A Shaafi' man married a Hanafi woman. Does the woman have to adopt the husband's Math-hab?

Answer

The husband and wife should follow their own respective Math-habs. They should not compromise merely to please one another. For example, if the wife is Hanafi and the husband Shaafi', then he should exercise caution and not compel her to cook such food which is haraam in the Hanafi Math-hab, e.g. lobsters, shrimps, etc. He should not compel her to perform Salaat in the Shaafi' time when it is not Hanafi time. Similarly, she should not do anything which will break his wudhu in terms of the Shaafi' Math-hab.