Most-asked question

What are a wife's rights in Islam?

15 fatawa in the archive answer questions on this, from 4 South African Darul Iftas (Mufti Online, AskImam, MUBZ, Ibn Masood). Below, each Darul Ifta’s answer is quoted word for word from the opening of one of its fatawa.

Based on the fatawa linked below. Please read the sources and double-check with a Darul Ifta for your situation.

Consult a mufti for your situation. Fatawa SA is a read-only archive and issues no rulings of its own.

What the Darul Iftas say

“Mahr is the right of the wife. After the husband gives the wife the mahr, she is the owner of the wealth and she may use it as she pleases. She does not have to seek her husband's permission to use her wealth.”

Mufti Online — Mahr is the right of the wife · 11 Feb 2019

“1. The husband has a right to request his wife to fulfil his desires whenever he wishes to be intimate with her, unless there is a valid reason that prevents her from intimacy, such as Haidh, Nifaas, being in a state of Ihraam, or, she is physically ill and unable to have relations due to weakness or pain, etc.”

Ibn Masood — Fulfilling the conjugal rights of the wife · 5 Aug 2023

“A wife is entitled to nafaqah (maintenance) when she is staying with the husband. If she separates herself from her husband, she is not entitled to nafaqah.1 In the enquired situation, if the wife owns the house and she makes him leave the house, she will not entitled to nafaqah.2 If the house belongs to the husband, she has no …”

AskImam — Is it the husband’s responsibility to look after his wife and children and cater for their expenses if they separate? · 18 Apr 2016

Quotes are the opening words of each answer as published; the full answer, its conditions and references are on the fatwa page. Answers depend on the exact details of each question.

Read the fatawa

  1. Rights of the wife in Islam Mufti Online · 14 Dec 2025
  2. Husbands Responsibilities During Separation MUBZ · 15 Jun 2024
  3. Fulfilling the conjugal rights of the wife Ibn Masood · 5 Aug 2023
  4. Financial right of the wife AskImam · 27 Jul 2019
  5. Husband spending time with his friends till late and neglecting his wife's rights Mufti Online · 15 Dec 2024
  6. Husband’s responsibility towards parent’s in-law AskImam · 5 Nov 2018
  7. Husband not fulfilling conjugal rights of the wife Mufti Online · 3 Jul 2021
  8. Is it the husband’s responsibility to look after his wife and children and cater for their expenses if they separate? AskImam · 18 Apr 2016
  9. Mahr is the right of the wife Mufti Online · 11 Feb 2019
  10. Husband's and wife's rights AskImam · 16 Dec 2012
  11. Fear of not fulfilling wife's rights Mufti Online · 22 Oct 2017
  12. Rights of the Wife and Parents AskImam · 24 Apr 2008
  13. Boy fearing that he may not be able to fulfil the rights of the wife Mufti Online · 19 Oct 2017
  14. Is it from the wife's rights to demand living in a separate house (away from the husband's family) if the husband can afford it? AskImam · 24 Jun 2004
  15. Husband not fulfilling the conjugal rights of the wife Mufti Online · 19 Oct 2017

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