❖ Source:
This fatwa is derived from the book “500 Questions & Answers for Women” based on the fatwas of the scholars of the Ḥaramayn, translated by Ḥāfiẓ ʿAbdullāh Salīm.✿ Question:
It is known that, according to Hadith, a wife is obligated to obey her husband. She is also commanded to obey her parents in all matters that do not involve disobedience to Allah. If a situation arises where there is a conflict between obedience to the husband and obedience to the parents, which obedience should take precedence?
✿ Answer:
Undoubtedly, a woman is obligated to obey Allah Almighty first and foremost, and within that framework, she is commanded to obey both her husband and parents.
However, if obedience to either the husband or the parents involves disobedience to the Creator, then obedience is not permitted in that matter.
As the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«إِنَّمَا الطَّاعَةُ فِي الْمَعْرُوفِ»
“Obedience is only in that which is good.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6726 | Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1840]
And he ﷺ also said:
«لَا طَاعَةَ لِمَخْلُوقٍ فِي مَعْصِيَةِ الْخَالِقِ»
“There is no obedience to the creation in disobedience to the Creator.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ – Musnad Aḥmad: 1095]
There is no doubt that parents hold a significant and emphasized right, and after the right of Allah, the right of parents takes precedence. As Allah says:
﴿وَاعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا﴾
"Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and show kindness to parents."
[Sūrat al-Nisāʾ: 136]
Because the right of parents is binding and emphasized, if a husband commands his wife to disobey her parents, then she must not obey him in that—as this would constitute sin and disobedience.
Therefore, in such cases, the wife must not obey her husband if he demands disobedience toward her parents, because disobedience to one’s parents is a major sin, ranked immediately after shirk.
[Shaykh Ṣāliḥ ibn Fawzān al-Fawzān ḥafiẓahullāh]