Question

Assalam O Alaykum,

due to crises in my financial condition i am unable to arrange a separate independent flat for my wife , my wife is demanding divorce and on my refusal she applied khula in court and leave my home we have one daughter also.

my question is that, despite she already applied in court for khula, am i still liable to pay her for her maintenance. i am already paying for my daughter which i know my lifetime responsibility. but can my wife also demand for maintenance money for her own. as she is not agree to live in my existing flat and leave the home by her own will.

Answer

If your existing flat fulfils the religious requirements of suitable accommodation, then you are not required to provide your wife with an independent flat.

Suitable accommodation would depend on the financial circumstance and cultural practice of the couple. Usually suitable accommodation includes a safe and private residence comprising of a bedroom, bathroom and kitchen which are not shared with other individuals. However, this may change depending on the above two factors. For example, if a husband and wife are from reasonably poor families then the wife would not be entitled to a separate kitchen but will be entitled to a separate bedroom. 

If you have offered her  suitable accommodation and she refuses to accept it, and instead chooses to leave the flat without your consent, then you are not obliged to cover her expenses until she returns. She will still be considered your wife until the divorce/khula‘ goes through, hence she is not permitted to leave without your consent.

الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (3/ 575) (لا) نفقة لأحد عشر: مرتدة، ومقبلة ابنه، ومعتدة موت، ومنكوحة فاسدا وعدته، وأمة لم تبوأ، وصغيرة لا توطأ، و (خارجة من بيته بغير حق) وهي الناشزة حتى تعود

الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (3/ 599) (وكذا تجب لها السكنى في بيت خال عن أهله) سوى طفله الذي لا يفهم الجماع وأمته وأم ولده (وأهلها) ولو ولدها من غيره (بقدر حالهما) كطعام وكسوة وبيت منفرد من دار له غلق. زاد في الاختيار والعيني: ومرافق، ومراده لزوم كنيف ومطبخ، وينبغي الإفتاء به بحر (كفاها) لحصول المقصود هداية. وفي البحر عن الخانية: يشترط أن لا يكون في الدار أحد –                                                                (قوله ومفاده لزوم كنيف ومطبخ) أي بيت الخلاء وموضع الطبخ بأن يكونا داخل البيت أو في الدار لا يشاركها فيهما أحد من أهل الدارقلت: وينبغي أن يكون هذا في غير الفقراء الذين يسكنون في الربوع والأحواش بحيث يكون لكل واحد بيت يخصه وبعض المرافق مشتركة كالخلاء والتنور وبئر الماء ويأتي تمامه قريبا

Answered by:
Ifta Research Fellow

Checked & Approved by:
Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
Mufti Zubair Patel