❀ Wife Taking from Husband’s Wealth Without His Knowledge ❀
Source:
This fatwa is taken from the book “500 Questions and Answers for Women”, which comprises rulings from the scholars of the Haramain, translated by Hafiz Abdullah Saleem.
What is the ruling regarding a wife who takes money from her husband’s wealth without informing him and spends it on their children, and then swears to her husband that she has not taken anything from his wealth? What is the ruling on this action?
A wife is not permitted to take from her husband's wealth without his permission.
Allah ﷻ has forbidden His servants from unjustly consuming one another’s wealth.
The Prophet ﷺ, during the Farewell Pilgrimage, proclaimed:
«فَإِنَّ دِمَاءَكُمْ وَأَمْوَالَكُمْ وَأَعْرَاضَكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ حَرَامٌ كَحُرْمَةِ يَوْمِكُمْ هَذَا…»
"Indeed, your blood, your wealth, and your honor are sacred upon you, just as the sanctity of this day, in this month, in this city."
(Narrated by Ibn Hibban in Kitab al-Manasik)
If the husband is miserly and does not provide sufficient spending for his wife and children, then the wife is permitted to take a sufficient amount from his wealth for their needs—not beyond that.
This ruling is based on the Hadith of Hind bint ‘Utbah رضي الله عنها, who complained to the Prophet ﷺ that her husband (Abu Sufyan) was a miser and did not provide enough for her and her children.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«خُذِي مِنْ مَالِهِ مَا يَكْفِيكِ وَيَكْفِي بَنِيكِ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ»
"Take from his wealth what is sufficient for you and your children, according to what is customary."
(Sahih Muslim – Kitab al-Aqḍiyah)
Thus, she may take only what is reasonable and sufficient, whether or not her husband is aware of it.
If the wife swears before her husband that she did not take anything from his wealth:
Interpretive oaths like these are permissible only in the case of a wronged or oppressed person.
If the wife is neither wronged nor oppressed, then such interpretive swearing is not permissible.
Hence, a woman whose husband withholds obligatory support is considered oppressed, and her taking reasonably from his wealth — as well as an oath based on correct ta’weel — is permitted.
(By: Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ṣāliḥ al-‘Uthaymīn رحمه الله)
Source:
This fatwa is taken from the book “500 Questions and Answers for Women”, which comprises rulings from the scholars of the Haramain, translated by Hafiz Abdullah Saleem.
❖ Question:
What is the ruling regarding a wife who takes money from her husband’s wealth without informing him and spends it on their children, and then swears to her husband that she has not taken anything from his wealth? What is the ruling on this action?
❖ Answer:
A wife is not permitted to take from her husband's wealth without his permission.
Allah ﷻ has forbidden His servants from unjustly consuming one another’s wealth.
The Prophet ﷺ, during the Farewell Pilgrimage, proclaimed:
«فَإِنَّ دِمَاءَكُمْ وَأَمْوَالَكُمْ وَأَعْرَاضَكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ حَرَامٌ كَحُرْمَةِ يَوْمِكُمْ هَذَا…»
"Indeed, your blood, your wealth, and your honor are sacred upon you, just as the sanctity of this day, in this month, in this city."
(Narrated by Ibn Hibban in Kitab al-Manasik)
❖ Exception: If the Husband is Stingy
If the husband is miserly and does not provide sufficient spending for his wife and children, then the wife is permitted to take a sufficient amount from his wealth for their needs—not beyond that.
This ruling is based on the Hadith of Hind bint ‘Utbah رضي الله عنها, who complained to the Prophet ﷺ that her husband (Abu Sufyan) was a miser and did not provide enough for her and her children.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«خُذِي مِنْ مَالِهِ مَا يَكْفِيكِ وَيَكْفِي بَنِيكِ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ»
"Take from his wealth what is sufficient for you and your children, according to what is customary."
(Sahih Muslim – Kitab al-Aqḍiyah)
Thus, she may take only what is reasonable and sufficient, whether or not her husband is aware of it.
❖ Concerning the Oath Taken by the Wife:
If the wife swears before her husband that she did not take anything from his wealth:
- Then such an oath is prohibited (haram), unless it is made with permissible interpretive intention (ta’weel), such as:
- “I did not take anything that was unlawfully forbidden for me,” or
- “By Allah, I did not take anything beyond what was rightfully due to me,” etc.
Interpretive oaths like these are permissible only in the case of a wronged or oppressed person.
If the wife is neither wronged nor oppressed, then such interpretive swearing is not permissible.
Hence, a woman whose husband withholds obligatory support is considered oppressed, and her taking reasonably from his wealth — as well as an oath based on correct ta’weel — is permitted.
(By: Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ṣāliḥ al-‘Uthaymīn رحمه الله)
