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Fatwa CenterProviding Household Items and Housemaid for Wife If She Is Not Able to Serve
Question
Assalamalaikum, is it a husband's responsibility to provide household items like a refrigerator, washing machine, Mixer etc. and a housemaid for a wife if she is not able to do whole household work?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
The husband is obliged to spend on his wife to the extent that it is sufficient in terms of food, drink, clothing, housing and other equipment such as furniture and the like. In addition, people's customs are considered in the matter of spending, as Allah Says (what means): {Upon the father is the mothers' provision and their clothing according to what is acceptable.} [Quran 2:233]
The need of the urban woman is different from the need of the woman in the countryside or the desert, just as the husband’s wealth or insolvency status is considered as well, as Allah Says (what means): {Let a man of wealth spend from his wealth, and he whose provision is restricted - let him spend from what Allah has given him. Allah does not charge a soul except [according to] what He has given it.} [Quran 65:7]
In addition, the same thing applies to the servant [housemaid]; not every wife deserves that her husband provides her with a servant. Rather, it varies according to the circumstances. If a woman is at the same position as other women who are usually served, or who is unable to serve due to illness or the like, her husband must provide her with a servant, according to his capacity and ability according to the view of some scholars.
Ibn Qudamah 
from the Hanbali School of jurisprudence, said: “If the woman is one of those who do not serve herself, because she is of a high class in society or is sick, then she must have a servant.” [End of quote]
If a dispute occurs between the spouses [about this issue], then one may take the case to the Shari’a court, and whatever takes its place in non-Muslim countries.
Allah knows best.
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