She is sick and her husband is forcing her to go to work
Question: 41086
I have a problem, I hope you could answer it quickly. Do I have to obey my husband? I´m working muslim. I have been now sick over almost 2 weeks. I have been in doctor, who give me medicine and sick leave from work. Now my husband wants me to go back to work, even I´m still sick.
This is a big problem to me. This happens always when I get sick. My husband thinks that I´m only playing sick, because he thinks that I don´t wanna work. I like my work and I´m not playing any games. How can I prove to my husband that I´m really sick. He does not believe me.
Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family.
Firstly:
It should be
pointed out that a woman’s work may be haraam, if it involves mixing with
men or selling or making things that are haraam, or working in a bank, and
so on.
If that is
the case, then the woman should give up this work and look for a permissible
job. Her husband is obliged to spend on her on a reasonable basis, according
to what he can afford. See question no.
33710.
Secondly:
If her work
is permissible, and she falls sick and going to work is too difficult for
her, or will delay her recovery or make her sicker, then the husband must
pay attention to that. It is not permissible for him to demand that his wife
do something that will cause her harm.
The husband
must treat his wife in a kind and reasonable manner. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
“and live
with them honourably”
[al-Nisa’
4:19]
It is not reasonable or
honourable to demand that the wife go to work when she is sick.
The Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) enjoined the men of his
ummah to treat women well: “(I urge you) to treat women well.” (Narrated by
al-Bukhaari, 3331; Muslim, 1468.
What this
hadeeth means is: accept this advice and follow it: treat them kindly and
live with them honourably.
Fath
al-Baari.
The husband should not
doubt his wife’s sincerity; his life with her should be based on trust and
honesty, not suspicion and doubt.
If the
husband is not convinced by the medical reports which prove that his wife is
sick, and he is not convinced by the signs of sickness that he sees in her,
then he will never be convinced by anything. So the wife should try (to
convince him) in a gentle manner and treat him in a way that is better; may
Allaah guide him to that which is best for his family.
And Allaah
knows best.
Source:
Islam Q&A
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