Back to search
The question

Is a wife sinful for not performing special services for her husband, such as cleaning his shoes, ironing his clothes, and serving food, while she does the cooking, laundry, and cleaning?

Share this answer

Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 20261 min readAlso available in العربية
The answer

Scholars have differed concerning the obligation of a wife to serve her husband. The preponderant opinion (mufta bihi) is that it is obligatory according to what is customary (bil-ma'ruf). Therefore, it is not permissible for the wife to refuse it as long as she is under his marital bond and he fulfills her rights. The reference for this is custom ('urf), and whatever people have commonly agreed upon regarding a wife's service to her husband is obligatory upon her. Ibn Taymiyyah said: "Service is obligatory according to what is customary, so she must serve him with the known service from one like her to one like him, and this varies according to circumstances." The relationship between spouses should be based on mutual affection, mercy, understanding, patience, and overlooking minor faults.

Summary from Ftawy's records · added here

Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.

Read the full answer on Ftawy
Where this answer came from
Source platform
Ftawy
Original fatwa ID
108213
Added here
. This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
Text
Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full ruling
Read the full answer on Ftawy