Government Directives Vs Husband’s Instructions: The Obedience (Al-Tāʻah) Of Muslim Wife Amidst The Covid-19 Pandemic In Malaysia From Islamic Perspectives

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised compelling questions within Muslim communities, particularly to Muslim wives where their "obedience" faces challenges when they are caught between obeying the government or their husband's directives during the pandemic. This study provides a conceptual analysis that examines the complexities and conflicts that arise when Muslim wives face dilemmas and obstacles in determining their decision of whom to obey during the pandemic-complying with government mandates or adhering to their husband’s wishes in issues related to quarantine, vaccination, travel, and intimate relations. This paper explores the concept of obedience (al-tāʻah) in terms of wife’s obedience to her husband versus government directives during the Covid-19 pandemic in Malaysia. It calls for an expanded understanding of fiqh to encompass the principle of obedience (al-tāʻah) and the duty of obedience (al-tāʻah) within the context of the pandemic. This study aims to scrutinize the degree of compliance a wife owes to her husband per Islamic teaching and, in the meantime, to elucidate the position of obedience which clarifies to whom obedience should be prioritized during the pandemic phase. Thus, it will illuminate how supposed Muslim women balance their husbands’ instructions and the government directives. Employing a qualitative approach, this research seeks to illuminate the Islamic perspective on these pressing issues through jurisprudential text, scholarly interpretations, and legal framework. As a result, the research could potentially reduce marital conflicts between spouses, promote marital harmony during the pandemic, and also can eliminate confusion in implementing government directives that conflict with obedience to the husband.