Question

I am a disabled person in a wheelchair. I can't dispense with my wife's attendance to me regardless of whether she goes to a near or far place. Does refraining from going to Hajj on account of my condition incur sin on her part?

Fatwa

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Scholars have held different opinions regarding whether or not it is obligatory on a wife to serve her husband. The majority of scholars view that it is not obligatory for a wife to serve her husband. Meanwhile, some scholars view that it is obligatory for her to serve him in all matters as stated by Abu Thawr .

Some scholars have given a detailed account of this issue saying that a wife is obliged to offer domestic services such as kneading, cooking, cleaning and tidying. This complies with the instruction the Prophet (may Allah exalt his mention) gave to ‘Ali and Faatimah, may Allah be pleased with them, when Faatimah, may Allah be pleased with her, complained to him about her housework and how it severely exhausted her. If we adopt the view stating that this kind of service is due on a wife to her husband, then is it due on her to attend and care for him if he is disabled?

It seems that if Hajj is due on her and her husband has neither children to serve him nor money to hire a servant to assist him, then his wife is obliged to stay and serve him in such a case. This is because, if she were to leave him, he would be exposed to harm. Consequently, saving a Muslim takes precedence over performing Hajj.

However, if there is someone else who can manage the husband's affairs such as his children or trusted servants, then the wife must hasten to perform Hajj because it is an obligation according to the preponderant opinion of the scholars.

Allah Knows best.