FatwaFederal TerritoriesMarriage & Family
AL-KAFI #565: HUKUM MENUNAIKAN NAFKAH BATIN
What is the ruling on a husband who withholds sexual maintenance from his wife for more than four months despite being devout in worship?
Short answer
Nafkah batin refers to good conduct between spouses, including marital relations, and the husband is obliged to fulfil it as long as he is able.
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
Nafkah batin refers to good conduct between spouses, including marital relations, and the husband is obliged to fulfil it as long as he is able. A husband who neglects this right commits a grave sin, even if he is diligent in worship. The fatwa advises the couple to discuss the matter and involve family to reconcile, and the wife may turn to an authority such as the court. It also notes that impotence or inability to have intercourse is among the marital defects for which a marriage may be annulled.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Suami wajib menunaikan nafkah batin terhadap isterinya selagi mampu.
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 #565: HUKUM MENUNAIKAN NAFKAH BATIN”, 8 March 2017. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/al-kafi-li-al-fatawi/959-al-kafi-565-hukum-menunaikan-nafkah-batin. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/ruling-husband-withholding-sexual-maintenance/