Q. And lastly,
more and more Muslim brothers are marrying and cannot afford to support
a wife. Their families either become a ward of the government or they
experience a life of meagre subsistence. In fact we know of one sister
whose husband was injured on his job. he was awarded a small sum of money
on monthly basis by the government. The money is not enough to maintain
his family. Yet! although he is not disabled to the point where he cannot
work he refuses to look for a job to bring in additional income to support
this family. He claims he is doing Allah's work since he is out to invite
every person he meets to embrace Islam and will not withdraw from Allah's
work for the Dunya. Whose duty is it, then, to support his family? Or
can the sister request a divorce based on her husband's inability to support
this family.
(Ibid)
A. Every Muslim is duty bound to earn livelihood for himself and
for the dependent members of his family. This is not a mundane duty only,
but it is a religious obligation also. The Holy Prophet ( Sallaho Alaihai
Wasallam ) has said:
"To earn the lawful livelihood is a religious duty after the religious
obligations (like prayers, fasting etc.)
Since the dependent members of his family are entitled to get maintenance
from a Muslim head of the family, he cannot avoid his economic responsibilities
on the pretext that he is engaged in religious work. He should provide
his family with their necessary economic requirements and then he can
devote the rest of his time to the work of Tabligh. If he fails to discharge
his duty in this respect and the wife has no other source of livelihood,
she can approach a Muslim court for the dissolution of her marriage from
her husband who does not give her the proper maintenance.
|