Financial Resources for Women in Islam (1)

الموارد المالية للمرأة في الإسلام

Financial Resources for Women in Islam (Part One)

Translated by: Reza Ervani bin Asmanu

This article on Financial Resources for Women in Islam is part of the Family Education category

هذا العنوان يلزمني أن أكتب تفصيلاً لتلك الموارد بلا إجمال لأمرها ، مع بيان لسندها الشرعي الذي لا يأتيه الباطل من بين يديه ولا من خلفه ، لأنه تشريع الحكيم الحميد – سبحانه وتعالى – وحتى نحسم شبهات الطاعنين الذين يحلو لهم اتخاذ شؤون المرأة هدفًا لسهامهم الكليلة التي لن تنال من شرعة الله – تعالى – بحال .

This title compels me to elaborate on these financial resources in detail, without generalizing them, and to clarify their legitimate basis, which falsehood can never approach from before it or behind it, as it is legislation from the All-Wise, the Praiseworthy – Glorified and Exalted is He. This is also to refute the doubts of those critics who take pleasure in targeting women’s affairs with their blunt arrows, which will never harm the divine law of Allah – the Exalted – in any way.

وهذا جانب – من جوانب حقوق المرأة في الإسلام – له تحديه الصارم أمام قوانين الأرض جميعًا ليعلم ذو نَصَفَةٍ من الناس أن شرعة الله غالية ، وأنها منصفة ذات عدل ورحمة ، وتلك صورة لما حضرني من موارد المرأة المالية في الإسلام .

This is one aspect of women’s rights in Islam – it strongly challenges all worldly laws, so that those with fairness among people may understand that the law of Allah is precious, fair, just, and merciful. What follows is a depiction of the financial resources that came to mind concerning women in Islam.

1. Right to Financial Support (Nafaqah)

حقها في النفقة عليها : سكنًا وكسوةً ومطعمًا ومشربًا وعلاجًا ، أي ما يغطي حاجاتها جميعًا بالمعروف .

Her right to financial support includes housing, clothing, food, drink, and medical care – that is, all her basic needs provided in a decent manner.

هذا الحق كفله لها الشرع ، الشريف فألزم به أبويها ، أو عصبتها ، (نشأةً إلى الدخول بها ) ، فلم يُضيعْها كما تفعل القوانين الغربية إذا بلغت الفتاة بينهم سن السادسة عشرة ؛ فإنها لا تُلزم والديها بإيوائها ولا بكفالتها ، وهذا أمر معروف لا يَعْضَى له الكاتبون ضد الإسلام .

This right is guaranteed by the noble Shari’ah and is imposed upon her parents or male relatives (from childhood until she marries), so she is never neglected as Western laws often do—where a girl, upon reaching the age of sixteen, is no longer the responsibility of her parents to house or support. This is a well-known fact not denied even by those who write against Islam.

إن الأبوين ، فالعصبة ملزمون بأداء هذا الحق من حقوقها حتى تنتقل بالدخول بها إلى بيت زوجها ؛ فيكون ملزمًا بأداء هذا الحق لها ؛ فإذا فقدت الزوج – لوفاة أو طلاق – كان لهذه الحقوق عودة إلزام إلى الأبوين أو العصبة في حال افتقارها .

The parents or the male relatives (ʿaṣabah) are obligated to fulfill this right until she enters the household of her husband through marriage. Then, it becomes the husband’s obligation to provide this support. If she loses her husband due to death or divorce and is in need, this obligation returns to her parents or male relatives.

وهذا الجانب مَنْ الحق المالي بجواره إلزام من يتعلق به هذا الحق بالمحافظة عليها ، وصيانتها ، وتوفير كرامتها . وقد تكفلت مصادر الفقه الإسلامي بتفصيل هذا الحق .

This aspect of financial right is accompanied by an obligation upon the responsible party to protect her, safeguard her well-being, and preserve her dignity. The sources of Islamic jurisprudence have explained this right in detail.

2. Right to Inheritance

وللمرأة نصيب مالي محدد – من “الميراث” حدده الكتاب العزيز على أي حال كان وضعها : زوجة ، أو جدةً ، أو أمًا ، أو بنتًا ، أو أختًا 

A woman has a defined financial share from inheritance, as determined by the Noble Qur’an, regardless of her position: whether as a wife, grandmother, mother, daughter, or sister.

