🏡 Rights & responsibilities · #6
Is a wife obliged to cook and do housework?
According to the Shafi'i school, housework such as cooking and washing is not a Shariah obligation on the wife, but it is a noble deed if done willingly.
The obligation to provide for the home's needs lies on the husband as part of maintenance, including a helper for a wife who was used to being served in her family, according to the husband's means. However, most households run on cooperation and custom. Fatimah r.a. herself did housework, and the Prophet ﷺ helped with his family's chores. Best is a fair division of tasks reached through discussion. See Rights of husband & wife.
The obligation to provide for the home's needs lies on the husband as part of maintenance, including a helper for a wife who was used to being served in her family, according to the husband's means. However, most households run on cooperation and custom. Fatimah r.a. herself did housework, and the Prophet ﷺ helped with his family's chores. Best is a fair division of tasks reached through discussion. See Rights of husband & wife.
Difference between schools. Shafi'i and Hanbali: not legally obligatory. Maliki: obligatory according to custom for women who customarily do housework. Hanafi: required as a religious duty (diyanah) but not compelled by the court.
Sources
Surah an-Nisa' 4:19Sahih al-Bukhari 676