Husband works night shifts only and wants to spend vacation with parents

28-4-2016 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalaamu alaykum. I am a revert to Islam, all praise be to Allaah. My husband and I are currently living in a non-Muslim country, but we are trying to make hijrah (emigration) soon, Allaah willing. I would like to know my rights in Islam as a wife in two issues:
1- My husband works night shifts, and this disbalances my daily life. I cannot sleep when he is not at home, I am worried. We meet, eat, and talk at nights when he comes back. As a result, we spend mornings sleeping (we sometimes miss the Fajr time). Is it my right to require that my husband stops working night shifts?
2-My husband has the right to take 28 days off of work per year. He wants to spend the whole period of his vacation to spend time with his parents in his home country (we are living in my home country currently). I am asking him to take some days from his annual vacation to spend time with me alone (I and my husband only). My husband refuses this. Could you please tell me what my right is in Islam regarding this issue? Wassalam

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Answer:

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

You have no right to prevent your husband from working night shifts or spend his vacation with his parents. However, you have the right to ask him for what you mentioned, and he should grant it to you if it is within his ability and does not cause harm to him. Indeed, the relationship between the spouses should be based on mutual affection, compassion, understanding, thoughtfulness, and consideration of each other's interests.

Allaah knows best.