Book of Maintenance (Nafaqat)
The maintenance of a wife is obligatory by the Book (Quran), the Sunnah, and consensus (ijma). As for the Book, it is the saying of God Almighty: "Let a man of wealth spend from his wealth, and he whose provision is restricted - let him spend from what God has given him. God does not charge a soul except [according to] what He has given it" (Surah al-Talaq: 7). The meaning of "qudira alayhi" is: made narrow/restricted for him. From this is His saying, Exalted is He: "God extends provision for whom He wills and restricts [it]" (Surah al-Ra'd: 26), meaning: He expands it for whom He wills, and restricts it for whom He wills. God Almighty also said: "We have certainly known what We have made obligatory upon them concerning their wives and those their right hands possess" (Surah al-Ahzab: 50). As for the Sunnah, it is what Jabir narrated, that the Messenger of God (peace and blessings of God be upon him) addressed the people and said: "Fear God regarding women, for they are like captives (awan) under your care; you have taken them by the trust of God and made their private parts lawful [by the word of God], and they have the right upon you to be provided with their food and clothing in a reasonable manner." Recorded by Muslim and Abu Dawud. It was also recorded by al-Tirmidhi, with his chain of narration from Amr ibn al-Ahwas, who said: "Indeed, you have a right upon your women, and your women have a right upon you; as for your right upon your women, they must not allow anyone you dislike to step on your floor, and they must not give permission in your houses to anyone you dislike. Indeed, and their right upon you is that you..."
(1) Surah al-Talaq: 7. (2) Surah al-Ra'd: 26. (3) In [M]: "upon whom". (4) Surah al-Ahzab: 50. (5) In [A]: "by the words of God". The word of majesty (Allah) did not appear in [B] or [M]. (6) Its documentation was mentioned previously, in: 5/156. (7) In: The chapter on what has been said regarding the right of the wife upon her husband, from the chapters on breastfeeding; and in: The chapter on what is in Surah al-Tawbah, from the chapters on interpretation. 'Aridat al-Ahwadhi 5/111, 11/227-230. It was also recorded by Ibn Majah, in: The chapter on the right of the wife upon the husband, from the Book of Marriage. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/594. (8) The 'wa' (and) was omitted from [B] and [M].
