Book of Marital Relations and Khulʿ (Divorce at the Wife's Request)

Allah the Exalted says: {And live with them in honor} (1). And He the Exalted says: {And due to the wives is similar to what is expected of them, according to what is reasonable} (2). Abū Zayd said: They should fear Allah regarding them, just as it is upon them to fear Allah regarding them. Ibn ʿAbbās said: "I love to adorn myself for my wife just as I love that she adorns herself (3) for me, because Allah the Exalted says: {And due to the wives is similar to what is expected of them, according to what is reasonable}." Al-Ḍaḥḥāk said in his interpretation of this: "If they obey Allah and obey their husbands, then it is upon him to treat her kindly, refrain from harming her, and spend upon her according to his means." Some scholars said: The similarity here refers to each of them fulfilling the rights due to the other in a reasonable manner, without delay, without showing aversion, but rather with cheerfulness and a pleasant demeanor, and without following it with harm or reminders of favors, as Allah the Exalted says: {And live with them in honor}. This is part of what is reasonable. It is recommended for each of them to have good character with their spouse, to be gentle with them, and to endure their annoyance, because of the saying of Allah the Exalted: {And do good to parents, and kinsfolk} up to His saying: {and the neighbor who is near} (4). It is said: This refers to each of the spouses. The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: "Advise each other to treat women well, for they are like captives (5) with you; you took them by the trust of Allah, and you made their private parts lawful by the word of Allah." Narrated by Muslim (6). The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: "Indeed, the woman was created from a crooked rib; she will not be straight for you on one way. So if you set out to straighten her, you will break her, and if you...