وفي سورة النساء الآيات الحادية عشرة والثانية عشرة والثالثة عشرة ، ثم آخر آياتها تفصيل لنصيبها في أي أحوالها قال تعالى :

Surah An-Nisa (verses 11, 12, 13, and the concluding verses) elaborates on her share in all circumstances. Allah the Exalted says:

يُوصِيكُمُ اللَّهُ فِي أَوْلَادِكُمْ ۚ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الْأُنْثَيَيْنِ ۚ فَإِن كُنَّ نِسَاءً فَوْقَ اثْنَتَيْنِ فَلَهُنَّ ثُلُثَا مَا تَرَكَ ۖ وَإِن كَانَتْ وَاحِدَةً فَلَهَا النِّصْفُ ۚ وَلِأَبَوَيْهِ لِكُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِّنْهُمَا السُّدُسُ مِمَّا تَرَكَ إِن كَانَ لَهُ وَلَدٌ ۚ فَإِن لَّمْ يَكُن لَّهُ وَلَدٌ وَوَرِثَهُ أَبَوَاهُ فَلِأُمِّهِ الثُّلُثُ ۚ فَإِن كَانَ لَهُ إِخْوَةٌ فَلِأُمِّهِ السُّدُسُ ۚ مِن بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصِي بِهَا أَوْ دَيْنٍ ۗ آبَاؤُكُمْ وَأَبْنَاؤُكُمْ لَا تَدْرُونَ أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ لَكُمْ نَفْعًا ۚ فَرِيضَةً مِّنَ اللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا (١١)

Allah instructs you concerning your children: for the male, the share of two females. But if there are only daughters, more than two, then they receive two-thirds of what he left. If there is only one, then she receives half. And for his parents, each one of them receives one-sixth of what he left if he had a child. But if he had no child and his parents inherit from him, then for his mother is one-third. But if he had siblings, then for his mother is one-sixth. (All of this is) after the fulfillment of any bequest he may have made or any debt. Your parents and your children — you do not know which of them is nearer to you in benefit. (This is) an obligation from Allah. Indeed, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. — (Surah An-Nisa, verse 11)

وَلَكُمْ نِصْفُ مَا تَرَكَ أَزْوَاجُكُمْ إِن لَّمْ يَكُن لَّهُنَّ وَلَدٌ ۚ فَإِن كَانَ لَهُنَّ وَلَدٌ فَلَكُمُ الرُّبُعُ مِمَّا تَرَكْنَ ۚ مِن بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصِينَ بِهَا أَوْ دَيْنٍ ۚ وَلَهُنَّ الرُّبُعُ مِمَّا تَرَكْتُمْ إِن لَّمْ يَكُن لَّكُمْ وَلَدٌ ۚ فَإِن كَانَ لَكُمْ وَلَدٌ فَلَهُنَّ الثُّمُنُ مِمَّا تَرَكْتُم ۚ مِن بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ تُوصُونَ بِهَا أَوْ دَيْنٍ ۗ وَإِن كَانَ رَجُلٌ يُورَثُ كَلَالَةً أَوِ امْرَأَةٌ وَلَهُ أَخٌ أَوْ أُخْتٌ فَلِكُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِّنْهُمَا السُّدُسُ ۚ فَإِن كَانُوا أَكْثَرَ مِن ذَٰلِكَ فَهُمْ شُرَكَاءُ فِي الثُّلُثِ ۚ مِن بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصَىٰ بِهَا أَوْ دَيْنٍ غَيْرَ مُضَارٍّ ۚ وَصِيَّةً مِّنَ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَلِيمٌ (١٢)

And for you (husbands) is half of what your wives leave if they have no children. But if they have children, then for you is one-fourth of what they leave — after any bequest they may have made or debt. And for them (wives) is one-fourth of what you leave if you have no children. But if you have children, then for them is one-eighth of what you leave — after any bequest you may have made or debt.

And if a man or a woman is inherited from (as a kalalah — one who has neither ascendants nor descendants), and he has a brother or a sister, then each one of them receives one-sixth. But if there are more than that, they share in one-third — after any bequest that was made or debt, as long as there is no harm (to the heirs). This is an instruction from Allah. And Allah is All-Knowing, Most Forbearing. — (Surah An-Nisa, verse 12)

ولا يفوتني – عقب الحديث عن حقها في الميراث – أن أبين هنا أمرين :

I must not overlook – after discussing her inheritance rights – to clarify two important points:

أولها : أن المرأة ليست ملزمة بنفقة شرعية قِبلَ نفسها ، أو قِبَلَ أحد .

First: A woman is not obligated under Islamic law to financially support herself or anyone else.

ثانيهما : أنها – باعتبار ما كفل لها الشرع الشريف من (ذمة مالية مستقلة) لها أن تستغل مالها بطرق مشروعة ، مما يجعل نصيبها المالي يتضاعف دون أن تنتقصه واجبة عكس الحال في الرجال .

Second: Since Islamic law grants her an independent financial entity, she has the right to manage her wealth through lawful means. This allows her wealth to multiply without being reduced by obligatory expenses, unlike the case for men.

To be continued in the next part, in shaa Allah

Source: IslamWeb