Is the wife entitled to a monthly allowance that is just for her, especially if
she has no source of income except what her husband gives her?
Praise be to Allah
What the husband must do is spend on his wife on a reasonable basis, which
includes the costs of accommodation, food, drink and clothing, according to
scholarly consensus, and includes medical treatment and medicine according to
the more correct opinion.
With regard to accommodation, that is because Allah, may He be exalted, says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"Lodge them (the divorced women) where you dwell, according to your means, and
do not treat them in such a harmful way that they be obliged to leave"
[at-Talaaq 65:6].
If this refers to one who is divorced, then it is more applicable to one who is
not divorced.
With regard to food, drink and clothing, that is because Allah, may He be
exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):
"but the father of the child shall bear the cost of the mother's food and
clothing on a reasonable basis"
[al-Baqarah 2:233].
And the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "Their rights
over you are that you should provide for them and clothe them on a reasonable
basis."
Narrated by Muslim (1218).
It was narrated that Mu'aawiyah al-Qushayri said: I said: O Messenger of Allah,
what are the rights of the wife of one of us over him? He said: "That you should
feed her as you feed yourself, clothe her as you clothe yourself, not strike her
on the face or curse her, and not forsake her except in the house (as a form of
discipline)."
Narrated by Abu Dawood (2142) and Ibn Maajah (1850). Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani
in Saheeh Abi Dawood.
Ibn Rushd (may Allah have mercy on him) said: The scholars are agreed that the
rights that the wife has over the husband include maintenance and clothing,
because Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):
"but the father of the child shall bear the cost of the mother's food and
clothing on a reasonable basis"
[al-Baqarah 2:233],
and because the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "Their
rights over you are that you should provide for them and clothe them on a
reasonable basis"; and he said to Hind: "Take what is sufficient for you and
your child, on a reasonable basis." With regard to maintenance, the scholars are
agreed that it is obligatory.
End quote from Bidaayat al-Mujtahid wa Nihaayat al-Muqtasid (2/44).
With regard to medical treatment and medicine, please see the answer to question
no. 83815.
If the husband does that, he has done what is required of him, and he is not
obliged to do anything beyond that, or to give his wife a personal allowance,
unless he chooses to do so.
But the husband should understand the virtue of being generous towards his
dependents, and treating his family kindly, and should understand that whatever
he spends on his wife, he will be rewarded for it, for giving gifts increases
love. So if he is well off, he should not refuse to give her this allowance,
especially if she does not have any other source of income.
Al-Bukhaari (55) and Muslim (1002) narrated from Abu Mas'ood al-Badri (may Allah
be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)
said: "If a man spends on his family, seeking reward for that with Allah, then
it will be counted as an act of charity on his part."
And Muslim (994) and others narrated from Thawbaan, the freed slave of the
Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), [that he said]:
"The best dinar that a man spends is a dinar that he spends on his dependents,
and a dinar that a man spends on his mount (for jihad) for the sake of Allah,
and a dinar that he spends on his companions (in jihad) for the sake of Allah."
Abu Qilaabah said: He began by mentioning his dependents. Then Abu Qilaabah
said: What man earns a greater reward than a man who spends on his young
dependents, whom Allah keeps from needing people or benefits or makes
independent of means through him?
Al-Bukhaari (1295) and Muslim (1628) narrated from Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqaas (may
Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him) said to him: "You will never spend anything, seeking thereby
the pleasure of Allah, but you will be rewarded for it, even a morsel that you
put in your wife's mouth."
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