The ruling on a husband who does not provide for his wife and children, and guidance from the Shaykh

Question : Shaykh, this questioner says that she is a married woman with sons and daughters. Her husband travels a lot for work. She says he has not given us our rights, so she asked him to give them their right to lodging and financial maintenance, but he tells her, if you do not like this, then ask for a divorce. Do you have any guidance for us?

Answer : Our guidance to this husband is to fear Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) in his own conduct and toward his family, and to fulfill the rights of his wife and children, for he is responsible for them, and because this wife and these children will demand their rights from him on the Day of Resurrection. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "The one who withholds from the wealthy is a wrongdoer, so what about the one who withholds from the needy?" He must fear Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) and not put his wife in a difficult position with this word that should not be uttered. Who is it that believes in Allah and the Last Day? She says, "If you answer me, otherwise ask for a divorce." Glory be to Allah. As long as she is under your protection, you must spend on her in a good manner, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) declared this in the greatest gathering of Muslims. He said on the Day of 'Arafah, while delivering the sermon to the people during the Farewell Pilgrimage, "It is obligatory upon you to provide them with food and clothing in a good manner." Let him fear Allah in his own conduct. Let him account for himself before we account for him. Let him know that the enjoyment of this world is little, and that a person may rise in the morning and not see the evening, or see the evening and not see the morning. We ask Allah to guide us all. O Allah, amen. Let him remind the husbands.
He said, and let him remind the husbands of the saying of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He): . . It mentions the loftiness and greatness of Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
And that if He has given husbands authority over women, then Allah the Exalted is above their authority, so let him always remember this verse so that he does not transgress against the woman.