Is a wife's service to her husband's home and preparation of food legally obligatory upon her, or is it considered a voluntary act?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The correct view among scholars is that it is obligatory for the wife to serve her husband in household chores. They cite as evidence the judgment of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, between Ali and Fatimah, and the actions of Asma, may Allah be pleased with her, and because custom has established this practice, and because the woman is a 'aniyah (captive) to her husband. It is inconceivable for the husband to be the servant to his wife, as this contradicts the husband's guardianship (qawamah) which the Qur'an explicitly states.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/36364
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 36364
- 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