Short answer
A wife's rights include her mahr, nafaqah (food, clothing and a home of her own suited to the husband's means), kind treatment, intimacy, fairness if he has more than one wife, freedom to keep her own wealth, and the chance to visit her parents and learn her religion. The four schools agree on these basics.
The husband must pay her mahr, provide food, clothing and private housing by the standard of his means and her circumstances, treat her with kindness, not harm her, give her her rights in intimacy and divide time fairly between wives. Her property and earnings are hers alone.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
Allah says wives have rights "similar to what is expected of them, according to what is reasonable" (2:228), and commands husbands to "live with them in kindness" (4:19). The Prophet ﷺ said the best of you are the best to their wives, and in his farewell sermon he urged the men to fear Allah regarding women.
The main rights in the Hanafi books:
- Mahr: hers in full, paid as agreed. See mahr.
- Nafaqah: food, clothing and housing. She does not have to spend her own money on the home. See nafaqah.
- A private home: at least a lockable part of the house of her own, where in-laws do not intrude. See living with in-laws.
- Kindness and respect: no insults, no harm, patience with her faults.
- Intimacy: her right to companionship and relations. A husband may not stay away from her for long periods without good reason.
- Justice between wives, if he has more than one.
- Her family: she may visit her parents, and the Hanafi books say at least once a week, and other mahram relatives at least yearly, and they may visit her.
- Her wealth and name: she keeps her own property and her own family name.
- Learning her deen: if he cannot teach her, he should not stop her from learning.
Rights go both ways: see rights of the husband. For a longer guide, read rights of husband and wife.
The evidence
Quran, Surah An-Nisaa 4:19
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا يَحِلُّ لَكُمْ أَن تَرِثُوا۟ ٱلنِّسَآءَ كَرْهًۭا ۖ وَلَا تَعْضُلُوهُنَّ لِتَذْهَبُوا۟ بِبَعْضِ مَآ ءَاتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ إِلَّآ أَن يَأْتِينَ بِفَٰحِشَةٍۢ مُّبَيِّنَةٍۢ ۚ وَعَاشِرُوهُنَّ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ فَإِن كَرِهْتُمُوهُنَّ فَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تَكْرَهُوا۟ شَيْـًۭٔا وَيَجْعَلَ ٱللَّهُ فِيهِ خَيْرًۭا كَثِيرًۭا ﴿١٩﴾
O you who have believed, it is not lawful for you to inherit women by compulsion. And do not make difficulties for them in order to take [back] part of what you gave them unless they commit a clear immorality. And live with them in kindness. For if you dislike them - perhaps you dislike a thing and Allah makes therein much good.
Husbands are commanded to treat their wives well.
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:228
وَٱلْمُطَلَّقَٰتُ يَتَرَبَّصْنَ بِأَنفُسِهِنَّ ثَلَٰثَةَ قُرُوٓءٍۢ ۚ وَلَا يَحِلُّ لَهُنَّ أَن يَكْتُمْنَ مَا خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ فِىٓ أَرْحَامِهِنَّ إِن كُنَّ يُؤْمِنَّ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ ۚ وَبُعُولَتُهُنَّ أَحَقُّ بِرَدِّهِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ إِنْ أَرَادُوٓا۟ إِصْلَٰحًۭا ۚ وَلَهُنَّ مِثْلُ ٱلَّذِى عَلَيْهِنَّ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ وَلِلرِّجَالِ عَلَيْهِنَّ دَرَجَةٌۭ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ ﴿٢٢٨﴾
Divorced women remain in waiting for three periods, and it is not lawful for them to conceal what Allah has created in their wombs if they believe in Allah and the Last Day. And their husbands have more right to take them back in this [period] if they want reconciliation. And due to the wives is similar to what is expected of them, according to what is reasonable. But the men have a degree over them [in responsibility and authority]. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.
Wives have rights over their husbands as husbands have over them.
Quran, Surah At-Talaaq 65:6
أَسْكِنُوهُنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ سَكَنتُم مِّن وُجْدِكُمْ وَلَا تُضَآرُّوهُنَّ لِتُضَيِّقُوا۟ عَلَيْهِنَّ ۚ وَإِن كُنَّ أُو۟لَٰتِ حَمْلٍۢ فَأَنفِقُوا۟ عَلَيْهِنَّ حَتَّىٰ يَضَعْنَ حَمْلَهُنَّ ۚ فَإِنْ أَرْضَعْنَ لَكُمْ فَـَٔاتُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ ۖ وَأْتَمِرُوا۟ بَيْنَكُم بِمَعْرُوفٍۢ ۖ وَإِن تَعَاسَرْتُمْ فَسَتُرْضِعُ لَهُۥٓ أُخْرَىٰ ﴿٦﴾
Lodge them [in a section] of where you dwell out of your means and do not harm them in order to oppress them. And if they should be pregnant, then spend on them until they give birth. And if they breastfeed for you, then give them their payment and confer among yourselves in the acceptable way; but if you are in discord, then there may breastfeed for the father another woman.
Housing is the wife's right, by the husband's means.
Sunan Abi Dawud 2142
Graded hasan sahih... أن تطعمها إذا طعمت وتكسوها إذا اكتسيت ...
"That you feed her when you eat and clothe her when you clothe yourself, do not strike her face and do not curse her."
The Prophet ﷺ listed food, clothing and dignity as the wife's rights.
Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1162
Graded hasan sahih... أكمل المؤمنين إيمانا أحسنهم خلقا وخياركم خياركم لنسائهم ...
"The most complete of believers in faith are those best in character, and the best of you are the best to their wives."
Good treatment of the wife is a measure of faith.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Talaq, Bab al-Nafaqah. Food, clothing and housing are owed to the wife.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Bab al-Nafaqah, on housing and visiting parents. Her right to separate quarters and to visit her parents weekly.
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Nikah, Bab al-Qasm. Justice between wives in time and provision.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.