Sunan Abi Dawud 2143

Overview & Central Theme

This hadith, transmitted by Abu Dawud in the Book of Marriage (Kitab Al-Nikah) with the version of Shu'bah, encapsulates the prophetic standard of spousal care: the husband must provide sustenance and clothing for his wife at the same level he provides for himself. It establishes a fundamental principle of marital justice, dignity, and equity in provision, elevating marriage from a mere contract to a covenant of mutual compassion and responsibility. The central theme is that a wife is not a subordinate dependent but a partner whose basic needs—food and clothing—are a binding right, measured by the husband's own standard of living, reflecting the Qur'anic directive to live with wives in kindness (al-ma'ruf).

Context & Linguistic Insights

The hadith is part of a longer narration concerning the rights of wives, often cited in discussions of nafaqah (maintenance). The phrase "that you give her food when you have food yourself, and that you clothe her when you clothe yourself" uses the Arabic terms "tuṭ'imuha" (you feed her) and "taksuha" (you clothe her), both in the present tense, indicating a continuous, ongoing obligation rather than a one-time act. The word "idha" (when) establishes a parity condition—not merely a minimum, but a matching of the husband's own consumption. Linguistically, the repetition of "when you have food yourself" and "when you clothe yourself" underscores the principle of qiwamah (guardianship) tempered by equality in material care. The version of Shu'bah, a meticulous narrator, is notable for its precision, and it aligns with other narrations that add "and do not strike her face, nor revile her, nor abandon her except in the house," showing that provision is paired with prohibition of harm.

Key Scholarly Insights & Legal Benefits

• Jurisprudential ruling: The majority of scholars (including Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali schools) derive from this hadith that a husband must provide food, clothing, and shelter for his wife according to what is customary (bil-ma'ruf), with the standard being his own means—not excessive, not deficient, but equitable.
• Ethical principle: This teaching elevates the wife's dignity, forbidding miserliness or neglect, and mandates that the husband's provision be generous and without resentment, as the Prophet ﷺ said, "The best of you are those who are best to their wives" (Tirmidhi).
• Classical consensus: Ibn Qudamah in Al-Mughni states that the wife's right to maintenance is established by the Qur'an (Surah At-Talaq 65:7), the Sunnah, and consensus (ijma'), and this hadith specifies the measure—parity with the husband's own standard, not merely a subsistence minimum.

"The husband is commanded to provide for his wife from his own provision and to clothe her from his own clothing, not to give her less than what he uses for himself, for that would be a form of injustice and a violation of the command of Allah to treat her with kindness." — Imam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali, Jami' al-Ulum wal-Hikam

Daily Life & Spiritual Application

In practical terms, this hadith calls upon husbands to examine their spending habits with a lens of equity: if you buy yourself quality food, do not give your wife inferior food; if you wear warm clothing in winter, ensure she has the same. It extends beyond literal food and clothing to encompass all necessities—housing, healthcare, and emotional support—measured by one's own standard of comfort. Spiritually, this teaching purifies the heart from stinginess and cultivates a sense of stewardship (amana), reminding the husband that his wealth is a trust from Allah, and his wife is a trust from Allah. For wives, it instills contentment and gratitude, while for society, it establishes a foundation of justice that prevents marital exploitation. In moments of financial hardship, the principle of "when you have food" offers mercy—obligation is scaled to capacity, yet the intention must always strive toward generosity, mirroring the Prophet's ﷺ own practice of never letting his family go hungry while he had means. This hadith, therefore, is a daily invitation to live marriage as a reflection of divine mercy, where provision is an act of worship and love is expressed in tangible care.