Question:-
A husband gives his wife about R700 a month as expenditure. What is the ruling in Islam about additional spending? If she requires medicine or some extra expenses, things which she can do without, should she buy them with her own money or should she ask him? What is the limit of spending on her Islamically ?
Answer:-
The financial background of both spouses is taken into consideration when stipulating a Nafaqah (spending) for the wife. If both spouses have a wealthy background, then she will be given spending of the wealthy, and if both spouses have a poor background, then she will be given spending of the poor. If she is wealthy and he is poor, then she will receive spending more than the poor, and if she is poor and he is wealthy then she will receive spending less than the wealthy. And if one is extremely wealthy and the other is extremely poor, then a moderate spending will be stipulated. [Re:- Mukhtasar ul Quduri Pg.646 – Haashiyah 5] The limit of spending should be stipulated and fixed according to the abovementioned rules.
He is not responsible for her medical treatment nor is it necessary for him to purchase items that are not necessary. However, if the husband spends on her medical needs and purchases additional items for her (which are not necessary), then it will be considered as an Ihsaan or favour from his side. [Re:- Fataawa Mahmoodiyyah Pg.140 Vol.20]
وَالنَّفَقَةُ الْوَاجِبَةُ الْمَأْكُولُ وَالْمَلْبُوسُ وَالسُّكْنَى أَمَّا الْمَأْكُولُ فَالدَّقِيقُ وَالْمَاءُ وَالْمِلْحُ وَالْحَطَبُ وَالدُّهْنُ كَذَا فِي التَّتَارْخَانِيَّة وَكَمَا يُفْرَضُ لَهَا قَدْرُ الْكِفَايَةِ مِنْ الطَّعَامِ كَذَلِكَ مِنْ الْآدَامِ كَذَا فِي فَتْحِ الْقَدِيرِ وَيَجِبُ لَهَا مَا تُنَظِّفُ بِهِ وَتُزِيلُ الْوَسَخَ كَالْمُشْطِ وَالدُّهْنِ، وَمَا تَغْسِلُ بِهِ مِنْ السِّدْرِ وَالْخِطْمِيُّ، وَمَا تُزِيلُ بِهِ الدَّرَنَ كَالْأُشْنَانِ وَالصَّابُونِ عَلَى عَادَةِ أَهْلِ الْبَلَدِ، وَأَمَّا مَا يُقْصَدُ بِهِ التَّلَذُّذُ وَالِاسْتِمْتَاعُ مِثْلُ الْخِضَابِ وَالْكُحْلِ فَلَا يَلْزَمُهُ بَلْ هُوَ عَلَى اخْتِيَارِهِ إنْ شَاءَ هَيَّأَهُ لَهَا، وَإِنْ شَاءَ تَرَكَهُ، فَإِذَا هَيَّأَهُ لَهَا فَعَلَيْهَا اسْتِعْمَالُهُ، وَأَمَّا الطِّيبُ فَلَا يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِ مِنْهُ إلَّا مَا يَقْطَعُ بِهِ السَّهْوَكَةَ لَا غَيْرُ وَيَجِبُ عَلَيْهِ مَا يَقْطَعُ بِهِ الصُّنَانَ، وَلَا يَجِبُ الدَّوَاءُ لِلْمَرَضِ، وَلَا أُجْرَةُ الطَّبِيبِ، وَلَا الْفَصْدُ، وَلَا الْحِجَامَةُ كَذَا فِي السِّرَاجِ الْوَهَّاجِ وَعَلَيْهِ مِنْ الْمَاءِ مَا تَغْسِلُ بِهِ ثِيَابَهَا وَبَدَنَهَا مِنْ الْوَسَخِ كَذَا فِي الْجَوْهَرَةِ النَّيِّرَةِ وَفِي فَتَاوَى أَبِي اللَّيْثِ – رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى – ثَمَنُ مَاءِ الِاغْتِسَالِ عَلَى الزَّوْجِ، وَكَذَا مَاءُ وُضُوئِهَا عَلَيْهِ غَنِيَّةً كَانَتْ أَوْ فَقِيرَةً، وَفِي الصَّيْرَفِيَّةِ: وَعَلَيْهِ فَتْوَى مَشَايِخِ بَلْخٍ وَفَتْوَى الصَّدْرِ الشَّهِيدِ – رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى – وَهُوَ اخْتِيَارُ قَاضِي خَانْ كَذَا فِي التَّتَارْخَانِيَّة فِي بَابِ الْغُسْلِ وَأُجْرَةُ الْقَابِلَةِ عَلَيْهَا حِينَ اسْتَأْجَرَتْهَا، وَلَوْ اسْتَأْجَرَهَا الزَّوْجُ، فَعَلَيْه (الفتاوي الهندية ص549 ج1)
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date: 07 Rajab 1445 /19 January 2024
