Fatwa ID: 06959
Answered by: Maulana Ubaidur Rahman
Question:
I’m currently researching the rights of both partners in marriage. And from what I gathered is that men have a degree of responsibility over their wives.
Now to my question: If the man cannot protect his wife physically, is he allowed to marry?
To give some context:
I’m 22 years of age and I’m 5’2, I workout regularly, and I have some experience in Mixed Martial Arts. Through that experience, I’ve come to the realization that no matter what I do I’m at a massive disadvantage due to my height.
God has blessed me with some very good foresight and therefore I’m good at preventing incidents. But I doubt my ability to physically deal with incidents that can’t be accounted for (muggings, assaults, break-ins, or even someone imposing insulting my wife and her honour) if it comes to it.
I’m trying to work on myself to be the best husband I can be. But I feel severely limited in this aspect.
I have no problem with that if it was only me, but if it came to protecting my wife or even kids, I feel like I’m lacking an essential part of being a father and a husband.
What is the ruling on such an issue? and do you have any advice on dealing with it?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
A husband in Islam has certain duties to fulfil for his wife in Islam. He needs to provide her accommodation, food and clothing. These are the main requisites for his provision for the wife. This is in terms of physical provision.
Spiritually it is an ongoing process of purification and rejuvenation. As Muslims, we need to be constantly on awareness for keeping our spiritual self proper and structured.
Allah mentions in the Quraan,
الرِّجَالُ قَوَّامُونَ عَلَى النِّسَاءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ بَعْضَهُمْ
عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ[1]
Translation: “Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others.”
The Prophet (SAW) says in a hadeeth,
“Men are the guardians of their families and it is the responsibility of every guardian to guard those who fall under his own guardianship[2].”
We pray to Allah for goodness in all of our actions and endeavours. He is the All-Knowing, All-Wise. No one has knowledge of everything, Allah is the possessor and owner of All Knowledge and he gives small portions of it to whichever servant he wishes.
We ask Allah for protection from every form of harm both in this world and the hereafter, from the things and bodies which can be seen and those which are unseen.
It is a very commendable action for working on yourself and continuously trying to improve yourself, this is the best position for an individual to be in. Pray to Allah that we can become better in every single way and that Allah protects you and everyone from harm.
Only Allah Knows best.
Written by Maulana Ubaidur Rahman
Checked and Approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah.
Darul Ifta Birmingham.
[1] Surah an-Nasaai, 34:4.
[2] Mustadrak Hakim, volume 2, page 550
