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Traditions in this connection read:

“If a man calls his wife to him and the wife refuses and he stays annoyed with her during the night, the angels will not cease to curse her name till day break.”

“The woman who dies in such a state that her husband is pleased with her shall go to Heaven.”

“By the Lord in whose power lies the life of Muhammad (Peace be upon him), no woman can fulfill the rights of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa) who does not fulfill the rights of her husband’s.”

“Charge you to be kind to your wives. Remember this advice of mine. See, they are subordinate to you and in your power.”

“Good among you are those who are good to their wives.”

“He is the most perfect believer (in Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa)) who is perfect in his manners and most affectionate towards his wife and children.”

Rights of Relatives

Besides our parents and children and husbands or wives there also exists a special tie of kinship between us and our other relatives. Islam has paid due attention to this aspect of our social existence, too, and evolved certain rights and duties in respect to it. Thus, in the Quran we are told to be kind to our kinsmen and one who disregards and pays no heed to the bonds of kinship has been condemned as transgressor and a sinner of the worst order.

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) once said, “He who violates the rights of kinsmen and shows no respect for the bonds of kinship in his conduct shall not go to heaven.”

In this connection a special advice of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) is that if a relative violates the ties of relationship with regard to us even then we should continue to fulfill, on our part, the obligations we have towards him. The exact words of the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) are, “If a near relative treats you indifferently and ignores the bond of relationship do not turn your back on him but keep on discharging, on your part, the obligations of relationship towards him.”

Rights of the Old on the Young and of the Young on the Old

It is a general principal of Islamic social behaviour that everyone should respect his elder and carry himself with due deference in their presence. In the same way, those who are older are required to treat those who are younger to them with kindness and affection, even if there be no relationship between them. Said the Prophet (Peace be upon him): “He is not of us who is not affectionate to those who are younger than himself and respect to those who are older.”

“For the young man who will honor an old man because of his years Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa) will appoint men who will honor him in his old age.”

Rights of Neighbors

Apart from relatives, there obtains a permanent association also between a man and his neighbors. In Islam full attention has, accordingly, been paid to it and definite instructions have been provided for our guidance in