Obligatory Maintenance — The Rights of Wife and Children Over Husband and Father
fiqh
Level: intermediate
family
fqh-031
وَعَلَى ٱلۡمَوۡلُودِ لَهُۥ رِزۡقُهُنَّ وَكِسۡوَتُهُنَّ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِ
— البقرة 233
Verse: "Upon the father is the mother's provision and clothing in a reasonable manner." (2:233)
Wife's maintenance: Obligatory on the husband by consensus — includes food, clothing, housing. Suspended by disobedience (nushuz).
Children's maintenance: On the father until maturity for sons and until marriage for daughters. The Prophet ﷺ said: "It is sufficient sin for a man to neglect those he is responsible to provide for." (Abu Dawud — Sahih)
"In a reasonable manner": Maintenance is assessed reasonably — according to the husband's financial capacity.
Source: Al-Qurtubi (3/159); Ibn Qudama (8/163); Abu Dawud (1692) — Sahih
Question: When does a wife's maintenance obligation fall from the husband?
Answer: By nushuz (disobedience) — when the wife leaves obligatory obedience without a legal excuse, her maintenance is suspended until she returns to compliance.