In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Mercy-Giving

All praise is due to Allah. Peace and blessings be upon His Messenger Muhammad.

Basically, the marital relation between a husband and his wife should be based on mutual love and respect. But as problems and disagreement are expected in any human relationship, there has to be limits, rights and ultimate reference. From the Islamic point of view, it is the husband who is responsible for the family and thus all its members have to obey him since he is usually keen for their benefit. This obedience is necessary for the stability of any organization. But in principle, “No obedience is due for a created being in disobedience of the Creator”.

Generally speaking, a Muslim wife has to obey her husband as long as he does not command her to disobey Allah. Thus a husband may prevent his wife from doing something permissible; though he might be sinful for doing so if he has an evil intention behind such prevention. This would be misuse of one’s right, which no righteous Muslim husband should ever do.

In issues where there is difference of opinion, a wife has to obey her husband if he commands her to avoid something he believes, according to one opinion, to be prohibited, even if she believes it, according to another opinion, to be permissible. On the other hand, if a wife believes something to be prohibited, according to one pinion, she may not obey her husband if he commands her to do it, even if he believes it, according to another opinion, to be permissible.

Still, however, spouses should maintain harmony and mutual understanding in their marital life and should always have the ultimate goal of pleasing Allah. In cases of such disputes over controversial fiqh issues, they may refer the case to a trustworthy scholar to end the dispute.

Almighty Allah knows best.