Married couple may live with strangers provided Sharee'ah rules are observed

26-4-2013 | IslamWeb

Question:

q1: is it allow for marriage couple in islam to live with someone in their house, who were not relatives of either couple? q2: who is wali in marraige? q3: what is the ruling regarding to the ownership of properties ,such as cash, house any of such kind, and if the wife give her any of such ,should he take and enjoy even her dawry. thank you

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

We will answer these questions in the following points:

Firstly, there is nothing wrong if the married couple live in the house of relatives or strangers, provided that this does not cause any religious violations like prohibited mixing of men and women, or entering upon non-Mahram women while there is no Marhram men, or women taking off Hijab or exposing adornment in the presence of non-Mahram men and the like.

Secondly, we have previously explained the order of the woman's guardians in marriage in Fatwa 83338, so kindly refer to it.

Thirdly, each of the spouses has his/her independent financial liability and whoever gives up of what he/she has willingly while he/she is healthy and has a sound mind, then the other can benefit from it. This includes the Mahr if the wife waived a part or all of it to her husband. Allaah The Almighty says (what means): {And give the women [upon marriage] their [bridal] gifts graciously. But if they give up willingly to you anything of it, then take it in satisfaction and ease.} [Quran 4:4]

Also, it was narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “It is not permissible to take the property of a Muslim except with his consent...” [Ahmad]

For more benefit, kindly refer to Fataawa 162471 and 92134, which clarify that the wife has an independent financial liability.

Allaah Knows best.