They say: Illness is incidental and contrary to the norm, so he is not obligated to cover its expense. The oil, sidr leaves, comb, and water mentioned previously, however, are customary and ongoing necessities, and he is therefore obligated to provide them.

This reasoning is sound in practical terms. But when we consider Allah’s saying, “Live with them in kindness” [al-Nisa’ 4:19], is it kind treatment for your wife to have a headache, ask for an aspirin tablet, and for you to say to her, “I will not bring it”? This is not kind treatment. Therefore, it may be said that he is obligated to provide medicine, unless it is exceptionally costly. In such a case, we may say that he is not obligated—for example, if she needs to travel abroad, which could impose a considerable hardship upon him. But in the case of a minor expense, where refusing it would be regarded as failing to live with her in kindness, he ought to be obligated to provide it.

His statement, “or a physician’s fee,” means that he is not obligated to pay a physician’s fee, because bringing in a physician requires a great deal of money. If he voluntarily pays the physician’s fee and the cost of the medicine, then he has done good; but he cannot be compelled to do so. The correct view, however, is that he is obligated to do so, because this is part of living with one’s wife in kindness. Allah, Exalted is He, says: “Live with them in kindness” [al-Nisa’ 4:19].