnd due to the wives is similar to what is expected of them, according to what is reasonable. But the men have a degree over them [in responsibility and authority].
وَلَهُنَّ مِثْلُ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَلِلرِّجَالِ عَلَيْهِنَّ دَرَجَةٌSo it is obligatory for her to obey him regarding the bed and his need for her. It is also obligatory for her to serve him with the customary service that someone like her would provide to someone like him. If someone like her is served, then he must serve her. If someone like her does not serve in the custom of their country, where they serve their wives, then she must serve him; because these are matters of custom that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) left open and the Qur’an left open:
And live with them in kindness
وَعَاشِرُوهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِAnd due to the wives is similar to what is expected of them, according to what is reasonable
وَلَهُنَّ مِثْلُ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِSo if she is from a family where the women are served and do not serve, he should serve her if he is able. And if it is their custom that she serves her husband and attends to the needs of the house, such as cooking and the like, then she must do so. The wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) served him in his house; they served him (peace and blessings be upon him) in his home and prepared food and necessities for him. They are the noblest of women, may Allah be pleased with them and grant them satisfaction.
So it is obligatory for the woman to fulfill her duty, to serve him in his house, and to provide him with the customary food, drink, clothing, and the like, unless it has become established in the town and known in the town that someone like her does not serve, but is served in matters related to cooking and the like; in that case, he should bring her a maid if it is feasible, if he is able to do so. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.