Fatwa against “house husbands”

Several influential Islamic clerics in Malaysia say the practice of house husbands - men who stay home to do housework whiletheir wives work at the office - is un-Islamicand should be prevented. The ruling could hamper government policies to encourage men to take on a larger share of family chores. The government has approved paternity leave and is willing to give tax breaks and other incentives to men who share housework. However, the clerics ruled over the weekend that the practice of house husband is seriously flawed, against “natural order” and conflicts with Islamic sharia law.