701. Should A Woman Fast When Her Husband Is Present?

By Asma Bint Shameem

The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam said: 

“No woman should fast when her husband is present without his permission, and she should not allow anyone to enter his house when he is not present, without his permission.” (al-Bukhari 4899 and Muslim 1026). 

Imaam al-Nawawi said: 

“This hadeeth indicates that the wife should not overlook the right of the husband not to let anyone enter his house except with his permission. This is to be understood as referring to situations where she does not know whether her husband would approve. 

But if she knows that her husband would approve of it, then there is no sin on her, such as one whose custom is to admit guests to a place that is prepared for them, whether he is present or not, so admitting them does not need special permission from him.”

In other words, if there’s a *general understanding* between the husband and wife, and he does not have any objection to her fasting, then she does not have to ask her husband every time she wants to fast. 

But if the husband has clearly told his wife that he does not want her to fast on a *specific* day, then it is not allowed for her to fast that day. 

The basic rule is that the husband is the head of the household and the wife should obey him. 

And part of that obedience is to ask the husband’s permission before fasting and before going somewhere, inviting someone etc. 

And Allaah knows best.