All praise is due only to Allaah. We laud Him and beseech His

Service to father and mother-in-law is not her obligatory 
duty
There is one other matter which needs to be taken cognisance 
of and that is since it is not Waajib for the wife to cook for and 
see to the husband’s and children’s food, so too, to a larger 
extent is it not her obligation to cook for her in-laws. It is a 
misconception in our society that whenever a girl gets married 
146
into a family, then the groom’s parents regard their right over 
the new bride to be even before that of their son. They feel that 
she must serve them. This type of mentality has far-reaching 
effects, the harms of which we are all well aware. 
Her service to her in-laws is from her own goodwill
Understand well! If there is a need to serve the parents, then 
this duty is the responsibility of the son and not the daughter-
in-law. It is however from the goodness of her heart if she 
serves her husband’s parents. The husband has no right to ask 
or force her to serve his parents. If the wife serve her in-laws 
then she will be handsomely rewarded by Allaah Ta`ala. 
Although it is not her obligation to serve them, if she does so 
happily, then besides the tremendous reward she will earn, it 
will also engender a peaceful and happy home environment. 
Appreciate the service of the daughter-in-law
The in-laws and husband must realise and be aware of the fact 
that their daughter-in-law and wife is serving us through the 
goodness of her heart and this is not an obligation on her. They 
must appreciate the services she renders them. They should also 
endeavour to reward her and reciprocate her services (with an 
occasional gift, etc.). 
A strange episode
Hadhrat Doctor Abdul Hayy Saheb (rahmatullah alayh) 
narrates an incident regarding a couple who regularly attended 
his majlis gatherings. They had an 
Islaahi
relationship with 
him. One day they invited Hadhrat for a meal. After the meal, 
Hadhrat, in following the practice and advice of his Sheikh, 
thanked the lady of the house (from behind a Purdah) and he 
praised her cooking and commended the delicious meal. The 
lady broke out into tear and started crying. Hadhrat was 
surprised and wondered what was it that he has said which 

---

145
in your home…”
Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) had stressed 
greatly on having good relations with wives.