they should not be left for more than forty days. (1)

In short, he may compel her to cut and trim her nails, because this is something the natural disposition finds repulsive. Likewise, if she is dishevelled, neither tending to nor caring for her hair, he may compel her to put it in order.

Conversely, may she compel him to do the same?

The apparent answer is no; rather, he himself is obliged to do so, because she has no authority over him; she is like a captive under his authority. Yet she has the right to tell him, “Remove this, for it harms me”—except for the beard. She has no right to tell him, “Shave it.” Some people, when we address them and tell them that they must let it grow, say, “My wife does not approve.” This is not acceptable.

We say: Even if she does not approve, he must carry out what Allah and His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, have commanded. But if she asks him to remove his nails, pubic hair, and underarm hair, then there is no doubt that he must do so, due to Allah’s saying: “Live with them in kindness,” and His saying: “Women have rights similar to those against them, according to what is fair.” [al-Baqarah 2:228] Some of the early righteous predecessors said: “I like to adorn myself for my wife just as I like her to adorn herself for me.” Perhaps this falls under the Prophet’s saying, peace and blessings be upon him: “None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” (2)

Nor may he ask her to file her teeth—namely, to alter them with a file so that they become small and attractive. Even if he says, “This is absolutely necessary,” we say: