What are a man's responsibilities towards his family?

Question: According to Sharia, a man must provide for his wife and children and ensure they have their necessary sustenance. What does this sustenance include?

Answer: According to Sharia, a man is obliged to provide his wife and children with the necessary sustenance. Even if he divorces his wife, the father must provide for the child until a certain age. Allah the Almighty says:

“House the divorced women according to your means wherever you dwell, and do not harm them so as to oppress them. If they are pregnant, provide for them until they give birth. Let the wealthy spend according to his wealth, and let him whose provision is restricted spend from what Allah has given him. Allah does not burden any soul beyond what He has given it. After hardship, Allah will bring ease.” [1]

During the Farewell Pilgrimage, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“Fear Allah concerning women! Provide them with food and clothing in a fitting manner.” [2]

In a hadith narrated by our mother Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): “Hind bint Utbah came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! Abu Sufyan is a very stingy man. He does not give me and my children enough sustenance. Is it a sin if I take from his wealth without telling him?’ The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) replied: ‘Take from his wealth what is sufficient for you and your children.’” [3] These verses and hadiths show that it is obligatory for a man to provide for his family.

A man is obliged to provide sustenance to his wife, whether she is Muslim or non-Muslim, rich or poor. The obligatory sustenance includes food, clothing, and shelter [4].

• 1) The quantity and quality of food and drink should be determined according to the husband’s financial situation.

• 2) Clothing should be complete for the season, from head to toe. According to the Hanafi and Shafi'i schools, new clothing is provided to the wife every 6 months and to the children every 4 months.

• 3) The type of housing depends on the husband’s financial means. The house should also be fully furnished with necessary items for living.

If a man is able to work, he is obliged to do so to provide for his children. If he refuses, he may be compelled to work. If the father is absent or unable to work, the responsibility falls to the next closest relative [5].

The father must provide for his son until he reaches puberty, for his daughter as long as she is under his care regardless of age, and for any disabled son who cannot work, regardless of age.

Department of Sharia and Fatwa

• [1] Surah At-Talaq, verses 6-7.

• [2] Narrated by Muslim.

• [3] Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim.

• [4] Al-Fatawa at-Tatarkhaniyyah fi al-Fiqh al-Hanafi, 3/242

• [5] Al-Fatawa al-Hindiyyah, 1/580-583