Question:
Is it the husband’s responsibility to provide food and clothing for his wife?
Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
Answer:
Yes, it is obligatory upon the husband to provide his wife with food and clothing according to his means and capacity.
Qur’ānic Evidence:
❀ Allah Almighty says:
وَعَلَى الْمَوْلُودِ لَهُ رِزْقُهُنَّ وَكِسْوَتُهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ لَا تُكَلَّفُ نَفْسٌ إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا
(Sūrah al-Baqarah: 233)
“The father (husband) is responsible for the provision and clothing of the mothers in a reasonable manner. No soul is burdened beyond its capacity.”
Prophetic Evidence:
❀ Jābir ibn ʿAbdullāh رضي الله عنه narrated:
لهن عليكم رزقهن وكسوتهن بالمعروف
“It is upon you (husbands) to provide your wives with food and clothing in a reasonable manner.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1218)
Scholarly Consensus:
❀ Ḥāfiẓ al-Nawawī رحمه الله (676 AH):
فيه وجوب نفقة الزوجة وكسوتها وذلك ثابت بالإجماع
“This ḥadīth proves that it is obligatory upon the husband to provide for his wife’s expenses and clothing. This is established by consensus.”
(Sharḥ Muslim, 8/184; Tafsīr al-Khāzin, 1/160)
Conclusion:- Providing food, drink, and clothing to the wife is a mandatory duty of the husband.
- This obligation is established by Qur’an, Sunnah, and the consensus of scholars.
