Short answer
Nushuz means a spouse rebelling against the other's rights. For a wife, the Hanafi definition is leaving the marital home, or shutting her husband out, without right, which suspends her maintenance. The Quran's answer is a staged repair: advice, then separate beds, then arbitration by both families. A husband may never abuse her, and a husband can commit nushuz too.
A wife is nashizah when she leaves the husband's home without his permission and without a valid reason, or bars him from a home that is hers. During that time she loses her right to maintenance (nafaqah), which returns when she comes back. Refusing intimacy while living in his home is sinful but, in the Hanafi school, does not end her maintenance.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Any refusal of the husband's rights without excuse, including refusing intimacy, is nushuz and ends her maintenance while it lasts.
- Hanbali
- Any refusal of his rights without excuse, including intimacy, is nushuz and ends her maintenance while it lasts.
Explanation
The word nushuz means rising up against someone. Allah uses it for both spouses: for wives in 4:34, and for husbands in 4:128, where a woman fears "contempt or evasion" from her husband. So the issue is not who is in charge. It is one spouse refusing the other's rights.
What is not nushuz. Obedience is only in what is right. A wife is not disobedient when she:
- Refuses to do something haram, or to give up prayer, hijab or her family.
- Visits her parents as the Hanafi books allow. See rights of the wife.
- Leaves to escape harm.
- In the Hanafi school, holds back until her prompt mahr is paid.
The Quran's steps. When a wife does wrong her husband, 4:34 tells him first to advise her, then to stay apart in bed. The ayah also mentions a strike as a last step, which the Prophet ﷺ never used and which scholars restrict to a light, symbolic touch that leaves no pain or mark. See can a husband hit his wife. If the problem continues, each family sends an arbitrator to reconcile them (4:35). There is no other "punishment" a husband may give.
The Prophet ﷺ said a husband must not strike the face, must not revile his wife, and must not boycott her except within the home. A husband who insults, threatens or harms his wife is himself doing wrong. If anyone is in danger, call the emergency services first. For the facts of your case, speak to a mufti or an Islamic council.
Ask a mufti about your own case. This answer explains the general ruling. When the details of your situation matter, as they do here, ask a qualified mufti and give them the full facts. Where to ask a scholar.
The evidence
Quran, Surah An-Nisaa 4:34
ٱلرِّجَالُ قَوَّٰمُونَ عَلَى ٱلنِّسَآءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍۢ وَبِمَآ أَنفَقُوا۟ مِنْ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ ۚ فَٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتُ قَٰنِتَٰتٌ حَٰفِظَٰتٌۭ لِّلْغَيْبِ بِمَا حَفِظَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَٱلَّٰتِى تَخَافُونَ نُشُوزَهُنَّ فَعِظُوهُنَّ وَٱهْجُرُوهُنَّ فِى ٱلْمَضَاجِعِ وَٱضْرِبُوهُنَّ ۖ فَإِنْ أَطَعْنَكُمْ فَلَا تَبْغُوا۟ عَلَيْهِنَّ سَبِيلًا ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيًّۭا كَبِيرًۭا ﴿٣٤﴾
Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband's] absence what Allah would have them guard. But those [wives] from whom you fear arrogance - [first] advise them; [then if they persist], forsake them in bed; and [finally], strike them. But if they obey you [once more], seek no means against them. Indeed, Allah is ever Exalted and Grand.
The staged response to a wife's nushuz.
Quran, Surah An-Nisaa 4:128
وَإِنِ ٱمْرَأَةٌ خَافَتْ مِنۢ بَعْلِهَا نُشُوزًا أَوْ إِعْرَاضًۭا فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَآ أَن يُصْلِحَا بَيْنَهُمَا صُلْحًۭا ۚ وَٱلصُّلْحُ خَيْرٌۭ ۗ وَأُحْضِرَتِ ٱلْأَنفُسُ ٱلشُّحَّ ۚ وَإِن تُحْسِنُوا۟ وَتَتَّقُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًۭا ﴿١٢٨﴾
And if a woman fears from her husband contempt or evasion, there is no sin upon them if they make terms of settlement between them - and settlement is best. And present in [human] souls is stinginess. But if you do good and fear Allah - then indeed Allah is ever, with what you do, Acquainted.
A husband can also commit nushuz.
Quran, Surah An-Nisaa 4:35
وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ شِقَاقَ بَيْنِهِمَا فَٱبْعَثُوا۟ حَكَمًۭا مِّنْ أَهْلِهِۦ وَحَكَمًۭا مِّنْ أَهْلِهَآ إِن يُرِيدَآ إِصْلَٰحًۭا يُوَفِّقِ ٱللَّهُ بَيْنَهُمَآ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا خَبِيرًۭا ﴿٣٥﴾
And if you fear dissension between the two, send an arbitrator from his people and an arbitrator from her people. If they both desire reconciliation, Allah will cause it between them. Indeed, Allah is ever Knowing and Acquainted [with all things].
Families step in before separation.
Sunan Abi Dawud 2142
Graded hasan sahih... ولا تضرب الوجه ولا تقبح ولا تهجر إلا في البيت ...
"Do not strike the face, do not revile her, and do not separate from her except within the home."
Even in conflict a husband must keep her dignity.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Talaq, Bab al-Nafaqa, on the nashizah. A wife who leaves his home without right has no maintenance until she returns.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Bab al-Nafaqa. Refusing intimacy at home is not nushuz for maintenance in the Hanafi school.
- Minhaj al-Talibin (Nawawi), Kitab al-Qasm wa al-Nushuz. The Shafi'i definition of nushuz.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. 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.