I said: O Messenger of Allah, what is the right of the wife of any of us over him? He said: "To feed her when you eat, clothe her when you clothe yourself, or when you earn money, do not strike on the face, do not revile, and do not forsake except inside the house

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about the wife's right over her husband, so he mentioned several things including the following: First: Do not favor yourself with food over her; rather, you should feed her whenever you eat. Second: Do not favor yourself with clothing; rather, clothe her when you clothe yourself and when you earn money and have the ability. Third: A wife should not be beaten except for a valid reason and necessity, and if there is a need to discipline her, such as neglecting some of her obligations, the striking must be light and not harmful. Furthermore, the face must never be struck, as it is the most honored and prominent part of the body, containing delicate and noble features. Fourth: Do not insult or say: "May Allah disgrace your face," or attribute it or anything of her body to ugliness, which is the opposite of beauty. This is because Allah Almighty is the One Who shaped the human face and body, and He has perfected everything He created. Criticizing the creation indirectly leads to criticizing the Creator, and we seek refuge in Allah from such an act. Fifth: Do not abandon her except in the bed, and do not physically leave her or move her to another house. This applies to typical instances of abandonment that may occur between spouses.

Benefits

• Keenness of the Companions to know the rights they owe to others and to know their own rights.
• A husband must provide his wife with maintenance, clothes, and accommodation.
• Moral and physical forms of abuse are prohibited.
• An example of the forbidden abuse is saying: You come from a bad tribe, or from a bad family, etc.

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