Why should the wife obey her husband?

 

Why is it that when people get married the women has to do what the man says ?

Praise
be to Allaah.  

 

What the Muslim has to do when he learns the ruling of
Islam is to submit to it and believe in it even if he does not know
the wisdom behind it. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allaah and His Messenger
have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision.
And whoever disobeys Allaah and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed
into a plain error”

[al-Ahzaab 33:36] 

He should be certain that there is the utmost wisdom
behind all the rulings of Islam, but that wisdom may be hidden and he
may not understand it. In that case he should realize that this is due
to his lack of knowledge and the shortcomings of human intellect, which
is not free of defects. 

When a man and a woman come together in marriage and
live together, there are bound to be differences in opinion between
them, and one party must have the final say in order to resolve the
issue, otherwise the differences will multiply and disputes will increase.
So there has to be someone in charge, otherwise the marriage will founder. 

Hence Islam made the husband the protector and maintainer
of the wife and gave him the responsibility of heading the household,
because he is more perfect in rational thinking than her in most cases.
This means that it is obligatory for her to obey him. Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning): 

“Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allaah has
made one of them to excel the other, and because they spend (to support
them) from their means” [al-Nisaa’ 4:34] 

Among the reasons for that are the following: 

1 – Men are more able to bear this responsibility, just
as women are more able than men to take care of the children and the
household affairs. So each of them has his or her natural role and position. 

2 – In Islam, men are obliged to spend on their wives;
the wife does not have to work or earn a living. Even if she has an
independent income or she becomes rich, the husband is still obliged
to spend on her as much as she needs. Because he bears the responsibility
of spending, he is made the protector and maintainer of his wife and
is put in charge (of the household). 

Hence we see chaos in the societies which go against
that: men do not shoulder the responsibility of spending on their wives,
and wives are not obliged to obey their husbands; they go out of the
home whenever they want and leave the marital nest empty and neglect
their children. A woman has to work hard even if that is at the expense
of her house and family. 

We should also take note of the following points: 

1 – The woman will be rewarded by Allaah for her obedience
to her husband. 

2 – This obedience should not involve disobeying Allaah.
The Prophet

(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There is no obedience
to any created being if it involves disobedience towards the Creator.” 

3 – Just as the husband has the right to be obeyed, Islam
also tells him to treat his wife kindly. Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning): 

“And they (women) have rights (over their husbands
as regards living expenses) similar (to those of their husbands) over
them (as regards obedience and respect) to what is reasonable”

[al-Baqarah 2:228] 

So
he should not mistreat or oppress her, or issue harsh commands to her.
Rather he should deal with her in a wise manner, and tell her to do
things which are in her interests, his interests and the interests of
the household, in a kind and gentle manner. 

The Prophet

(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The best of you is
the one who is best to his wife, and I am the best of you to my wives.”.