Q. Does a husband have the authority or the right to take all his wife’s salary?
Shahab
A. Definitely not. Islam considers women equal to men in all financial matters. This means that a woman owns her money, whether it comes from her work, other income such as rent of property, investment, inheritance, or gifts given to her. She keeps her money and has full authority over its spending. If she gives her husband part or all of her income, this should be with her full agreement. It cannot be the result of coercion or pressure of any kind. A man who deprives his wife of her money, for whatever reason, without her consent, commits a grave sin and he will be accountable to God for it. Even if, under duress, she agrees to his action, it is not lawful for him to take it because of the element of compulsion involved.
Moreover, it is the husband’s responsibility to provide for his wife, even though she may be richer than him. She is not required, as a duty, to pay anything towards the family expenses, not even her own expenses. All these are the responsibility of the husband.
Having said that, I should add that nowadays when many couples are working, and life expenses are very high, an arrangement whereby the wife contributes to meet some of the family expenses is appropriate, provided that it is done with full agreement. Thus, a man and a wife who are both working may agree to share the family expenses, either equally or in a fair proportion. If they do so, then it is permissible for the husband to take the agreed share from his wife to put it in the family budget. The important point in all this is that it should be with full consent.
