The Rights of Wife

Worldwide Islam is the only religion that has given women the extent of respect they have long needed but never before had. Islam recognized her as a queen, someone to be cherished, looked after, and guarded, and it granted her rights and set her free from the past oppression she had experienced. The last Prophet (S.A.W) emphasized to the men’s of Muslim community "Fear Allah in regards to your females, that you had taken them from Allah as a trust," during the fabled sermon in the Pilgrimage Farewell on the Arafah day. Many hadiths and verses from the Quran stress the importance of treating women with kindness and justice.

There are several rights of wife’s given below;

1.    Financial Rights

A.   Wife's First Financial Right the Mahr (dowry)

When the marriage is consummated or the marriage contract is fulfilled, the wife will receive this money from her husband. The man is required to grant his wife this right. (Analysis of what Allah says)

And with a good heart, give the women their Mahr (the compulsory wedding gift given at the marriage time to his wife by the husband). (Sura Al-Nisa in 4:4)

The mahr prescription serves as a sign of respect and honour for the woman while also illustrating the gravity and significance of the contract of marriage. The majority of judges believe that the mahr is a result of the contract of marriage rather than a requirement or essential component. The majority holds that even if the mahr is not mentioned in the marriage contract, it is still legally binding because Allah says:

There is no crime on you if you give divorce to the women while you had no sexual relations with) them or the Mahr appointed unto them. (Al-Baqara 2:2 36)

It is acceptable to omit the mahr from the marriage contract because divorce is allowed prior to fulfilment of the union or prior to the mahr is agreed upon. In the event that the mahr is stipulated, the husband is obligated to pay it; in the absence of a stipulated mahr, he is required to pay the mahr accorded to women with comparable status to his wife.

B       B. Finances.

Islam's scholars all agree that husbands must spend money on their wives as long as the wives are willing to be of service to their husbands. She does not have the right to that spending if she rejects him or rebels.

The woman is only available to her husband due to the terms of their contract of marriage, and she is not permitted to leave the matrimonial home without his consent, which makes spending money on her mandatory. In exchange for her making herself available to him for his pleasure, he must spend money on her and provide for her.

Spending here refers to meeting the wife's needs for food and lodging. Even if she is wealthy, she is still entitled to these benefits because Allah states: "but the child’s father shall carry the cost of the mother's clothing and food on fairly basis. (Sura Al-Baqarah 2:2 33)

Rich people should live within their means, and those with limited resources should make the most of what Allah has given them. (Sura Al-Talaq 65:7)

The wife of Abu Sufyan, Hind bint 'Utbah, had complained to the last Prophet (S.A.W) that his husband did not spend enough on her. The Prophet responded, "Take what is enough for you and your childs, on a regular basis."

According to Jabir, the Prophet of Allah (PBUH) narrated in his address of farewell:

Be afraid of Allah for women! Your relationship with them has been legalized for you by Allah's words, and you have taken them on the security of His protection. They should respect your right to privacy by not letting people into your home or letting them sit on your bed if you don't like them. However, you should not reprimand them severely if they do that. They have the right to expect that you will take care of their needs for food and clothing. (Muslim, 1218; narrator)

C     C.  Arrangements.

The husband must make accommodations for her in accordance with his resources and capacity because this is also an important right of the wife. (Interpretation of what Allah says)

Accommodations for the divorced women should be made where you live, within your means. [Sura Al-Talaq 65:6]

2.  Non-financial rights.

        A.  Treating Co-Wives Fairly.

If the husband have more than one wife, one of a wife's legal prerogatives over her husband is the right to be treated equally with regard to spending, clothing and the nights spent with them.

B      B.  Consideration.

Allah says; The husband should treat his wife well, be kind to her, and provide all things that she should be soft hearted toward him.

The Prophet (PBUH) said: "Be kind to women." Abu Hurayrah narrated this. (Al-Bukhari, 3153; Muslim, 1468).

        C.   How the Prophet (S.A.W) Treated his Wives.

The Prophet (PBUH) showed kindness to his wives in the following instances; he is the best example:

According to 'Aishah, (may Allah be pleased with her), the Prophet of Allah (PBUH) used to pray while seated. Then he recite the Quran while seated until thirty or forty ayahs left, at which point he might stand up and recite them the remaining ayahs. Then he performed ruku and sujud, and in the second rak'ah he would repeat these actions. Upon finishing his prayer, he look at me and if I was awoke, he would chat with me;, he would lie down if I was asleep (Al-Bukhari in 1068).

D.   Not Harming one’s Wife. 

Perhaps one Islam's fundamental tenets is this. Even though actually hurting others is prohibited when done to unknown people, injuring one's wife is even more prohibited.

According to the narration of 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit, the last Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (S.A.W) commanded, "There shouldn't be any hurtful nor recompense harm." (Narrator in Ibn Majah, 2340;)

The Judiciary made several points in this regard, including the prohibition of serious beatings or beating. The Hazrat Muhammad (S.A.W) is narrated by Jabir as having said in his last Sermon:

"Fear Allah with regard to women! Indeed, you had also chosen to take them on the protection of Allah, and He has permitted you to have sexual relations with them through His words. You also have rights over them, therefore they should respect them by not letting people into the residence or letting them sit on your bed which you really do not like. You can correct them if they do this kind of act, but not brutally. Their rights against you are that you must give them appropriate clothes and food. (Muslim's narration: 1218)