When a sister marries a brother who is not employed, but he promises to take care of her, how long does she put up with his unemployment?

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.

The important matter is not whether a husband has a job or is jobless. Rather what is considered here is whether he is able to bear the expenses of his wife or not because it is compulsory for a husband to spend on his wife according to his ability as mentioned in Fatwa 85361. If the husband is in financial crisis and can not provide his wife with her living necessities, then the wife should be patient as much as possible since it is a sign of her kindness and intimacy. If she has money and supports her husband then it is a praiseworthy act. For details please see Fatwa 86646.

However, there is no limit for the wife’s patience while her husband is in financial crisis. She may even ask for divorce for this reason due to the harm resulting therefrom, or she may endure it all her life.

Allaah Knows best.