Being A Dutiful Wife: Seeking Allah’s Pleasure Through Marriage - Lukgaf

What does it mean to be a good wife? Is it simply preparing meals, taking care of the home and raising children? Or is there something deeper that Allah expects from a woman in her relationship with her husband?<br>Marriage in Islam is not merely a social arrangement. It is a relationship built on faith, responsibility, affection, mercy and mutual consideration. Both husband and wife have rights over each other, and both will be accountable to Allah for how they fulfil their responsibilities.<br><br>Today, I want to reflect on one important aspect of marriage: the responsibility of a wife to be dutiful to her husband.<br><br>The status of a dutiful wife<br><br>There is a beautiful hadith in which the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ highlighted the importance of a woman's relationship with her husband.<br><br>The Prophet ﷺ said: <br><br>&quot;When a woman observes her five daily prayers, fasts her month (Ramadan), guards her chastity and obeys her husband, it will be said to her: Enter Paradise through whichever of its gates you wish.&quot;<br><br>This narration is reported by Ahmad and others, and has been graded authentic by a number of hadith scholars.<br><br>Consider the significance of this hadith. The Prophet ﷺ mentioned fundamental acts of worship and then included obedience to one's husband among the qualities associated with this tremendous reward.<br>This does not mean that a husband becomes someone whose every instruction must be followed, regardless of its nature. The Prophet ﷺ established a fundamental principle:<br><br>&quot;There is no obedience in disobedience to Allah. Obedience is only in what is right.&quot;<br>A husband cannot command his wife to commit a sin and expect her to obey him. His authority is not above the authority of Allah.