Home
Discover Islam
Quran Recitations
Lectures
Fatwa
Articles
Fiqh
E-Books
Women
Boys & Girls 
Enter Question
View By Subject
Fatwa Of The Week
Selected Fatwa
Fatwa CenterWife's right over her husband's salary
Question
What right does a wife have over her husband's salary in terms of investing for her, and children's future, food, clothing, buying properties, etc in Islam?
Answer
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
The legal rights of a wife upon her husband are to take care of her maintenance such as housing, clothing, medical expenditure etc. according to his capability. His children also have the same rights upon him.
Allah says: {Let the rich man spend according to his means, and the man whose resources are restricted, let him spend according to what Allâh has given him. Allâh puts no burden on any person beyond what He has given him…… } [65:7]
If a husband fails to fulfill the above rights despite of his capability, he commits a major sin since it leads to great harm. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "It suffices a man to be a sinner that he ruins him whom he supports" [ Ahmad, Abu Dawood ]
Islam allows a wife to take from her husband's money what suffices her and her children needs if he is miser who does not fulfill his rights. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) permitted to Hind Bint Utabah (May Allah pleased with her) when she complained to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) about his husband's failure to satisfy her necessities. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said to her: "Take what is reasonable and sufficient for you and your sons" . [ al-Bukhari and Muslim ]
Finally, if a husband fulfills his rights then it is not allowed to a wife to take her husband's money regardless of how little the amount is.
Allah knows best.
Search Fatwa
Fatwa Subject
