Answer
Wa ‘alaykum As-Salamu waRahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In this fatwa:
- A woman has the right to do what she likes with her money and property.
- A husband has no right to claim her salary except with her approval.
Answering your question, the General Iftaa’ Department in Jordan, states the following:
In Islam, a woman has the right to do what she likes with her money and property. Therefore, a husband has no right to claim her salary except with her approval. Not only this, but he is also obliged to spend on her, and she is entitled to this (provision) more than his parents, even if they were poor.
Allah the Almighty said: “Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because God has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means.” (An-Nisaa‘ 4:34)
Accordingly, the husband can neither dispose of wife‘s salary, nor spend any of it on household expenses except with her approval. This is because he is obliged to spend on her from his money, not from hers, and the relationship between the two should be based on love and respect.
Moreover, it is desired for the wife to help her husband in matters of this world or the one to come. Whatever contribution she makes is an act of charity, and it is desired for her to help in covering household expenses, even if the husband‘s salary is sufficient.
This noble act will create familial happiness and satisfaction as long as both of them have agreement. If they don‘t, then the help of their righteous relatives should be sought to settle their dispute.
We remind them of the Prophet‘s Hadith, where he (peace be upon him) said: ” If anyone constantly seeks pardon (from Allah), Allah will appoint for him a way out of every distress and a relief from every anxiety, and will provide sustenance for him from where he expects not.” (Abu Dawud)
Almighty Allah knows best.
Source: www.aliftaa.jo