Justice between wives in external matters is obligatory
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Fatwa number ( 20516 )
Q: We present to your honor a question from an inquirer who says: He has two wives: one is an employee who receives a monthly salary, which is in her hand and she disposes of it as she wishes, and she does not give her husband anything from it. The household expenses, paying the electricity bill, and paying the telephone bill are on the husband; he does them alone, and she does not help him with anything from her salary except that she sometimes buys some cloth from her salary to wear, and the husband pays the tailor’s fee. The other woman has no salary and no work except her home only, and she may have obtained some money from some of her employed daughters, but it does not cover her needs and requirements and her going out with people. As for the expenses and paying the electricity and telephone bills, they are on the husband. So, if the husband gives his second wife, who has no salary, some money or other to cover her needs and requirements and her going out with people, does he
have to be just between the two wives in the gift here or not? And is he required to give the employed woman whenever he gives the woman without a job? Please inform us of what you see so that we can benefit him, and may Allah guide you to good and righteousness, and may Allah preserve you.
A: It is obligatory for the husband to be just between his wives in maintenance, clothing, housing, division of time, gifts, and other external matters. It is not permissible for him to give to one and withhold from the other except with her consent and her relinquishing her right. It is not obligatory for the wife to give her husband anything from her money, but if she offers him something willingly to help her husband who is in need in carrying the burdens of the house and the children, that is a good matter, and through it the relationship improves and affection strengthens. The wife is rewarded for that twice: the reward of charity and the reward of maintaining family ties. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: We present to your honor a question from an inquirer who says: He has two wives: one is an employee who receives a monthly salary, which is in her hand and she disposes of it as she wishes, and she does not give her husband anything from it. The household expenses, paying the electricity bill, and paying the telephone bill are on the husband; he does them alone, and she does not help him with anything from her salary except that she sometimes buys some cloth from her salary to wear, and the husband pays the tailor’s fee. The other woman has no salary and no work except her home only, and she may have obtained some money from some of her employed daughters, but it does not cover her needs and requirements and her going out with people. As for the expenses and paying the electricity and telephone bills, they are on the husband. So, if the husband gives his second wife, who has no salary, some money or other to cover her needs and requirements and her going out with people, does he
have to be just between the two wives in the gift here or not? And is he required to give the employed woman whenever he gives the woman without a job? Please inform us of what you see so that we can benefit him, and may Allah guide you to good and righteousness, and may Allah preserve you.
A: It is obligatory for the husband to be just between his wives in maintenance, clothing, housing, division of time, gifts, and other external matters. It is not permissible for him to give to one and withhold from the other except with her consent and her relinquishing her right. It is not obligatory for the wife to give her husband anything from her money, but if she offers him something willingly to help her husband who is in need in carrying the burdens of the house and the children, that is a good matter, and through it the relationship improves and affection strengthens. The wife is rewarded for that twice: the reward of charity and the reward of maintaining family ties. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.