Q. We have always been taught that what a woman owns belongs to her and she is not required to pay anything toward the family expenses. However, a book on Shariah law suggests that this applies to what a woman owns before her marriage, or what comes into her possession through inheritance. As for her earnings, the matter is totally different. Please comment.
F. Sanai
A. What you have been taught is right. A woman is not responsible for any of the family expenses. In Islam, this responsibility is fairly and squarely on the husband. Even when a woman is rich and has an income, the same rule applies. Not only so, but even when her income is much higher than that of her husband, the responsibility is his. If he is poor, she may pay him her zakah. In the reverse situation, he cannot pay her his zakah because her expenses should be paid by him. If he were to pay her his zakah, this would become a case of him paying himself.
Having said that, I should add that nowadays, when many wives are working outside the home and have regular income, scholars suggest that there should be some sharing of the financial responsibilities. They point out that when a woman works, she actually uses her time to which her husband has a claim. Moreover, when a woman works, the family expenses become higher, particularly if the children have to be placed in a nursery, or a child minder need to be employed for them. Therefore, sharing becomes a desirable and practical solution.
