What are the Duties of a Wife in Islam?

A woman has significantly less rights under Islamic law than in secular societies.

The marriage is not a partnership of equals in Islam, and women have significantly less rights than men. For example, according to the Revival, a website for Muslim youth, a husband has a right to sexual intimacy with his wife and the wife cannot refuse him. Even though many Western people may not agree with this inequality of sexes, this is the accepted state of affairs in most Muslim societies.

Obedience and Gratefulness

According to Islam, it is a sign of a righteous woman that she obeys her husband in all matters. Some Islamic scholars even compare disobedient wives to slaves who desert their masters, both the slave and the woman will not be able to send prayers to Allah. In addition, the wife needs to show her gratitude to the husband, complimenting the husband for his acts.

Ask Permission

According to the Koran, Islam's holy book, Allah bestowed the power of authority to the husband and so the wife in Islam should always ask permission from the husband whenever she leaves the house to visit friends or goes shopping. She also should seek permission to invite anyone to the house. With this regard, prophet Muhammad observed, "It is not lawful for a woman who believes in Allah to invite a man into her house whose visit is disapproved of by her husband, or that she should go out of her house without her husband's will or that she should obey the will of someone else in opposition to her husband's wishes."

Fullfill Husband's Desires

It is the duty of a wife in Islam to fulfill all her husband's needs and wants. According to the Prophet Muhammad, the angels send curses on wives who refuse to fulfill their husband's urges.

Look After Husband's Wealth

In Islam, the wife must look after the household. She should not be wasteful and should not squander her husband's money.

Look After Children

Another responsibility of the wife is to look after the children of her husband. In addition to teaching the children, she also needs to develop the Islamic identity in them. Prophet Mohammad said, "The wife is the guardian and is responsible for her husband's house and offspring."

References

• DUATT: The Duties of the Wife in Islam
• The Revival: Rights & Responsibilities of Husband and Wife