Answer
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In this fatwa:
Classical scholars differed on whether a wife is legally obligated to perform domestic work, while all agree that the husband is responsible for financial maintenance. The Qur’an, the Sunnah, and the objectives of marriage emphasize kindness, cooperation, and fairness when dividing household responsibilities.
Responding to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:
I disagree with this scholar’s view on a wife’s duties in Islam. It doesn’t match the insights of respected scholars who follow the Qur’an and the Prophet’s example (peace be upon him).
In Islamic marriage, domestic responsibilities are viewed through a legal and ethical lens. Scholars disagree on whether a wife must do household labor.
Most Hanafi and Shafi`i scholars believe a wife is not legally required to perform domestic work. They see her duties as focusing on marital relations and companionship. In contrast, Maliki and some Hanbali scholars argue that a wife’s responsibilities depend on her background and the family’s finances. For example, if she comes from a culture where wives handle household tasks, and the family can’t afford help, her role may include those duties.
The Quranic concept of Qawamah (Quran 4:34) establishes the husband as the main financial provider for the household. This includes offering domestic help when possible. Islamic law does not require a wife to pay for household assistance if she opts out of domestic work, especially if her husband can afford it. Qawamah includes two main ideas: financial support and ethical leadership with care and protection. A common misunderstanding is that Qawamah allows husbands to skip household chores. This idea lacks support from classical and modern scholarship.
The Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) involvement in household tasks (Sahih al-Bukhari) sets an important example for shared responsibilities in marriage. While not a strict rule, his actions reflect the values of kindness, mercy, and cooperation that should define the spousal relationship.
Islamic Shariah views marriage as a source of peace, love, and mercy (Quran 30:21). The best way to divide household responsibilities is to allocate them fairly, considering each spouse’s strengths and the family’s financial situation. A husband’s financial duty doesn’t exempt him from helping at home, and wives are not expected to do unpaid labor.
👉Read also:
- How Islam Confirms Women’s Rights
- What Does Islam Say about Housework?
- Are Wives Obligated to Cook and Clean in Islam?
Almighty Allah knows best.