Chapter on the Wife's Rights Over Her Husband

Ishaq ibn Ammar asked Abu Abdillah عليه السلام about the right of a woman over her husband. Imam عليه السلام said: "He should satisfy her hunger, clothe her body, and if she acts ignorantly, he should forgive her."

Ibrahim عليه السلام, the Friend of the Most Merciful سبحانه وتعالى, complained to Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, about the behavior of Sarah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم. So Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, revealed to him: "The example of a woman is like the example of a rib, if you try to straighten it, it will break, and if you leave it as it is, you will benefit from it." I asked: "Who said this?" Imam عليه السلام became angry and then said: "By Allah سبحانه وتعالى, this is the saying of the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace and blessings be upon him and his family)."

Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: "My father عليه السلام had a wife who used to harm him, yet he would forgive her."

Asim ibn Humayd narrated from Abu Basir, who said: I heard Abu Jafar Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام say: "Whoever has a wife and does not provide her with clothing to cover her modesty and food to sustain her strength, it is the duty of the Imam to separate them."

Rubi ibn Abdullah and Al-Fudhayl ibn Yasar narrated from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام regarding the saying of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic: "And whoever has his provision restricted, let him spend from what Allah سبحانه وتعالى has given him" (Surah At-Talaq 65:7). Imam عليه السلام said: "If he provides for her what sustains her strength along with clothing, then it is sufficient. Otherwise, they shall be separated."

Abu al-Sabbah al-Kinani narrated from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام who said: "If a woman performs her five daily prayers, fasts during her month (Ramadan), performs Hajj to the House of her Lord عز وجل, obeys her husband, and acknowledges the right of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام, then she may enter Paradise through whichever gate she wishes."

Muhammad ibn Abi Umayr narrated from Abdullah ibn Sinan, from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, who said: A man from the Ansar, during the time of the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), went out for some errands and instructed his wife not to leave her house until he returned. Her father became ill, so the woman sent a message to the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) saying: "My husband has gone out and instructed me not to leave my house until he returns, but my father is ill. Do you command me to visit him?" The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: "No, stay in your house and obey your husband." Then her father died, so she sent another message, saying: "O Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, my father has died. Do you command me to perform the funeral prayer for him?" He (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: "No, stay in your house and obey your husband." After the man was buried, the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) sent her a message saying: "Indeed, Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, has forgiven you and your father because of your obedience to your husband."

Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام was asked about the saying of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic: "Protect yourselves and your families from a Fire" (Surah At-Tahrim, 66:6). How do we protect them? Imam عليه السلام said: "You command them and forbid them." It was said to him: "We command them and forbid them, but they do not accept." Imam عليه السلام said: "When you have commanded them and forbidden them, then you have fulfilled your responsibility."

Abdullah ibn Sinan narrated from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام who said: "Inspire them with the love of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام and leave them in their natural simplicity."

Ismail ibn Abi Ziyad narrated from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام from his father, Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام, from his forefathers (peace be upon them), who said: The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: "Do not house your women in upper chambers, do not teach them writing, and do not teach them Surah Yusuf. Instead, teach them spinning and Surah An-Nur."

Durays al-Kunasi narrated from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام who said: A woman came to the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) for some need, and he said to her: "Perhaps you are one of those who delay (their husbands)?" She asked: "And who are those who delay, O Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى?" He (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: "A woman whose husband calls her for some need, but she keeps delaying him until he becomes drowsy and falls asleep. Such a woman is continuously cursed by the angels until her husband wakes up."

Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "May Allah سبحانه وتعالى have mercy on a servant who treats his wife well, for Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, has given him authority over her and made him her guardian."

The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: "The best of you is the one who is best to his wives, and I am the best of you to my wives."