How can a woman protect herself from being exploited by her husband when he asks her to work in his business, care for the children, have more children, and carry responsibilities inside and outside the home, while he helps her a little but provides for her only partly? Does she have the right to refuse to work and stay at home, given that he is obliged to provide for her? Or must she obey him as long as he does not ask her to do anything forbidden? And how can she persuade him of the rights Islam has guaranteed her, especially when he is not content with that?

"Allah has made men the maintainers of women for two reasons: a bestowal from Allah, and an acquisition from the man, as in His saying, may He be exalted: ""Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth."" So, Allah's favoring of men with intellect, management, and strength is an indisputable matter, and it is the bestowed matter. As for the acquired matter, it is the husband’s expenditure on his wife, which is obligatory and evidence of his maintainership over her. And the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: ""Fear Allah in regard to women, for you have taken them as a trust from Allah, and you have made their private parts lawful by the word of Allah. And they have a right over you to be provided for and clothed in a reasonable manner."" And among the reasons for the obligation of maintenance on the husband is that the wife is prevented from earning due to her obligations towards her husband, her children, and her home. So, it is obligatory upon the husband to fear Allah and protect the one whom Allah has entrusted to him, and it is not permissible for him to burden his wife with what she cannot bear. Maintenance is obligatory upon him even if she is wealthy. And the role of the woman in her home is great, for she is the one who preserves it and takes care of it, and she fulfills the rights of the husband and children. And it is not obligatory for the woman to work outside the home, especially if it involves exposing her to mixing with strangers and neglecting the duties of the home and children. So, maintenance is obligatory upon the husband by consensus, and he must keep the woman protected and preserved in her home so that she may fulfill what Allah Almighty has obligated upon her.

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