The woman’s reward if she fairly gives in charity from the house of her husband

16-8-2015 | IslamWeb

Question:

Does the wife have the right to give her family things from her house as a gift, without consulting her husband, knowing that it is he who paid for those things, no matter how cheap they might be?

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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.

It is permissible for a woman to give a small amount from the wealth of her husband in charity, without his leave. This opinion is chosen by Ibn Qudaamah in Al-Mughni. Evidence for this is taken from the narration on the authority of ‘Aa’ishah in which the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:

"If a woman gives in charity from the provisions in her household without causing any harm, she receives a reward for what she gave out, her husband receives a similar reward for what he earned, and the storekeeper receives a reward similar to it, without it detracting from the reward of any of them in the slightest." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Furthermore, the wife, habitually, disposes of the property of her husband, and customary leave may stand in the same position of real permission.

But some scholars are of the opinion that it is absolutely impermissible. However, the former opinion is stronger.

Being so, there is no blame on you, Allaah willing, to give things – of little value – from the property of your husband to your family, without his leave.

Allaah Knows best.