Can a Husband Take Personal Service from His Wife?
Taken from: Fatāwā Amanpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri
Can a husband take service from his wife for his personal needs?
Yes, a husband may, according to necessity and capacity, take personal service from his wife, provided that the wife is willing. The general evidences of the Qur’an and Sunnah indicate this.
❀ Sayyidah ‘Aishah رضي الله عنها narrated:
كان يخرج رأسه إلي، وهو معتكف، فأغسله، وأنا حائض
During I‘tikaf, the Prophet ﷺ would extend his blessed head towards me (from the mosque), and while I was in the state of menstruation, I would wash his head.
(Sahih al-Bukhari: 299, Sahih Muslim: 297)
❀ Hafiz Nawawi رحمه الله (676H) commented on this Hadith:
فيه جواز استخدام الزوجة فى الغسل والطبخ والخبز وغيرها برضاها وعلى هذا تظاهرت دلائل السنة وعمل السلف وإجماع الأمة
This Hadith proves that it is permissible, with the wife’s consent, for the husband to take service from her in washing his head, cooking, baking, and other such tasks. The evidences of Sunnah, the practice of the Salaf, and the consensus of the Ummah are clear on this matter.
(Sharh al-Nawawi, 3/208)
Taken from: Fatāwā Amanpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri
❖ Question:
Can a husband take service from his wife for his personal needs?
❖ Answer:
Yes, a husband may, according to necessity and capacity, take personal service from his wife, provided that the wife is willing. The general evidences of the Qur’an and Sunnah indicate this.
◈ Evidence from the Sunnah
❀ Sayyidah ‘Aishah رضي الله عنها narrated:
كان يخرج رأسه إلي، وهو معتكف، فأغسله، وأنا حائض
During I‘tikaf, the Prophet ﷺ would extend his blessed head towards me (from the mosque), and while I was in the state of menstruation, I would wash his head.
(Sahih al-Bukhari: 299, Sahih Muslim: 297)
◈ Scholarly Explanation
❀ Hafiz Nawawi رحمه الله (676H) commented on this Hadith:
فيه جواز استخدام الزوجة فى الغسل والطبخ والخبز وغيرها برضاها وعلى هذا تظاهرت دلائل السنة وعمل السلف وإجماع الأمة
This Hadith proves that it is permissible, with the wife’s consent, for the husband to take service from her in washing his head, cooking, baking, and other such tasks. The evidences of Sunnah, the practice of the Salaf, and the consensus of the Ummah are clear on this matter.
(Sharh al-Nawawi, 3/208)
