Who Is Responsible for Providing for the Family in Islam?
على من يجب الإنفاق على الأسرة؟
Who is responsible for providing for the family?
The answer states that spending on one's wife and children is the man's duty, proves it from Al-Baqarah 2:233, and adds that this spending counts as charity when he seeks Allah's pleasure through it.
Islam places the responsibility of maintenance on the husband so that the family home is stable and secure.
The Duty of Family Maintenance
1. The Obligation on the Man
Providing for one’s wife and children is a duty for a man. (This covers food, clothing, and housing for the family, according to what is customary and to his means.)
2. The Quranic Evidence
Allah Almighty says: (The child’s father will provide reasonable maintenance and clothing for the mother during that period) Al-Baqara 2: 233.
3. The Reward of Charity
And it counts as charity (sadaqah) if one’s intention is to please Allah. (When a man spends on his household with a sincere heart, every expense is counted as a highly rewarded act of worship).
على من يجب الإنفاق على الأسرة؟
يقرر الجواب أن الإنفاق على الزوجة والأولاد واجب على الرجل، ويستدل له بآية البقرة 2:233، ويبين أن هذه النفقة صدقة إذا ابتغى بها وجه الله.
جعل الإسلام مسؤولية النفقة على الزوج ليستقر بيت الأسرة ويأمن.
واجب النفقة الأسرية
1. الوجوب على الرجل
الإنفاق على الزوجة والأولاد واجب على الرجل. (ويشمل ذلك الطعام والكسوة والمسكن للأسرة بالمعروف وبحسب قدرته.)
2. الدليل القرآني
لقوله تعالى: (وَعَلَى الْمَوْلُودِ لَهُ رِزْقُهُنَّ وَكِسْوَتُهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ) البقرة 2 : 233.
3. أجر الصدقة
وهي من الصدقات إذا ابتغى بها وجه الله. (عندما ينفق الرجل على أهل بيته بقلب مخلص، تُحسب كل نفقة كعبادة عظيمة الأجر).
1. What Maintenance Covers | ما تشمله النفقة
Allah obliges the father to provide food and clothing for the mother of his child according to what is reasonable (Al-Baqarah 2:233), and orders the husband to spend according to his capacity (At-Talaq 65:7). When Hind bint Utbah complained that her husband did not give her enough for herself and her child, the Prophet told her to take what would suffice her and her child according to what is reasonable (Sahih al-Bukhari 5364).
الرِّجَالُ قَوَّامُونَ عَلَى النِّسَاءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ وَبِمَا أَنفَقُوا مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ (سورة النساء: 34)
أوجب الله تعالى على المولود له رزق الوالدات وكسوتهن بالمعروف (البقرة 2:233)، وأمر الزوج أن ينفق بحسب سعته (الطلاق 65:7). ولما شكت هند بنت عتبة أن زوجها لا يعطيها ما يكفيها وولدها قال لها النبي ﷺ: "خذي ما يكفيك وولدك بالمعروف" (صحيح البخاري 5364).
2. Maintenance Comes Before Voluntary Charity | النفقة الواجبة قبل التطوع
The Prophet said that the best charity is given while the giver remains self-sufficient, and to begin with those one supports (Sahih al-Bukhari 1426). He also said that it is sin enough for a person to neglect those whom he is responsible for feeding (Sunan Abi Dawud 1692, graded hasan by al-Albani).
وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ قُلِ الْعَفْوَ (سورة البقرة: 219)
قال النبي ﷺ: "خير الصدقة ما كان عن ظهر غنى، وابدأ بمن تعول" (صحيح البخاري 1426)، وقال: "كفى بالمرء إثما أن يضيع من يقوت" (سنن أبي داود 1692، حسنه الألباني).
3. Spending on Family Is Charity | النفقة على الأهل صدقة
The Prophet said that when a man spends on his family seeking reward, it counts as charity for him (Sahih al-Bukhari 55), and told Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas that he is rewarded for whatever he spends seeking Allah's pleasure, even what he places in his wife's mouth (Sahih al-Bukhari 56). He also said that of a dinar spent in Allah's cause, a dinar spent to free a slave, a dinar given to a poor person, and a dinar spent on one's family, the greatest in reward is the one spent on one's family (Sahih Muslim 995).
وَمَا أَنفَقْتُم مِّن شَيْءٍ فَهُوَ يُخْلِفُهُ ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ (سورة سبأ: 39)
قال النبي ﷺ: "إذا أنفق الرجل على أهله يحتسبها فهو له صدقة" (صحيح البخاري 55)، وقال لسعد بن أبي وقاص: "إنك لن تنفق نفقة تبتغي بها وجه الله إلا أجرت عليها حتى ما تجعل في فم امرأتك" (صحيح البخاري 56). وقال: "دينار أنفقته في سبيل الله ودينار أنفقته في رقبة ودينار تصدقت به على مسكين ودينار أنفقته على أهلك، أعظمها أجرا الذي أنفقته على أهلك" (صحيح مسلم 995).
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Is a working wife obligated to share the household expenses?
No, she is not obligated. The financial maintenance of the family is the husband's responsibility in Islam, and any contribution she makes is voluntary and counts as charity when she seeks Allah's pleasure.
What does reasonable maintenance include?
It includes appropriate housing, food, clothing, and essential daily needs, according to the husband's financial ability and what is customary in their society (Al-Baqarah 2:233; At-Talaq 65:7).
Does a man get rewarded for buying food for his family?
Yes. The Prophet told Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas that he is rewarded for whatever he spends seeking Allah's pleasure, even what he places in his wife's mouth (Sahih al-Bukhari 56).
Which spending has the greatest reward?
The Prophet listed a dinar spent in Allah's cause, a dinar spent to free a slave, a dinar given to a poor person, and a dinar spent on one's family, and said that the greatest in reward is the one spent on one's family (Sahih Muslim 995).