The Wife’s Rights In An Islamic Marriage

In an Islamic marriage, the wife has certain rights in Islam, be it wife’s financial rights or a number of non-economic rights, which the husband must fulfill. Below are all the Islamic marriage rights a muslim wife has.

The husband must be generous with regard to his wife’s expenses (Quran 65:7, Bukhari Hadith 1295, Muslim Hadith 1628).

1 – Dower (Mahr/Sadaq): A Rightful Gift for the Wife

The husband must give his wife a dower in order for the marriage to be valid (Quran 4:4, 4:24).

The dower belongs entirely to the wife alone.

2 – Financial Support (Nafaqah): Providing for Basic Needs

The wife has the right to receive suitable housing, sufficient food, clothing, and hygiene and beauty products from the husband.

The husband must spend money on his wife according to his means, without extravagance or stinginess. (Quran 65:7). Providing for one’s wife is not a favor but a duty that he must fulfill toward his wife with kindness, as the Quran clearly states (Quran 4:4).

1 – Kindness and Affection: The Foundation of a Happy Marriage

In general, the husband has an obligation to be kind and gentle toward his wife (Quran 4:19). He must also demonstrate a good character and affection in words and deeds, and accept occasional mistakes or oversights (Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 1162, Hadith 2612 and 3895).

The husband must tolerate his wife’s errors, failings, and faults as long as they do not have to do with religion (Muslim, Hadith 1468). The husband is not allowed to harm or torment his wife unjustly or without reason (Quran 2-231) (Muslim Hadith 2577). 

The wife has a right to intimate relations, which the husband must fulfill (Bukhari Hadith 1975, Muslim Hadith 1159).

2 – Freedom From Abuse: A Wife’s Right to Safety

In general, the husband must not harm or do wrong to his wife unjustly or without reason (Quran 2:231, Bukhari Hadith 3331, Muslim Hadith 1468).

Islam insists upon uprightness and honesty in relations between Muslims who belong to the Islamic Ummah (Muslim Hadith 2577, Ibn Majah Hadith 2341).

3 – Defending Her Honor: A Husband’s Duty to Protect His Wife

When a Muslim man marries a woman, she becomes his “honor” which he must obstinately defend, even at the risk of being killed in doing so (Tirmidhi Hadith 1421, Abou Dawoud Hadith 4772).

4 – Keeping Promises: The Importance of Fulfilling Marriage Contract Conditions

If the wife includes a clause or condition in her marriage contract, for example, asking for particular expenses, and the husband agrees to the condition, he must meet the obligation because the marriage contract is one of the most important agreements (Quran 5:1, Bukhari, Hadith 2721, Muslim Hadith 1418)..

5 – Islamic Guidance and Education: A Husband’s Responsibility

Ideally, the husband guides and directs the members of his family to correctly and continuously follow Islamic values and practices.

He should encourage obedience to Allah’s عزّ وجلّ commandments, particularly through teaching and discussion (Quran 66:6, Bukhari Hadith 2409).

6 – Maintaining Confidentiality: Protecting Marital Privacy

The husband must not disclose his private relations with his wife, her intimate secrets or the couple’s secrets to others (Bukhari Hadith 1437).

7 – Equality and Respect in Polygamy

In the case of polygamous marriages, Fiqh experts have emphasized each spouse’s right to equally share nights. Thus, if the first wife has a co-wife, it is the husband’s duty to show fairness in his behavior, manner of acting and amount of spending, in general (Quran 4:3).

Learn more about The husband’s obligations towards his wife in an Islamic marriage.