Is a divorced wife obliged to share life expenses with husband during `Iddah?
Fatwa No: 172367

Question

I married for 1 year then one divorced because he wants me to share expenses half half then before eddat finnish we agee iwill share the painment we stayed three months now my husband wants to marry his first wife,the first wife she had gone to islamic court to claim for divorce and outside husband willing court gave divorce and after she married another man and she got divorce again now my husband wants to marry her again iam working lady butnow i am asking is this correct tmake me pay half of the expenses like rent food water and electricity and no clothing and hospital expenses for me

Answer

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 is His slave and Messenger.

We have already clarified that it is an obligation upon the husband to provide his wife with food, clothing and accommodation and the like, and that the wife is not obliged to spend on herself or to share these expenses, but if she does so out of her own free will, then she will be rewarded for doing so. In this regard, please refer to Fatwa 168551.

However, if the wife wants to reconcile with her husband by renouncing her right upon him, such as the obligation of bearing her expenses and the like, then this is permissible. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And if a woman fears from her husband contempt or evasion, there it no sin upon them if they make terms of settlement between them — and settlement is best. And present in [human] souls is stinginess. But if you do good and fear Allaah — then indeed Allaah is ever, with what you do, Acquainted.}[Quran 4:128]

Indeed, when interpreting this verse, Al-Bukhari reported that ‘Aa’ishah said, “It is the woman who is with a husband who is not satisfied with her and he wants to divorce her and marry another woman. And so, she tells him, “Keep me and do not divorce me, and marry another woman and you do not have to spend on me or stay overnight with me.

Indeed, the Prophet reconciled with Sawdah bint Zam’ah as he wanted to divorce her, so she allocated her night to ‘Aa’ishah provided that the Prophet kept her as a wife and he agreed to it. [Abu Daawood]

As regards marrying another wife, then this is permissible for whoever is able to be just between his two wives as we clarified in Fataawa 81469 and 88728.

Allaah Knows best.

Related Fatwa