Is a wife obligated to spend her own money on the household?

No. In Islamic law, financial responsibility for maintaining the household — food, housing, clothing — rests on the husband, not the wife, regardless of how much she personally earns or owns. The Quran states that men are responsible for the maintenance of women because of the financial obligation Allah has placed upon them (4:34), and separately instructs that a person of means should spend according to his means (65:7). A wife's income, inheritance, dowry, or personal wealth remains entirely her own property to spend, save, or invest as she sees fit; she is not legally obligated to contribute to household expenses even if she is wealthier than her husband. If she chooses to contribute financially, as many women historically and today do out of generosity or shared goals, that contribution is voluntary, and many scholars regard it as an act of charity deserving of extra reward on top of what she is owed. This structure was designed to protect women's financial security within marriage, ensuring they retain an independent financial cushion regardless of the marriage's stability, rather than being financially entangled with their husband's fortunes.

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