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give me what is sufficient for me and my children. Can I take <strong>of</strong> his<br />

property without his knowledge ? The Prophet said, "Take what is<br />

sufficient for you and your children in a reasonable way.,,<br />

The question which may arise here is what will happen if the<br />

husband's financial situation does not allow him to discharge his<br />

obli gation to his wife ? In this case, in the opinion <strong>of</strong> some<br />

scholars <strong>of</strong> Islamic law the wife shall be supported financially by her<br />

family, but what she spends is considered as a debt which the husband<br />

must pay when his financial situation improVes. "It is the opinion <strong>of</strong><br />

the Harrifah school that his obligation remains, and the wife shall<br />

a<br />

be supported by her relatives (if she has not got any money to<br />

spend) who would be responsible for her if she were not married.<br />

Also, she may be informed that she has the option <strong>of</strong> borrowing on<br />

his behalf in proportion to her needs. In either case, whatever she<br />

spends becomes a claim or debt against her husband, which he is to<br />

pay when his financial situation improves"<br />

2<br />

1<br />

Islam went further<br />

than that, giving the wife. if they suffer from poverty, the option<br />

between remaining with her husband, or divorce. On the other hand.<br />

Ibn Al-Qayyim pointed out that "the spirit <strong>of</strong> Islamic law depends<br />

on -the<br />

following: - if a-man deceives his wife by misrepresenting<br />

his financial status or deliberately refuses to support her,<br />

leaving her helpless. then she has the right to seek separation from<br />

him. But if she marries him without any prior knowledge <strong>of</strong> his<br />

financial problems, or if his position harden after ease, then she-<br />

has no right to seek separation on account <strong>of</strong> his poverty.<br />

The husband has a duty to take care <strong>of</strong> his wife if she becomes<br />

sick. and to'be a source <strong>of</strong> security to her and to reciprocate her<br />

kindness to him. In the farewell message on the occasion <strong>of</strong> the<br />

last pilgrimage, the Prophet spoke <strong>of</strong> the rights <strong>of</strong> women at great<br />

1. Sahih al-Bukhari, op. cit., P. 212<br />

Abd a0kklý op. cit., P. 151<br />

Ibid<br />

3<br />

96

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