Islamic Fiqh > Marriage and family > Nafqa (the wife's maintenance)
The wife's nafqa: lodging, food, clothing by the husband's means, and the rule upon divorce and dispute cases.
The wife's nafqa covers suitable housing, food, clothing and care, per the husband's means and the country's custom. It is due from the husband in all circumstances per the jumhur, even if the wife is rich: her wealth stays her own property. In case of dispute, the wife seizes the judge or the competent instance, since maintenance default can become a motive for the judicial dissolution of the marriage (tafriq).
Updated on 07 October 2026 at 6:42 PM
Al-Mughni by Ibn Qudama · Hanbali school
He said: "If he marries off his slave girl and stipulates that she remain with them by day, and that he send her to him by night, the contract and the condition are permitted, and the maintenance (nafqa) is due from the husband for the duration of her stay with him."
Suitable housing, food, clothing, care, per the husband's means and the country's custom.
Yes: due by the husband in all circumstances per the jumhur; the wife's wealth stays her own property.
Seize the judge or competent instance: maintenance default is a judicial dissolution motive (see the tafriq page).