𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 (557)

Treating Your Spouse with Kindness and Fulfilling Marital Rights Question: Respected sheikh: I ask Allah to gather us and you in His mercy. I also hope that He brings unity by way of you and rectifies the situation. There is a woman who has been married to her husband for more than forty years. Both are not present here. The woman prays Taraweeh, fasts voluntary fasts, and is keen to do good deeds. However, for about a year and a half she has had no marital relationship with her husband because she has turned away from him, even though they live in the same home. For more than four months she has not spoken to him, does not ask his permission when going out or returning, and does not care about him in front of their children. She may even mock him and speak badly about him. Is this allowed for her? Is she sinful for doing this? What must she do now? What should her husband do? And if the husband falls into something sinful, would she share in the sin? We ask for advice for her and for women in similar situations who neglect their husbands’ rights while still doing some good deeds. Sheikh Uthaymeen rahimahullah: It is obligatory for both husband and wife to treat each other kindly, as Allah says: “Live with them in kindness.” If a woman turns away from her husband and does not give him his rights, or gives them unwillingly and with resentment, she is considered disobedient (nashizah). Allah says: "If you sense ill-conduct from your women, advise them ˹first˺, ˹if they persist,˺ do not share their beds, ˹but if they still persist,˺ then discipline them. But if they change their ways, do not be unjust to them. Surely Allah is Most High, All-Great." The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said that if a husband calls his wife to his bed and she refuses, the angels curse her until morning. We seek refuge in Allah from that. Therefore, this woman must fear Allah regarding herself and her husband. She should return to treating him properly and remember their past life together. She should not deny the good he has done for her. Being ungrateful to one’s husband is one of the reasons for entering the Hellfire. The Prophet once addressed women and said that he saw that most of the people of Hell were women because they often curse and are ungrateful to their husbands. Scholars explained that being ungrateful to the husband means denying his rights and not fulfilling them. So this woman should fear Allah in the remainder of her life. Perhaps only a short time remains for her with her husband. She should return to her marriage and do good for her husband and their children. When children see distance and coldness between their parents, it can affect them deeply. This advice is for this woman and for others like her. At the same time, men must also fear Allah concerning their wives, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) advised during his farewell sermon at ‘Arafah. He said: “Fear Allah regarding women, for you have taken them as a trust from Allah and made their intimacy lawful by the word of Allah.” So it is the duty of both husband and wife to treat one another with kindness. Source: https://t.me/womensbenefits/1489