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SPOUSAL RELATIONS IN ISLAM: RIGHTS, DUTIES, AND CODE OF CONDUCT
Rizayev G‘ayrat Mukumovich
Teacher at "Imam Termiziy" secondary specialized Islamic educational institution
Abstract:
This article explores the relationship between husband and wife in terms of rights,
duties, and ethics based on Islamic sources. Drawing upon verses from the Holy Qur’an and
authentic hadiths, it analyzes the responsibilities of the husband, the rights of the wife, and the
sexual, spiritual, financial, and social obligations within marriage. Inspired by the sayings of the
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the article highlights key Islamic values such as
patience, compassion, honesty, obedience, and kind treatment. It also addresses threats to
family stability such as divorce, jealousy, harshness, and impatience. This scholarly work offers
an Islamic perspective on resolving contemporary family issues.
Keywords:
Islamic family, spousal rights, marriage in Sharia, sexual ethics, patience,
compassion, mahr (dowry), maintenance, divorce, female etiquette, family upbringing.
Аннотация:
В данной статье рассматриваются отношения прав, обязанностей и этикета
между мужем и женой на основе исламских источников. С опорой на аяты Священного
Корана и достоверные хадисы анализируются обязанности мужа, права жены, а также
сексуальные, духовные, финансовые и социальные ответственности супругов. Особое
внимание уделяется природной особенности женщины, раскрываемой через хадисы
Пророка Мухаммада (мир ему и благословение Аллаха), где проявляются такие ценности,
как терпение, милосердие, честность, послушание и доброжелательность. Также
рассматриваются факторы, разрушающие семейную гармонию, такие как развод,
ревность, грубость и нетерпимость. Статья предлагает исламское видение решения
современных семейных проблем.
Ключевые слова:
исламская семья, права мужа и жены, брак в шариате, интимная этика,
терпение, милосердие, махр, содержание, развод, женская этика, семейное воспитание.
Annotatsiya:
Mazkur maqolada islom manbalari asosida oila – er va xotin o‘rtasidagi huquq,
burch va odob munosabatlari yoritiladi. Qur’oni karim oyatlari, sahih hadislarga tayangan holda
erning zimmasidagi vazifalar, xotinining erga nisbatan haqlari, jinsiy, ma’naviy, moliyaviy va
ijtimoiy mas’uliyatlar tahlil etiladi. Ayol tabiatining o‘ziga xosligi haqida Rasululloh sollallohu
alayhi vasallam hadislaridan ilhomlanib sabr, mehr, halollik, itoat va go‘zal muomala asosiy
qadriyat sifatida ko‘rsatib beriladi. Maqolada shuningdek, oila barqarorligini buzuvchi omillar,
taloq, rashk, beodoblik, sabrsizlik kabi illatlarga ham e’tibor qaratiladi. Bu ilmiy maqola
zamonaviy oilaviy muammolar yechimiga islomiy nuqtai nazardan javob beradi.
Kalit so‘zlar:
Islomda oila, er-xotin huquqlari, shariatda nikoh, jinsiy odob, sabr, mehr, mahr,
nafaqa, taloq, ayol odobi, oila tarbiyasi.
Introduction:
Islam regards marriage as one of the most sacred acts in a person's life.
The family is the main pillar of society, and its strength is the key to all forms of social stability.
The Holy Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) approach this
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
ISSN: 2692-5206, Impact Factor: 12,23
American Academic publishers, volume 05, issue 05,2025
Journal:
https://www.academicpublishers.org/journals/index.php/ijai
page 1897
issue deeply and comprehensively. The relationship between husband and wife is not merely
cohabitation; it must be based on affection, patience, respect, and mutual responsibility.
Especially in today's world, where marriages are easily entered into and divorces are
increasingly common, it is extremely important to deeply understand the Islamic principles of
family life. This article is dedicated to shedding light on such principles.
