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Fatwa CenterA husband obliging his wife to perform supererogatory acts of worship
Question
what is the ruling on extremism in Islam ? is it halal to force someone to do sunnah/nawfil acts like asking/forcing her to pray nawfil prayers like tahjjud etc ? is a wife responsible if her husband does haraam ? how should she correct him ? what if he do not listen to her ? pls answer in great detail covering all the related topics Jazakallahukahir
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
Islam is a moderate religion and it is Allaah's religion which lies between those who exceed the proper bounds and those who are negligent. Indeed, extremism is dispraised and it is a characteristic of the people who evoked Allaah’s anger and those who went stray. Allaah Says (what means): {O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allaah except the truth.} [Quran 4:171] Moreover, it is confirmed that ‘Abdullaah Ibn Mas’ood 
reported the Prophet as saying: “The people who exaggerate are ruined (and he repeated this thrice).” [Muslim] For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 133994.
Besides, it is not permissible for a husband to oblige his wife to perform Nafl (supererogatory) acts of worship and she is not obligated to obey him in this regard. Nonetheless, he should encourage her in a soft and gentle manner to do so.
Moreover, a wife is not held accountable for the sins of her husband if she was not the cause of these sins or did not help him in doing them, as no bearer of burden bears the burden of the other; for more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 90294.
However, she should endeavor to rectify him by advising him in a good and gentle manner hoping that Allaah will enable her to be the reason of his guidance.
It is confirmed that the Prophet said to ‘Ali Ibn Abi Taalib : “If Allaah guides one single man (to Islam) through you, it would be better for you than possessing the red camels (i.e. the most precious breed of camels).” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Finally, if a wife advises her husband about his acts of disobedience, and he does not listen to her nor does he take heed, then she would have done what is required from her, as she only has to give D’awah to him; Allaah Says (what means): {So is there upon the messengers except [the duty of] clear notification?} [Quran 16:35] Allaah also Says (what means): {So remind [O Muhammad ]; you are only a reminder. You are not over them a controller.} [Quran 88:21-22]
Allaah Knows best.
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