Husband forcing wife to go out to work
Fatwa No: 91310

Question

Is it appropriate for a good earning income group husband to force his wife to leave house and kids and work to support him for better future? While present gets affected?

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. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

First of all, one should know that in Islam each of the husband and wife are ordained to perform work that suits their physique, and that the husband is obliged to spend on his wife and children, and that the wife is obliged to nurture her children and fulfil her husband's rights.

Therefore, it is not permissible for a husband to oblige his wife to go out to work in order to help him in spending on her and his children, as this is an obligation which Allaah put on him only. Besides, it is not permissible for her to obey him in this, especially if this work involves some prohibitions like mixing and the like, or being neglectful about her obligations like nurturing the children and the like. However, if the work does not involve these religious prohibitions, and doing this work does not lead her to be neglectful about her obligations in cultivating the children and taking care of them, then there is no harm in obeying her husband so that she would help him in worldly matters.

We remind such husband to fear Allaah about his wife, as by doing so, Allaah may facilitate for him means of provision that he would never expect. Allaah Says (what means): {And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine.}[Quran 65:2-3]. It should be noted that the benefit of him preserving his wife from going out and her nurturing her children according to Islamic morals and principles, is a benefit which has no rival of this worldly temporary benefits. If this benefit is spoilt, the whole world would not replace it. On the contrary, this husband should be grateful and thankful to Allaah as his wife is not willing to go out of her home or be neglectful about her housework and taking care of her children.  

Allaah Knows best.

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