Islam and the Quran

Women’s Visit to Their Parents

Question: Does a husband have the right to ban his wife from visiting her mother and father? Or, does the husband’s family have such a right to do so? Is it right for a woman to visit her mother and father without taking permission from her husband?

Maintaining the ties of kinship is an order of Allah. Allah The Almighty commands:

“Worship Allah and join nothing with Him. To parents do good, and to relatives, orphans, the desperate, the near neighbor, the neighbor farther away, the companion at your side, the traveler and those under your guardianship. Indeed, Allah does not like those who are arrogant and boastful. ” (An-Nisa/ The Women 4:36)

“Give the relative his right, and the desperate and the traveler, but do not spend wastefully. (Al-Isra/ The Night Journey 17:26).

When one of his companions asked, “Oh Messenger of Allah, who shall I do good?”, The Messenger of Allah replied: “It is your task  doing good to your mother, your father, your sister, your brother, and your relatives following them.” (Bukhari, Manners, 25).

In another narration the Messenger of Allah said:

“Anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day, should serve his guest generously; and anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day, should keep good relation with his Kith and kin; and anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should talk what is good or keep quiet”  (Bukhari, Adab, 85; Muslim, Faith 74, 75)

Considering these verses, a Muslim man must not prevent his wife from visiting her parents, which is one of her primary duties. Also, no Muslim person can act in a way to severe the ties of kinship.

Women on the other hand, must fulfill their duties towards their parents without ignoring their duties towards their husbands or children.

If the husband does not allow the wife to visit her parents at all, the wife does not have to wait for his consent before her visit. However, this must be performed in the most adequate way without severing the husband-wife relations either.

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