Financial Obligation On Wife

· 10 Rabiʻ II 1447 AH1 min readEnglish

Question

My husband does not provide food, rent, clothing, etc., for me, nor our children. I am expected to provide for these needs yet I don’t earn a fixed income. I am considering seeking employment to meet these financial obligations. What are the financial rights of a wife over her husband?

Answer

Jurists explain that it is the duty of the husband to provide the wife with food, clothing and shelter, and not vice versa.

In fact, some of the jurists have stipulated seven things, viz; roti or bread, curry, items required for her adornment and beautification, clothing, necessary furniture and goods for the house, accommodation, and if the wife is from such a family that has access to a domestic worker, then a helper too. [Re: Fataawa Uthmaaniyyah Vol:6 Pg:391]

As such, you may kindly inform him that it is not your responsibility to financially support yourself and your children.

References (Arabic / Urdu sources)

النفقة واجبة على زوجها مسلمة كانت أو كافرة إذا سملت نفسها في منزله فعليه نفقتها وكسوتها وسكناها يعتبر ذلك لحالهما جميعا موسرا كان الزوج أو معسرا

(مختصر القدوري ص172)

Answered by
Mufti Abdul Kader Fazlani
Checked & approved by
Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb
Questions about this ruling, answered only from the archive with sources.

Where scholars differ, it’s safer to take the more cautious view.

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