Is housework an obligation for a woman?

Question: Is it obligatory for a woman to do household chores such as sweeping, cooking, and laundry?

Answer: Scholars have differed on this issue: some say a woman must do housework, while others say it is not obligatory. However, according to the Hanafi madhhab, it is religiously obligatory (wajib) for a wife to serve her husband[1]. This includes sweeping, washing clothes, cooking, and other household tasks. This has been established as a wife’s duty to her husband by custom for generations[2]. There is evidence for this in the fact that the Prophet ﷺ, when arbitrating between Ali and Fatima, assigned outdoor tasks to Ali and household tasks to Fatima[3].

Additionally, the wives of the Prophet ﷺ and the wives of the Companions also performed household duties[4]. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said:

“I used to prepare the Prophet’s miswak and ablution water.” [5]

Asma, the daughter of Abu Bakr, also said:

“All the housework was my responsibility. I would feed and water my husband Zubayr’s horse myself.”[6]

Therefore, it is obligatory for a woman to do household chores such as sweeping, cooking, and washing clothes. Women today should take the female Companions as role models in household matters and consider it a part of their worship. By doing so, they also earn their husband’s pleasure.

However, a husband should not burden his wife with tasks beyond her ability. On the contrary, he should help her as much as he can in his free time.

• Al-Bada’i’ al-Sana’i’ fi Tartib al-Shara’i’, 4/192. Al-Mawsu’ah al-Fiqhiyyah, 19/44.

• Muhammad Abu Zahra, Al-Ahwal al-Shakhsiyyah, p. 166.

• Ibn Hajar, Fath al-Bari, 9/507.

• Nabil ibn Kamaluddin Muhammad Tahun, Ahkam al-Usrah fi al-Islam, p. 240.

• Muslim, narration.

• Bukhari, 6/157.