It is difficult for my husband to find a job,it is easy for me.Allaah has made it easy for me,i can pray at my work premises.I feel that i should be at home,but with no income it is difficult.My husband do not ask for fitra or any other assistence.Is it right for him to leave all his means to Allaah,and not asking fellow muslims for assistance with a job? He would like to study further in islam,but we are short on cash.Can i buy his study books?he does not want me to,but i can see by studying islam,live islam fully will make him happy.Is it a sin for me to feel burdened with his responsibilty by providing for the family besides spiritual guiding?He has been working on and off for 3 years now.We have 2 kids,his family is not supportive and i only have my mother who helped me out,algamdoelillaah.

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.

Undoubtedly, it is better for a woman to stay at home; this reflects piety on her part. It is her husband who is required to spend on his wife and children. It is blameworthy if the husband is able to work and he does not do so, and he could even be sinful. The Prophet said: “It is enough a sin for a person not to provide means of sustenance to those whom he is obliged to support.” [Muslim].

If a woman takes the burden of spending on herself, the children [and her husband], or participates in spending and fulfilling the house requirements, then she is rewarded for doing so, Allaah willing, and she is not sinful. She is to be thanked and praised for what she does especially if her husband is unable to work, or that his earnings are not enough, or that he experiences financial difficulties and the like. In this case, she will get a great reward from Allaah for her expenditures as this is being kind to her husband and strengthens the marital relationship between them; which is something religiously urged. This is what the wives of the righteous predecessors used to do. For instance Khadeedjah used to help her husband who was the Prophet with all her money, and she was not saving any, and he was grateful to her for doing so.

Similarly, you will be rewarded, Allaah willing, for buying books for your husband and helping him in seeking religious knowledge, and we ask Allaah to enable you to do good and help you to perform more righteous deeds.

For more benefit on the conditions for a woman to work, please refer to Fatwa 82399.