Main Body:
Allah, the Almighty, created human beings in two genders—male and
female—each with distinct characteristics, designed to complement one another, so that their
lives together would be harmonious. He established marriage as the Sunnah of the Prophet and
made Shari’ah-compliant marriage an act of worship, one that earns rewards. Endless praise
and thanks be to Allah, who has ordained this, and peace and blessings be upon the Prophet
Muhammad (peace be upon him), who explained that marriage is a Sunnah.
A person comes to this world only once, and believers know well that this life is a test,
and that it must be passed in the best possible way. A Muslim understands that they will be
questioned about every blessing granted to them, and one of these blessings is the family. On
average, a person lives more than 50 years, during which the person they interact with most and
share both hardship and joy with is their spouse.
Our nation's values and religious beliefs have always been beautiful and deeply rooted.
Family values are tied together with a strong “rope.” As we live in this fast-paced,
technologically advanced era, paradoxical situations regarding family life have begun to emerge.
For instance, people who got married up to the 1980s often mention that they saw their spouse
for the first time during the wedding ceremony, and yet their family “bond” remained strong. In
contrast, today, couples generally see each other, get to know one another, and willingly choose
their partner before marriage. But interestingly, a significant number of these marriages end in
divorce. This raises questions such as, “What is the reason for this?” and “What is the solution
to the problem?” One would expect that marriages based on mutual understanding and choice
would be more stable.
According to statistics from some websites, approximately 290,000 couples officially
married in Uzbekistan during 2024. Meanwhile, around 46,000 divorces were registered. This
means that approximately one out of every 6 to 7 marriages ended in divorce. Since January
2025, it is reported that about one in every five marriages is ending in divorce. One way to
prevent such situations is for every person intending to marry—both men and women—to be
aware of their rights and responsibilities after marriage. If they are aware, it could reduce the
issues that lead to family disputes and divorces.
To achieve this, those entering marriage must realize that family is a sacred bond, a
responsibility, and a unique accountability before Allah. Below are some of the rights and
duties of a husband and wife in marriage:
The Husband's Rights Over the Wife:
1. A woman must not observe voluntary fasts while her husband is present without his
permission.
2. She must not allow strangers into the house without her husband’s consent.
3. When her husband desires, and there is no legitimate excuse, she must fulfill his
sexual needs.
4. She must obey her husband.
5. She should not allow people whom her husband dislikes into the home or his bed.
6. She should treat her husband with kindness in all matters.
7. A husband has the right to correct his wife with appropriate manners.
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American Academic publishers, volume 05, issue 05,2025
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page 1898
8. In the Shafi’i and Maliki schools, it is also the husband’s right that the wife performs
ritual purification (ghusl) after menstruation and major impurity.
9. If the husband has fulfilled the dowry payment, he has the right to take his wife on
travel.
The Manners of the Husband:
1. Hosting a wedding feast (walima) is recommended.
2. He should treat his wife kindly and tolerate her flaws.
3. He should engage in playful and lighthearted behavior with his wife.
4. He must be moderate in jokes and entertainment.
5. He should be moderate in jealousy and not be suspicious without reason.
6. He must be balanced in providing financial support—not too stingy, nor wasteful.
7. He should learn and teach his wife religious rulings, especially those concerning her
conditions like menstruation.
8. He should learn and practice proper etiquette in marital intimacy.
9. He should be well-informed about the customs and religious practices when a child is
born.
10. He must be cautious about divorce and not utter the word lightly.
The Wife’s Rights Over the Husband:
The man’s leadership role in the family gives him certain rights, such as being obeyed
and the authority to discipline. In return, women are entitled to receive a dowry and
maintenance (all expenses of living) from the husband.
According to a narration by Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet
Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
"Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should not harm his neighbor and should
treat women well. Indeed, women were created from a rib. The most crooked part of the rib is
its top. If you try to straighten it, you will break it. If you leave it, it remains crooked. So treat
women well." (Reported by Bukhari, Muslim, and Tirmidhi)
This hadith, at first glance, may seem to suggest that women are flawed and cannot be
corrected. However, in reality, it emphasizes the need for husbands to be patient and gentle,
acknowledging the natural differences in women.
