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Fatwa CenterAllowing wife to work on condition she provides for herself
Question
Assalaamu alaykum. If a wife wants to work, is it ok if the husband lets her work in exchange of her exempting him from her financial maintenance by him? The husband gives her two options: 1) not work 2) work, but she will be responsible for her maintenance.
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, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
The maintenance of the wife is an obligation upon the husband within reason, and she is not obliged to provide for herself, even if she has wealth or earnings. Please, refer to fatwa 2668901.
However, if the husband stipulated that his wife can work in return for providing for herself, then the most likely correct view – and Allah knows best – is that this condition is valid. The relevant resolution of the Council of the Islamic Fiqh Academy reads, "It is permissible for the spouses to reach a mutual understanding and agreement about how to dispose of the wife's salary or earnings."
Allah knows best.
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