coupleIt should be noted that it is the wife’s right for the husband to teach her about matters of her religion that she does not know about and of which she cannot afford to remain ignorant.

It was narrated from Abu Moosa Al-Ash’ari (RA) that the Prophet (SAW) said: “There are three who will have a double reward...A man who Has a slave woman and he trains Her well and teaches her well, then he sets her free and marries her. He will have a double reward." (A Saheeh Hadith. It was narrated by Al-Bukhari (1/29), Muslim (1/134), Al-Tirmidhi (1116), Al-Nasaa’i (6/115), Ibn Maajah (1956) via Al-Sha’bi from Abu Burdah from Abu Moosa)

In his Saheeh, Al-Bukhaari narrated this hadeeth in a chanter entitled: “A man teaching his slave woman and his wife.”

Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar said in Al-Fath (1/229):

"This Hadeeth refers to a slave woman, but may be extended by analogy to one’s wife, because it is more important to teach a free wife about her duties towards Allaah and the Sunnahs of His Messenger than one’s slave woman."

It was narrated from Ibn ‘Umar (ra) that the Prophet (SAW) said: “Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock the man is the shepherd of his family and is responsible for them...” (A Saheeh Hadeeth narrated by Muslim (3/1459), Al-Tirmidhi (1705) via Al-Layth ibn Sa’d, from Naafi’, from Ibn ‘Umar)

A man’s caring for his family does not only involve providing food, drink and clothing, rather he must also teach them about their religion, because attention to religious matters takes precedence over attention to worldly matters.

If the husband is not able to teach his wife, or he does not have the knowledge that she needs of religious matters, then he may go out and ask knowledgeable people on her behalf.

If he does not do that, then he has to allow her to go out in order to ask questions and learn. It is not permissible for him to prevent her from taking steps to learn how to practice her religion properly, which is obligatory upon her. If he does that then he is sinning. If she cannot find anyone to go out on her behalf, then she may go out to the extent that is necessary.