FatwaFederal TerritoriesMarriage & Family
AL-KAFI #642: MENGEMAS RUMAH TUGAS SUAMI ATAU ISTERI?
Is the task of tidying the house and cooking the responsibility of the husband or the wife?
Short answer
The majority of scholars hold that a husband must serve a wife who is unable or unsuited to manage her own needs, including when she is ill or incapacitated.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Al-Kafi li al-Fatawi
- Topic
- Marriage & Family
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
The majority of scholars hold that a husband must serve a wife who is unable or unsuited to manage her own needs, including when she is ill or incapacitated. The Hanafi school says a capable wife should do the housework and it is not obligatory on the husband, while the Maliki school obliges a wealthy husband to help if the work does not suit her status. The fatwa notes that wives have a major role in managing the home, but capable husbands are encouraged to ease her burden, for example by hiring help or providing appliances, with mutual understanding and cooperation.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Jumhur ulama' berpendapat wajib atas suami berkhidmat kepada isterinya yang tidak mampu dan tidak layak untuk dia menguruskan dirinya sendiri.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “AL-KAFI #642: MENGEMAS RUMAH TUGAS SUAMI ATAU ISTERI?”, 6 July 2017. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/al-kafi-li-al-fatawi/761-al-kafi-641-mengemas-rumah-tugas-suami-atau-isteri. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/housework-duty-husband-or-wife/