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Fatwa CenterLiving with in-laws, but wants to have own house
Question
I am a wife living with my parent in-law in a big house since I married in 1999. I never feel that house is my own, and I want to live in my own house. Do I have this right?
Answer
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.
Allah enjoined a husband to provide accommodation for his wife. Allah Says (what means): {Lodge them [in a section] of where you dwell out of your means and do not harm them in order to oppress them. …} [Quran 65: 6]
It is the absolute right of a wife on her husband to provide her with a separate house without having to share it with other family members. However, if a house is big enough in a way that a separate portion of it could be allotted to the wife without having to share with other family members, then she has no right to demand a separate house for her since, in this case, the purpose of an independent house is achieved.
This is the opinion of the majority of the Muslim scholars and it is the correct one. However, some scholars are of the opinion that a wife has the right to demand a separate house for herself without sharing with any other person unless she and her husband agree otherwise; but the first opinion is more preponderant.
However, a wife should keep in mind that it is better for her now and in the future to be kind to her husband, to be lenient with him in the matter of maintenance, and avoid over-burdening him. Also she should not force him to be harsh with his parents. All of the above characteristics are the basic elements for enjoying a good life, full of happiness.
Allah Knows best.
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