Is a woman rewarded for the household chores and domestic responsibilities she performs during Ramadan?

Islamic law encourages women to seek all that brings them tranquility, affection, happiness, and a sense of security. Foremost among these, and forming their foundation, is striking a balance between a woman’s obedience to her Lord and her obedience to her husband, obeying him only in what is lawful. ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “If a woman prays her five [daily] prayers, fasts her month [of Ramadan], guards her chastity, and obeys her husband, she will be told, ‘Enter [Paradise] through whichever of its gates you wish’”
(recorded by Ahmad, al-Tabarani in Al-Awsat, and by Ibn Hibban and al-Bazzar).

A woman’s reward for her household duties

A woman who fulfills her duties to her Lord and attends to her household, seeking reward and recompense from Allah, is rewarded for her efforts. Indeed, by Allah’s will, she will attain the reward of those who strive in the cause of Allah. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that a group of women approached the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) and said, “O Messenger of Allah, men gain virtue by going out to strive in the path of Allah. Is there any deed by which we may attain the reward of the mujahidin (strivers) in the cause of Allah?” He replied, “The work of one of you in her home equals the deed of the mujahidin who strive in the cause of Allah”
(recorded by Abu Ya‘la and by al-Bayhaqi in Shu‘ab al-Iman). Although this hadith contains some weakness in its chain of transmission, it may be acted upon in matters concerning virtuous deeds, as in the case in question. It is established that weak hadiths may be applied to acts of virtue, provided they are not fabricated or severely weak, that they fall under a general established principle, and that one does not believe them to be definitively authentic when acting upon them.[1]

Commenting on the hadith, Imam al-Manawi noted in Fayd al-Qadir (6:247) that a woman attains, by the will of Allah, the same reward as that of the mujahidin who strive in the cause of Allah—that is, she earns the same virtue and reward from Allah. Furthermore, her work at home is considered a righteous deed that falls under the category of good deeds encouraged by Islamic law, for which she earns abundant reward, as promised by Allah, and which is a means to attaining full recompense from the Lord of the worlds. Allah Almighty says, “Whoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female, while being a believer—We will surely grant them a good life, and We will surely reward them according to the best of what they used to do”
(Quran, 16:97).

A woman’s multiplied reward for doing household chores in Ramadan

If a woman is generally rewarded for her work in her home, then her reward is even greater when she performs it while fasting, because of the added hardship. Indeed, this reward is multiplied for her in Ramadan due to month’s honor and virtue, as established by scholars.

The ruling

Based on the above, a woman is rewarded for the household chores and responsibilities she performs both in Ramadan and at other times. However, her reward in Ramadan is multiplied, as she carries out these tasks despite the hardship of fasting. It is recommended that she intend by her work— It is recommended that she carry out her work—whether while fasting or not—for the sake of Allah Almighty, for this is more conducive to attaining abundant reward.

And Allah Almighty knows best.