How do we reconcile the wife's obligation to obey her husband, even if her parents are ill and need care and her husband prevents her from doing so, with Ibn Hazm's saying that it is obligatory to care for needy parents?
Ibn Hazm's statement that a son is not permitted to leave if his parents are in need of his service has been used to argue against a son going to work far from his mother if she needs him, as this would deprive her of her right. As for the daughter, obedience to her husband is more emphasized than obedience to her parents. Ibn Hazm believes that the right of parents is more obligatory than the right of the husband and wife, based on the Almighty's saying: "Give thanks to Me and to your parents." However, the adopted fatwa is that the wife must obey her husband, and her obedience takes precedence over the obedience of her parents in matters that do not involve disobedience to the Creator, even if her parents are in need of care and her husband forbids her.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/84255