Answer
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:
According to Islamic teachings, a wife should be encouraged to contribute to family expenses if her husband has lost his job and is struggling to provide. This act is considered a noble form of charity for which she will be doubly rewarded, and it strengthens the family unit.
Responding to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:
Your wife should be encouraged to contribute towards the family expenses if you have lost your job and are facing challenges supporting your family. She should be proud of doing so, and she will be rewarded.
She should emulate the exemplary precedent of lady Khadijah, who helped the Prophet (peace be upon him) with her wealth, and the Prophet never tired of expressing his gratitude towards her for her sacrifices on his behalf.
Another precedent she can learn from is that of the wife of the eminent companion of the Prophet, Abdullah ibn Mas`ud asked the Prophet whether she would be rewarded for helping her husband with her health as he was poor. The Prophet told her she would receive double rewards for doing so: rewards for charity and for strengthening the family bonds.
👉 Read more about related issues concerning Islamic family finance and responsibilities:
- Can Husband Prevent Wife From Working?
- Can Husband Use Wife’s Money in Islam?
- Can Husband and Wife Have Joint Bank Account?
- Can Wife Spend On Parents Without Informing Husband?
- Does Working Woman Have to Share in the Household Expenses?
- Is Husband Responsible for Wife’s Education Fees?
Can a Husband Take His Wife’s Salary by Force?
Almighty Allah knows best.