Addressing one’s husband by his name

The Fuqaha have written that it is permissible for the husband to address his wife by taking her name. However, it is disrespectful for the wife to address the husband by his name, and therefore categorized it as Makrooh (an act that is abhorred). The wife may use any title of respect when addressing him, such as ‘Ya Sayyidi’, which means ‘My master’, or, if the husband is a Hafez of the Quraan, then he may be referred to as ‘Hafez-e-Saheb’, or in the case of him being an Alim, ‘Maulana’, or in the case of him being a Qari, then, ‘Qari Saheb’ etc.

There isn’t any order of preference that one is required to observe in this regard. It is merely a matter of addressing the husband with some honourable and respectable title. He should only be addressed as ‘Maulana’ after he graduates as an Alim, as one is not considered an Alim by merely studying for a few years. However, if he is a ‘Hafiz’ (that is studying to be an Alim), then you should address him as “Hafiz…”, until he earns the title of ‘Maulana’.