and magnify Him thirty-four times; that is better for the two of you than having a servant.” ʿAlī said, “I have never abandoned it since.” He was asked, “Not even on the night of Siffīn?” He replied, “Not even on the night of Siffīn!”
Recorded by al-Bukhārī 9/417–418.

You can see, then, that the Prophet ﷺ did not say to ʿAlī, “She has no duty of service; rather, it is upon you.” The Prophet ﷺ shows no favoritism in his rulings, as Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) observed. Whoever wishes to explore the issue further may consult his valuable work Zād al-Maʿād, 4/45–46.

At the same time, nothing we have stated about the wife’s obligation to serve her husband negates the recommendation that the husband share those tasks whenever he has the leisure and opportunity to do so; indeed, this is part of gracious companionship between spouses. For that reason Lady ʿĀʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said:

“He ﷺ used to busy himself with the service of his family—that is, assisting them in their household tasks—but when the time for prayer arrived, he would go out to the prayer.”

Reported by al-Bukhārī 2/129, 9/418; al-Tirmidhī 3/314, who declared it sound; and by al-Mukhlis in the third of