Question: Is it permissible for a woman to refrain from serving her husband and doing household chores if her husband mistreats her?
Answer: It is not permissible for a husband to mistreat his wife, because Allah Almighty says:
«وَعَاشِرُوهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ»
“Live with them in kindness.”
And the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
«وإن لزوجك عليك حقا»
“Indeed, your wife has a right over you.”
When a husband mistreats his wife, the wife should be patient in response and continue to fulfill the time and duties owed to her husband, so that she may receive her reward, and perhaps through her actions Allah Almighty may guide her husband. Allah Almighty has said:
«وَلَا تَسْتَوِي الْحَسَنَةُ وَلَا السَّيِّئَةُ ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا الَّذِي بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ عَدَاوَةٌ كَأَنَّهُ وَلِيٌّ حَمِيمٌ»
“And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he was a devoted friend.”
