Question:
Assalamualaikum wa rahmatullah,
my question is about the wife’s money and whether the husband has any rights to share or interfere with it, knowing that its source is from her own separate work, as I heard a fatwa that when she thinks of giving out money (sadaka0 she must ask first for his opinion, is that true??
Jazaakumullah Khayran
Answer:
Whatever the wife earns is her property alone. The husband has no rights over her property. She is permitted to spend her wealth in whichever way she sees fit. However her husband may raise objections by her giving Sadaqah or presents to strange people, and query as to why be she in contact with strange men. This can create doubts in the mind of the husband. It is also possible that the wife won’t be able to differentiate as to who is more deserving of this Sadaqah and who isn’t, and by this people may deceive her into giving them money. Further more it is possible that the wife may purchase goods and bring it to the house. She may not grant him permission to use those goods. Instead she remains bossy over her goods. He may also feel inferior and disrespected by her having more things in the house compared to him. The outcome of this may just be fighting, loss of love for each other and inevitably divorce. It is for these very reasons that the Hadith advised the wife to give Sadaqah with the permission of her husband so that there may remain peace and harmony, good management and good understanding between the spouses. However, this remains an advice and not an obligation. So if a wife give her wealth in Sadaqah without the permission of her husband, it will be correct.
And Allah Ta’ala knows best
Mufti Muhammad Ashraf
Darul Iftaa
Jameah Mahmoodiyah
Springs
15 May 2006
10 Jumaadul Oola 1427