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Fatwa CenterA wife spends on the house without the husband's approval
Question
A wife has her own wealth and she wants to contribute to the house's expenditures. Sometimes, she wants to get some luxurious things. Other times, she is convinced to buy something while her husband is not or she admires something, food or clothes, and she wants to buy it for herself as well as for her children and husband while he is not there with her. Is she permitted to dispose of her wealth as she wants even if she spends on something related to her house? Her husband disapproves this arguing that he is obliged to spend on the house and that she is not allowed to do so unless he is incapable of satisfying her needs. Is this right under Sharee‘ah? If the wife wanted, for example, to renovate the house but the husband does not want that, will either of them incur a sin if she does this?
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, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.
There is no doubt that the wife's sharing of the household expenditures and other needs with her husband is a praiseworthy action. She will be greatly rewarded for this, as she endears herself to her husband in this way and strengthens the marital relation between them. Such a matter is encouraged by Sharee‘ah and it was the habit of the wives of the righteous predecessors. Here is the example of Khadeejah, 
who used to help her husband, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, with her wealth and never withheld anything from him. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was grateful for this. ‘Aa’ishah narrated that she said: "Whenever the Prophet 
mentioned Khadeejah, he used to highly praise her. Once, I got jealous and said, 'She was an old woman, and Allaah Has Granted you someone better than her [meaning herself].' He said, 'Allaah Has not Granted me anyone better than her. She believed in me when people denounced me, held me truthful when people belied me and supported me with her wealth when people deprived me.'" [Ahmad]
Consequently, sharing your household expenditures with your husband is a great matter, because you are not obliged to do that. On his part, your husband should appreciate this and be grateful to Allaah for having a wife like you. Perhaps your husband disapproves this out of love for you as he wants you to keep your money for you may need it one day. Moreover, you should consult your husband in everything you want to do so that you do not do anything that displeases him. As such, you will displease him while you do not know. Undoubtedly, this is better for you and more likely to maintain affection between you.
Beware of doing anything against your husband's wishes, such as buying furniture, renovating the house or anything similar that he is not pleased with.
Allaah Knows best.
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