The Grand Imam, in the fourth episode of his Ramadan Program broadcast on Egyptian TV: The wife’s obedience to her husband maintains a great ethical dimension, that is Altruism.
His Eminence the Grand Imam said that the Islamic law focuses on the husband-wife harmony, for the survival of their relationship and the continuity of the family. When the wife obeys her husband, even at the expense of her own desire, she achieves a great ethical dimension, that is altruism. This ensures the continuity and stability of the family. When Islam links the wife's obedience to her husband to this sense of altruism, it seeks to establish the family on a legitimate ruling that aims at sustaining a noble moral principle.
The Imam pointed out that when investigating any Islamic ruling, it is found to be eventually linking to ethics and virtue. The woman who used to fast by day and offer prayer by night, and yet used to do harm to her neighbors in words, did not achieve the moral dimension. Therefore, the Prophet (PBUH) said: “She, despite all her worship deeds, is doomed to Hellfire.” Regarding a woman, observing few worship deeds and keeping up only obligatory duties, without doing harm to her neighbors, the Prophet said, "She is destined to enter Paradise." The Prophet (PBUH) said: "I was sent to perfect good manners."
The Grand Imam stressed that the wife is not free to move around at will when this involves neglecting the right of her husband and children. This is not an unconditional right or freedom, but it’s a violation of the freedom of others. A husband’s right is that his wife does not leave her house without his consent. He indicated that it is a mistake, based on ignorance about the concepts of Islamic law, to consider the husband's permission as interdiction to the wife's freedom or violation of her rights. It is a necessity for the wellbeing of the family.
The Grand Imam's program is broadcast at 6:15 pm daily throughout the Holy Month of Ramadan. The program discusses a number of Muslim family issues, the rights recognized by Islam for husband and wife, and how to preserve the family entity as a basis for building a sound human community.