ARTICLE
16 October 2012

Family Article On Husband And Wife Rights Under Shariah Law

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Dr. Hassan Elhais

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Dr. Hassan Elhais, a long-standing member of the prestigious Amal Alrashedi Lawyers & Legal Consultants, is a renowned legal consultant in the UAE, specializing in family law, criminal law, civil law, company incorporation, construction law, banking law, inheritance law, and arbitration. Dr. Elhais has gained wide recognition in the country, winning numerous awards and accolades. He was declared the Legal Consultant of the Year in 2026 by Leaders in Law. He was also elected as the co-chair of the ‘Relocation of Children Committee’ of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL), a worldwide association of practicing lawyers, widely regarded as the most experienced and skilled family law specialists in their respective countries. Dr. Hassan Elhais’s continued recognition in the 2025 Chambers and Partners rankings for Family/Matrimonial services to High-Net-Worth individuals in the UAE from 2022-2025.
There are specific rights designated to Husband and Wife under Shariah Law.
United Arab Emirates Family and Matrimonial
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There are specific rights designated to Husband and Wife under Shariah Law. Overall, the rights cover the following categories

  1. Exchange of rights between husband and wife
  2. Husband's rights on wife
  3. Wife right's on husband

In the first category, defined as exchange of rights between husband and wife, Shariah law dictates that there should be respect, kindness and consideration towards the family and for them to work together in the best interest of the family. The Exchange of rights between husband and wife enforces the need to take care of children by educating them and giving them a fair chance to grow in a healthy environment.

In the second category, defined as husband's rights on wife, the husband is required to allow the wife to continue with her education and he should not prohibit her from visiting her family. He has no right to touch or interfere with her personal financial assets. He must not harm her physically or morally.

This second category of Husband's rights on Wife also applies when he is married to more than one wife, and he should treat each wife fairly.

The third category, defined as wife's rights on her husband are defined through Shariah law and puts an obligation upon women to obey the husband and take care of the matrimonial home. Additionally, she should take care of the children.

The rights defined above are only some of the rights and obligations as defined under Shariah Law. The relevant law, based upon Shariah Law, is Law No. 28 of 2005 which is the Personal Status Law (PSL). The above is sourced from Articles 54-56.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

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