Marriage is something that the majority of us have on our minds. As we progress through adulthood, we begin to prepare — be it by arranging meetings, working on self-improvement in order to make ourselves the best possible husband or wife, and the list goes on. But for brothers, a big part of preparation is reviewing their financial situation to assess whether they can not only support themselves independently but also a wife, a household, and children.
The Husband’s Obligation To Provide
“Men are the protectors and maintainers of women…they spend (to support them) from their means.” (Quran 4:34)
One of the greatest responsibilities of the husband is to sustain his wife in all necessary financial aspects: shelter, clothing, food, utilities, etc. This is one of her non-negotiable rights and arguably one of the heaviest duties that Allah has placed upon the husband. Therefore, it is paramount that a brother realises the divine responsibility entrusted to him to financially maintain her.
How Ready Does Your Money Need To Be?
All basic monetary needs of the wife must be fulfilled by the husband, and in order for the brother to fulfil this obligation, he must be financially stable. You don’t need to be wealthy before marriage becomes feasible, as how financially ready you need to be depends on many factors.
The question of “to what extent do I need to financially provide for her?” comes with many grey areas. Does this only include necessities? What about luxuries? What about things that are neither a luxury nor a necessity, e.g., allergy pills or preferring one particular brand of food over another?
There is a difference of opinion regarding this matter — whether or not the husband’s financial obligation goes beyond necessities. However, good treatment and to “live with them honourably” (Quran 4:19) is prescribed by Allah. According to some scholars, this good treatment exceeds the bare minimum, encompassing the extras the husband can reasonably afford.
How To Boost The Bank Account
There are many steps one can take to boost their finances: attending workshops and courses to improve skills and knowledge, working harder at your job to secure promotions, and striving for pay rises.
Of course, we must not forget that the most powerful method to increase our rizq is through obedience to the King of all affairs, Allah. Here are some Islamic routes to increasing one’s provision:
- Making lots of istighfar (repentance). Humbling yourself before your Lord by recognising your sins and seeking forgiveness is a means of securing His rizq. This is evidenced in the Quran: “Ask forgiveness from your Lord; Verily, He is Oft-Forgiving; He will … give you increase in wealth and children.” (Quran 71:10-12)
- Upholding ties of kinship. Maintaining kinship in Islam is a major duty upon all Muslims, and cutting family ties is a major sin. The observance of this responsibility is greatly rewarded, including an increase in rizq. As the sahih hadith says: “Whoever would like his rizq (provision) to be increased and his life to be extended should uphold the ties of kinship.” (Bukhari)
- Giving in charity. Although sadaqah involves giving away part of your income, by the greatness of Allah, giving in charity is one of the major routes to increasing and preserving wealth. This is evidenced in the Quran:
“Truly, my Lord enlarges the provision for whom He wills…whatsoever you spend of anything (in Allah’s Cause), He will replace it. And He is the Best of providers.” (Quran 34:39)
Is Marriage Unfeasible Right Now?
If your financial prospects are currently dim and your hands are tied with money matters, marriage may need to be put on hold until you can stabilise yourself. So, what should you do in the meantime?
Alongside actively working to improve your finances, the Sunnah recommends fasting:
“O young men, whoever among you can afford it, let him get married, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and guarding one’s chastity. And whoever cannot afford it should fast, for it will be a shield for him.” (Bukhari)