Ruling on Divorce from a Husband Who Does Not Provide Financial Support
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah (Tawḍīḥ al-Aḥkām)
What should be done if the wife is working and bearing all the household expenses, while the husband does not work and frequently quarrels?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
According to Islamic Sharīʿah, providing for the household is the husband’s primary responsibility. The wife’s natural and Sharʿī duty is to manage the home, not to shoulder the financial burden. A husband who fails to provide for his wife and children is committing a grave sin. The Qur’ān clearly obligates the man to support his wife and children.
﴿وَعَلَى الْمَوْلُودِ لَهُ رِزْقُهُنَّ وَكِسْوَتُهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ لَا تُكَلَّفُ نَفْسٌ إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا…﴾
(Sūrat al-Baqarah: 233)
“And the father of the child must provide for them (the mothers) and clothe them in a fair manner. No soul shall be burdened beyond its capacity.”
﴿وَعَاشِرُوهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ…﴾
(Sūrat al-Nisāʾ: 19)
“And live with them honorably.”
The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said:
«خير متاع الدنيا المرأة الصالحة»
“The best possession in this world is a righteous wife.”
(Muslim: 1467)
The Qur’ān and ḥadīth repeatedly command the man to fulfill his wife’s and children’s needs — food, housing, clothing, and other necessary expenses. Failure to fulfill these duties will make the husband answerable before Allāh on the Day of Judgment.
If the husband is not fulfilling his Sharʿī obligations, the wife has the right to seek separation. This is a valid and permissible reason upon which divorce (ṭalāq) or judicial annulment (faskh) can be based.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah (Tawḍīḥ al-Aḥkām)
Question:
What should be done if the wife is working and bearing all the household expenses, while the husband does not work and frequently quarrels?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
According to Islamic Sharīʿah, providing for the household is the husband’s primary responsibility. The wife’s natural and Sharʿī duty is to manage the home, not to shoulder the financial burden. A husband who fails to provide for his wife and children is committing a grave sin. The Qur’ān clearly obligates the man to support his wife and children.
Evidence from the Qur’ān:
﴿وَعَلَى الْمَوْلُودِ لَهُ رِزْقُهُنَّ وَكِسْوَتُهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ لَا تُكَلَّفُ نَفْسٌ إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا…﴾
(Sūrat al-Baqarah: 233)
“And the father of the child must provide for them (the mothers) and clothe them in a fair manner. No soul shall be burdened beyond its capacity.”
﴿وَعَاشِرُوهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ…﴾
(Sūrat al-Nisāʾ: 19)
“And live with them honorably.”
Evidence from the Sunnah:
The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said:
«خير متاع الدنيا المرأة الصالحة»
“The best possession in this world is a righteous wife.”
(Muslim: 1467)
Sharʿī Responsibility of the Husband:
The Qur’ān and ḥadīth repeatedly command the man to fulfill his wife’s and children’s needs — food, housing, clothing, and other necessary expenses. Failure to fulfill these duties will make the husband answerable before Allāh on the Day of Judgment.
If the Husband Fails to Provide:
If the husband is not fulfilling his Sharʿī obligations, the wife has the right to seek separation. This is a valid and permissible reason upon which divorce (ṭalāq) or judicial annulment (faskh) can be based.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
