Rights of Husbands Obedience to Husbands

A wife is fully responsible for responding to the husband’s acceptable desires, and avoiding any matter that harms him, such as leaving the house before obtaining his permission, spending his wealth wastefully, neglecting the domestic duties, and the like matters.

Imam al-Baqir narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him and his household) answered the woman who asked him about the husbands’ rights against their wives by saying: “Women should obey and avoid defying their husbands. They should not give alms out of the husbands’ wealth before obtaining their permission, avoid observing fasting recommendably before they obtain their permission, respond to their sexual call every time and in every manner, even if they were on the backs of camels, and not leave their houses before obtaining their permission. If they do, they are cursed by the angels of the heavens, angels of the earth, angels of wrath, and angels of mercy until they come back to their houses.”

The woman then asked: “God’s Messenger, who is the owner of the greatest right against man?” The Prophet (peace be upon him and his household) answered: “His father is.”

She asked: “Who is the owner of the greatest right against woman?” The Prophet (peace be upon him and his household) answered: “Her husband is.”¹

Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.) narrated that a woman, whose husband had ordered her not to leave her house until he would be back from his journey, sent a messenger to the Prophet (peace be upon him and his household) to ask him a permission to visit her diseased father.

“No,” answered the Prophet (peace be upon him and his household), “She should sit in her house and obey her husband.”

As her father became intensely ill, she sent a messenger to the Prophet (peace be upon him and his household) asking for permission to visit him.

“No,” answered the Prophet (peace be upon him and his household), “She should sit in her house and obey her husband.”

As her father was dead, she sent a messenger to the Prophet (peace be upon him and his household) asking for permission to attend his funeral ceremony.

“No,” answered the Prophet (peace be upon him and his household), “She should sit in her house and obey her husband.”

When her father was buried, the Prophet (peace be upon him and his household) sent a messenger to tell her that Allah forgave her father and her because of her observance of the obedience to her husband.²

Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.) said: “As for any wife who passes a night while her husband is angry with her for a question in which he is right, her prayers will not be admissible unless her husband is pleased with her.”³

* Adopted from the book: "Matrimonial Rights" by: "Sayyid Mahdi al-Sadr"

^{1- Quoted from al-Wafi; 12/114 (as quoted from al-Faqih and al-Kafi).
2- Quoted from al-Wafi; part 12 page 115 (as quoted from al-Kafi).
3- Quoted from al-Wafi; 12/114 (as quoted from al-Faqih and al-Kafi).}