Aslam

Praise be to Allah.

They should come to some agreement concerning this issue

– the sharing of household expenses between a husband and wife who both

go out to work and earn a living – and avoid any dispute concerning

it.

With regard to how that should be done, this depends

on a number of things, as discussed below:

1 – If your husband stipulated in the marriage contract

that expenses are to be shared otherwise he will not let you work, then

the Muslims are bound by their conditions, as the Prophet SAWS (peace

and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

“The Muslims are bound by their conditions, except for

conditions which forbid something that is permitted or permit something

that is forbidden.” And he SAWS (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon

him) said:

“The conditions which are most deserving of fulfilment

are those by means of which sexual intimacy becomes permissible for

you.”

So you are bound by the conditions you made, if you made

any conditions [in your marriage contract].

2 – If you did not make any conditions, then the household

expenses are all the responsibility of the husband, and the wife does

not have to pay any of the household expenses; he is the one who has

to pay them. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Let the rich man spend

according to his means”

[al-Talaaq 65:7]

And the Prophet SAWS (peace and blessings of Allaah be

upon him) said: “You are obliged to spend on them and clothe them according

to what is reasonable.”

So spending is the obligation of the husband. He is the

one who should take care of the household needs and his own needs and

those of his wife and children. (The wife’s) money and salary belong

to her, because that is given in return for her work and her efforts.

(The husband) draw up the marriage contract on that basis, and he did

not stipulate any condition that she should pay the household expenses,

or half of them, etc. – unless she gives up any part of her salary of

her own good pleasure,

“but if they, of their

own good pleasure, remit any part of it to you, take it, and enjoy it

without fear of any harm (as Allaah has made it lawful)”

[al-Nisaa’ 4:4]

But if the marriage contract was drawn up on the basis

of any such condition, then the Muslims are bound by their conditions.

But we advise you to give up part of your salary to your

husband in order to please him and to resolve the dispute and solve

the problem, so that you may live in peace and harmony. So agree upon

something between yourselves, such as one half of the salary, or one-third,

or one-quarter, etc., so that the problem will be solved and so that

love and harmony may take the place of conflict. Or perhaps he will

agree and be content with what Allaah has decreed for him, and he will

spend according to his means, and he will forego all of your salary

and have some pride concerning the matter. But if that is not possible,

then there is no reason why you should not refer the matter to the courts

in the city where you live, and whatever the shar’i court decides will

be sufficient, in sha Allah. May Allaah help you both.