No human is flawless, including women. Only Allah is perfect. Allah has created
women with a unique nature suited for being a wife and a mother. She is emotionally
responsive and tender-hearted but may be quick to anger or emotionally sensitive. A woman
may endure difficulties specific to her role that many men could not handle, yet she may be
unable to bear harsh words or behavior.
Hence, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Treat women well.” In our culture, this is
expressed in the proverb: "A woman lives for kind words." This implies that a woman should
always be treated with kindness regardless of her behavior because her nature demands it.
The part of the hadith referencing the rib – “the most crooked part is the top” – alludes
to the creation of Eve from Adam’s rib, which is naturally curved. This suggests that a woman’s
thoughts and actions may sometimes be unpredictable, and it is natural. Just as this was true for
Eve, it will also manifest in her daughters.
Therefore, a husband should not try to change every aspect of his wife’s behavior but
instead should practice patience. Constant correction may lead to divorce. This is why the
hadith warns, “Trying to straighten it will break it,” and “Breaking it means divorce.”
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
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Journal:
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page 1899
If a wife’s shortcomings cross religious boundaries, they should be corrected. But flaws
in personal behavior and mannerisms should be tolerated. Thus, it is the husband's duty to live
with his wife patiently and kindly.
This entails treating her well, avoiding harm, respecting her rights, being gentle, not
flaunting good deeds, and not expressing hatred.
Scholars Have Divided the Wife’s Rights into Two Categories:
1. Financial Rights – These include:
Dowry (Mahr)
Maintenance (Nafaqah)
2. Behavioral Rights – These include:
Kind treatment
Fairness
Sexual satisfaction
Not approaching her during menstruation or postpartum bleeding
Not ejaculating outside her womb without her consent
Respectful and pleasant cohabitation
Additionally, spouses share mutual rights:
1.
Inheritance from each other
2.
Legal lineage for children
3.
Mutual sexual rights
4.
Mutual obligation to treat one another kindly and avoid harm
Household responsibilities are generally divided with the man handling external affairs
and the woman managing domestic tasks. This division was established by the Prophet (peace
be upon him) between Ali and Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with them).
Additional Etiquettes for the Wife:
1. Stay home more often and maintain the household.
2. Avoid excessive idle talk with neighbors or acquaintances that could hinder
household duties.
3. Maintain her husband’s dignity even in his absence.
4. Strive to please her husband in all matters.
5. Avoid betraying her husband emotionally or financially.
6. Do not leave home without his permission.
7. If going outside, dress modestly.
8. Prioritize the needs of the family and home.
9. Avoid behavior that provokes jealousy.
10. Be content with her husband’s earnings.
11. Keep herself and the home clean.
12. Show love to her husband and children.
13. Conceal the family’s shortcomings.
14. Avoid arguments with her husband.
15. Do not curse the children.
16. Do not boast about her beauty.
17. Engage in cheerful acts while the husband is present.
18. Do not cause harm to her husband.
19. Observe a mourning period of four months and ten days if the husband passes away.
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ISSN: 2692-5206, Impact Factor: 12,23
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Journal:
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page 1900
These etiquettes are also supported by various Hadith.
Conclusion:
Islamic family values are rooted not just in legal frameworks but in moral
and spiritual foundations. As highlighted in the article, balance in marital life comes from
mutual rights and responsibilities. A husband is responsible for kindness, patience, justice, and
sexual fulfillment, while the wife must maintain loyalty, domestic harmony, and dignity.
The metaphor in the hadith about the rib symbolizes the gentle, sensitive nature of
women and emphasizes the need for attentive and compassionate behavior from men.
Following Islamic teachings, with patience, honesty, and mutual respect, is key to a strong and
enduring marriage. Every Muslim couple should strive to live by these principles – not only for
worldly peace but for eternal happiness in the hereafter.
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