Building a Strong Islamic Marriage: Shared Obligations of Spouses

Muslim marriage comes with a series of rights and obligations for the spouses. 

Each spouse’s obligations involve the other spouse’s rights (Tirmidhi Hadith 1163).

Both husband and wife have a duty to familiarize themselves with these obligations before getting married.

Some obligations are shared because they require reciprocity between the spouses.

Guiding Each Other Towards Allah عزّ وجلّ – Importance of Mutual Advice (Naseeha)

Each spouse has a duty to advise the other so that together they can follow the path of piety (taqwa) and obedience to Allah عزّ وجلّ (Quran 66:6).

The husband has a duty to guide his family in the way of righteousness and to steer it away from evil through teaching and advising them, while making sure religious obligations and prohibitions are followed.

“[A] man is the guardian of his family and is responsible for them“
(Bukhari Hadith 893, Muslim Hadith 1829)

Honoring Promises and Agreements: Building Trust Through Integrity

Keeping promises and keeping one’s word are among the fundamental morals of Islam (Quran 17:34 and 5:1).

The Quran urges all Muslims to have a noble character like the Prophet Mohammed صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم  did (Quran 68:4).

The husband must keep his promises to his wife and she must do likewise for him.

If the wife includes a legal condition in the marriage contract and the husband accepts it, he must keep his promises.

These conditions are the ones that are most important to keep since the contract that establishes the marital union is the most important contract, as the Prohpet صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم  said. (Bukhari 2721, Muslim 1418).

Developing Kindness and Affection: The Foundation of Marital Tranquility

According to Islam, it is necessary to develop and maintain feelings of love and kindness toward one’s spouse (Quran 30:21). 

The foundation of a Muslim couple is tranquility, tenderness and serenity of heart (Quran 2:187).

The affection and kindness spouses have for one another enable them to offer constant support to one another (Quran 90:17).

Fulfilling Each Other’s Needs: Importance of Consideration and Mutual Satisfaction

Spouses should not think only of their own sexual pleasure, but also of their partner’s pleasure and satisfaction (Bukhari Hadith 5193 and Muslim Hadith 1436 and 1159). 

Indeed, regular sexual satisfaction has a significant effect on maintaining a good relationship between husband and wife, and strengthens family harmony.

Maintaining Absolute Fidelity: Building a Marriage on Sincere Trust

Marriage requires husbands and wives to be faithful to one another. It is necessary to have sincere trust in one another (Quran 49:12).

The Quran requires husbands to be absolutely faithful, which means that married Muslim men may only have sexual relations with their legal wives (Quran 32:17).

Wives must protect their husbands’ honor as well as their own by not coveting anyone else (Quran 4:34).

Upholding Truthfulness: Creating a Foundation of Sincerity and Loyalty

Muslim couples must base their relationship on demanding the truth (Quran 103:3). When one’s partner tells the truth, this contributes to an attitude of sincerity and loyalty.

Creating a Harmonious Environment: Raising Children in a Stable and Supportive Atmosphere

Among the goals of Muslim marriage are to build a family that is harmonious in every way, to have children, and to bring them up as best as possible (Bukhari Hadith 7138, Muslim hadith 1829).

Harmony provides the necessary foundation for the couple to carry out their duties and obligations in the best way they can.

Learn more about:

• The husband’s obligations towards his wife in an Islamic marriage.
• The wife’s obligations towards her husband in an Islamic marriage.