The ruling on a wife’s work and the salary she receives in exchange for it
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My wife was working in the Kingdom before I married her. After the marriage, I came to the Kingdom with her as her companion in place of her brother. Now my wife wants to keep her salary independently, on the condition that I work and bear the household expenses, while she invests her time at home in work and earns a salary. She also refuses to stay at home, claiming that she was working before the marriage. What is the ruling in Islam regarding this? And does this salary she receives belong to her alone, or does the husband have a right to it? The person asking this question is the brother Muhammad Osama Isma'il from Abqaiq in the Eastern Province?
Answer: You two must reach a settlement and leave the dispute. If you reach a settlement, there is no harm. Allah the Exalted says first: [Al-Nisa: 128], and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan Ibn Majah 2353Sahih (Darussalam), especially between spouses, for reconciliation between them is required.
Therefore, the believer should strive for reconciliation with his wife and avoid dispute so that it does not lead to divorce and separation. The original ruling is that her salary belongs to her; this is the original ruling. A woman’s salary belongs to her, and a man’s salary belongs to him; each person has what he earns. However, if she permits giving her husband half of the salary, or a quarter, or a third, or the entire salary, there is no harm; the right is hers. And the husband must maintain the house and the household expenses. If she stipulated that she would perform the teaching or the other work she did before marriage, and she stipulated that he allow her to do so, then Muslims are bound by their conditions. But if she did not stipulate that, he has the right to prevent her. He may prevent her from going to teach or do other work, and she should remain in his house. He must provide for her needs, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Abi Dawud 1905Sahih (Al-Albani). However, reconciliation between husband and wife in matters of dispute between them is a required matter. So reconciliation between you, O questioner, is the best thing, so that affection remains, love remains, and the relationship remains. It is incumbent upon each of you to be lenient and not to be strict. You should be satisfied with what is easy, and she should permit what is easy, so that there is no separation between you. We ask Allah for guidance for everyone.
Answer: You two must reach a settlement and leave the dispute. If you reach a settlement, there is no harm. Allah the Exalted says first:
And settlement is better
وَالصُّلْحُ خَيْرٌReconciling between Muslims is permissible, except reconciliation that forbids something that is allowed, or allows something that is forbidden.
الصلح جائز بين المسلمين إلا صلحاً حرم حلالاً أو أحل حراماًTherefore, the believer should strive for reconciliation with his wife and avoid dispute so that it does not lead to divorce and separation. The original ruling is that her salary belongs to her; this is the original ruling. A woman’s salary belongs to her, and a man’s salary belongs to him; each person has what he earns. However, if she permits giving her husband half of the salary, or a quarter, or a third, or the entire salary, there is no harm; the right is hers. And the husband must maintain the house and the household expenses. If she stipulated that she would perform the teaching or the other work she did before marriage, and she stipulated that he allow her to do so, then Muslims are bound by their conditions. But if she did not stipulate that, he has the right to prevent her. He may prevent her from going to teach or do other work, and she should remain in his house. He must provide for her needs, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
You are responsible for providing them with food and clothing in a fitting manner
ولهن عليكم رزقهن وكسوتهن بالمعروف
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.
