Fatwa ID: 07104

 

Answered by: Maulana Abdul Malik

 

Question:

 

My understanding is that it is the husband’s responsibility to provide food, shelter and clothing and necessities of life to her wife in accordance with the financial status and position of both husband and wife. However, it is not clear to me if a husband is legally obliged to pay for air tickets to enable the wife to travel (assuming she has a mahram to travel with), visit and spend time with her parents. I believe both my wife and myself belong to upper middle-class families.

 

I virtually spend all my earnings on providing for my wife and kids meaning I have no other outside financial commitments to other relatives or family members. Practically, if my wife travels then my two kids have to travel with her and if she asks me to come along then that’s 4 round-trip tickets from Canada to Pakistan costing anywhere from CAD5000-CAD7000.

 

Am I financially responsible to pay for these trips every year so my wife can go and see her parents?

 

 

 

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

 

Answer:

 

Allah states in the Holy Quran; “Let the man of wealth provide according to his means. As for the one with limited resources, let him provide according to whatever Allah has given him”. (Quran, 65:7)

 

It is necessary for a husband to provide Nafaqah (Maintenance) for his wife. This maintenence is inclusive of food, clothing and shelter and the necessities of life accordance with their financial status.(Raddul Muhtar, pg 275-278, vol 5)[1]

 

With regards to your question, a husband is not obligated to pay for his wife’s travel every year to visit her family by the shariah. However, it is recommended and encouraged for him to spend extra on his wife if he can afford it.

 

Abu Mas`ud Al-Ansari (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated:

 

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “When a Muslim spends something on his family intending to receive Allah’s reward it is regarded as Sadaqa for him.” (Sahih al Bukhari, hadith # 5351)[2]

 

 

النفقة: هي لغة ما ينفقه الإنسان علي عياله [1]
و شرعا: (هي المعام و الكسوة و السكنى ) (فتجب للزوجة) بنكاح صحيح

 

 

[2] عَنْ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، فَقُلْتُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ فَقَالَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ إِذَا أَنْفَقَ الْمُسْلِمُ نَفَقَةً عَلَى أَهْلِهِ وَهْوَ يَحْتَسِبُهَا، كَانَتْ لَهُ صَدَقَةً ‏”‏‏.‏‏

 

 

 

Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.

Written by Maulana Abdul Malik

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham