Fatwa ID: 03830
Answered by: Maulana Abdul Muktader
Question
Must the husband tell his wife his specific financial information like monthly expenses, bills etc.? Please can I request a detailed response with Quran and Hadith evidence. Jazak Allah Khair.
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Allah instructs the husband to meet all expenses on maintenance of the wife and children,
وَعَلَى الْمَوْلُودِ لَهُ رِزْقُهُنَّ وَكِسْوَتُهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ لَا تُكَلَّفُ نَفْسٌ إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ- 2:233
Upon the father are the mothers' provision and their clothing according to what is acceptable. No person is charged with more than his capacity.
There is no condition of telling the wife the specific details of the expenses etc. as long as the obligation is fulfilled.
عَنْ أَسْمَاءَ بِنْتِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، أَنَّهَا جَاءَتِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَتْ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ لَيْسَ لِي شَىْءٌ إِلاَّ مَا أَدْخَلَ عَلَىَّ الزُّبَيْرُ فَهَلْ عَلَىَّ جُنَاحٌ فِي أَنْ أَرْضَخَ مِمَّا يُدْخِلُ عَلَىَّ فَقَالَ " ارْضَخِي مَا اسْتَطَعْتِ وَلاَ تُوكِي فَيُوكِيَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلَيْكِ " .
(رواه النسائي في المجتبى رقم الحديث ٢٥٥٢)
It was narrated from Asma' bint Abi Bakr that she came to the Prophet and said:
"O Prophet of Allah, I do not have anything but that which Az-Zubair brings to me. Is there any sin on me if I give a small amount of that which he brings to me?" He said: Give whatever you can, and do not withhold what you have, lest Allah withholds provision from you."
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ جَلَسَ إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ امْرَأَةً، فَتَعَاهَدْنَ وَتَعَاقَدْنَ أَنْ لاَ يَكْتُمْنَ مِنْ أَخْبَارِ أَزْوَاجِهِنَّ شَيْئًا ……
قَالَتِ الْحَادِيَةَ عَشْرَةَ زَوْجِي أَبُو زَرْعٍ فَمَا أَبُو زَرْعٍ أَنَاسَ مِنْ حُلِيٍّ أُذُنَىَّ، وَمَلأَ مِنْ شَحْمٍ عَضُدَىَّ، وَبَجَّحَنِي فَبَجِحَتْ إِلَىَّ نَفْسِي….. (رواه البخاري)
Narrated by`Aisha:
Eleven women sat (at a place) and promised and contracted that they would not conceal anything of the news of their husbands…..
The eleventh one said, "My husband is Abu Zar` and what is Abu Zar` (i.e., what should I say about him)? He has given me many ornaments and my ears are heavily loaded with them and my arms have become fat (i.e., I have become fat). And he has pleased me.
(Bukhari)
The womenfolk of the companions would accept what their husband would give them and they wouldn't know or ask about the specifics of their husbands' finances.
In summary, the husband isn't obligated to tell his wife his specific financial information but if he was to tell her out of his will and to put her heart at ease, then he may do so.
Only Allah knows best
Written by Maulana Abdul Muktader
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
