Chapter: The prohibition of a wife’s voluntary fast while her husband is present unless he gives permission
1750 – Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “It is not lawful for a woman to fast while her husband is at home except with his permission, nor may she admit anyone into his house except with his permission.” Agreed upon.
[Commentary]
Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) placed these two chapters in his Riyad al-Salihin under the section that explains what a Muslim owes his fellow Muslim. Allah, Exalted is He, has enjoined kindness toward “the neighbour who is a kinsman, the neighbour who is a stranger, and the companion at your side.” The expression “the companion at your side” has been interpreted as the spouse; others say it refers to a travelling companion.
He first cited the hadith in which the Prophet ﷺ said: “When a man calls his wife to his bed and she refuses, the angels curse her until morning,” or, “until she returns.” The meaning is that when a husband summons his wife to fulfil his need, she is obliged to respond unless she has a legitimate excuse—for example, illness that prevents intimacy or some other impediment that keeps her from going to his bed. In such circumstances she is excused; otherwise she must attend to him.
Just as this responsibility rests on the wife toward her husband, it is likewise fitting for the husband—if he senses that his wife desires intimacy—to respond so that he may enjoy her company as she enjoys his, for Allah the Exalted says, “Live with them in kindness.”
The second hadith states that a woman may not fast while her husband is present except with his permission, nor may she allow anyone into his house without his leave.
The first issue concerns fasting. Fasting is of two kinds:
- Obligatory fasting: she may observe it without her husband’s permission.
- Voluntary fasting: she must not observe it while he is present unless he gives permission.
But if