What is the ruling on a mother serving the home and performing all household chores, such as preparing daily meals and cleaning the house, especially if she is a doctor and holds a demanding medical position, and the children are students with no source of income other than their parents?

Scholars have differed regarding the obligation of a wife to serve her husband. The majority of them hold that it is not obligatory. However, what is fatwa-compliant (mufta bihi) according to us is the obligation of service in a reasonable manner (bi’l-ma‘rūf). The reference for this is custom (‘urf). So, whatever is customary for a wife to do for her husband is incumbent upon her.

Ibn Taymiyyah mentioned that the correct view is the obligation of service in a reasonable manner, and that it varies according to circumstances. Ibn ‘Uthaymeen also stated that the required service is determined by custom.

A wife is not required to earn money to spend on the household, and she is not permitted to go out for work except with her husband’s permission. The husband is obligated to provide for his wife and children. The foundation of the marital relationship is affection, mercy, and mutual understanding.