Fatwa ID: 05608

Answered by: Shaykh Shafiur Rahman

Question:

My question is, I do understand that if a husband prevents his wife from going out for any reason, she must obey him. But if he prevents her from going out to visit her friends or go shopping even if he has no reason, I know she has to obey him, but is his at least sinful for not letting her go out when he has no real reason? Does the wife at least have the right that her husband allows her to go out when there is no legitimate reason to prevent her? I am just really confused, after marriage is a wife treated like she has emotions like any other human being? Because just like men like to see their friends, so do women, or is that after marriage a wife can be made to feel like a prisoner?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

In Islam, no one has absolute control or rights over another or absolute duty of obedience to another including the husband over the wife. In general, both husband and wife should decide on matters with mutual consultation. However in some matters strictly relating to the family the husband may have the final say where the husband and wife differ. This is because the husband has been put in general charge of the household as ‘caretakers’.

“Men are the protectors and maintainers of women because of what Allah has preferred one with over the other and because of what they spend to support them from their wealth.” [Sûrah an-Nisâ’: 34]

Any decisions that may affect the husband’s or family’s rights should be taken in consultation with the husband. He also has the right that the wife does not allow anyone into his house without his permission.

Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: “It is not lawful for a woman to fast (optional) without the permission of her husband when he is at home; and she should not allow anyone to enter his house except with his permission….” (Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 4899)  

Husbands are commanded to deal justly, kindly and honourably with their wives ensuring their rights etc. are fulfilled “and live with them honourably” [al-Nisaa’ 4:19]

“And they (women) have rights (over their husbands) similar (to those of their husbands) over them to what is reasonable” [al-Baqarah 2:228]

A husband may not prevent his wife from fulfilling her basic needs or from discharging her religious obligations such as maintaining ties with family, relatives or accessing medical care or attending the masjid or pursuing basic Islamic education etc.

Abd Allah ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: “If your wives seek permission from you to go to the Masjid at night, let them.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, no: 827)

In addition, the husband cannot interfere with the personal choices of his wife in food, dress and other general personal habits.

Therefore he should not prevent her from seeing her friends if there is no clear harm to himself or the family in doing so. 

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Shaykh Shafiur Rahman

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham