What must a husband provide for his wife, and what rights do the spouses have over each other?

The husband is obliged to provide maintenance — food, clothing and suitable housing — according to his means, for Allah says: "Let a man of wealth spend from his wealth, and he whose provision is restricted, let him spend from what Allah has given him; Allah does not burden a soul beyond what He has given it" (Quran 65:7), and he must live with her in kindness (Quran 4:19). In his Farewell Sermon the Prophet ﷺ commanded the men to fear Allah regarding women and said that their right over you is that you provide for them and clothe them in a reasonable manner (Sahih Muslim 1218), and when a man asked what a wife's right over her husband is he ﷺ replied: "That you feed her when you eat, clothe her when you clothe yourself, do not strike the face, do not revile her, and do not abandon her except within the house" (Sunan Abi Dawud 2142, graded hasan). The wife in turn is his faithful companion who guards his honour, home and their intimacy, and the obligations run in both directions: "And they have rights similar to those over them, in kindness" (Quran 2:228). Her obedience, however, is never owed in sin, for the Prophet ﷺ said obedience is only in what is right (agreed upon); and note that these are duties of religion enforced by conscience and, where needed, by a qualified judge — not licence for harshness.

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