Book of Maintenance

A wealthy husband must furnish his wife with two mudd of food each day, an indigent husband with one mudd, and a man of average means with one-and-a-half mudd. One mudd equals 173⅓ dirhams by weight.

I say: The sounder figure is 171 and three-sevenths dirhams, and Allah knows best. A zakah-eligible pauper is classed as indigent. Anyone above that level who would fall back into pauper status if charged for two mudd a day is deemed of average means; otherwise he is considered wealthy. What is obligatory is the staple food that predominates in the locality.

I say: If several staples exist, the wife is entitled to what befits her husband’s status. A man’s wealth or poverty is assessed at daybreak, and Allah knows best.

He must transfer ownership of the grain to her, and—according to the sound view—also cover its milling and baking. If either of them asks to substitute something else for the grain, the one who declines cannot be compelled. Should she barter it, that is permissible on the sound view, except that, under the prevalent opinion, she may not exchange it for bread or flour. If she eats with him as is their custom, her separate food allowance lapses, according to the sounder view.

I say: This does not apply if she lacks sound judgment and her guardian has not consented, and Allah knows best.

He must likewise provide the condiment (udm) that usually accompanies the local staple—such as oil, ghee, cheese, or dates. Its type varies with the seasons, and a judge sets the amount by discretion, differentiating between rich and poor. He must also supply meat in a quantity appropriate to his financial condition, in line with local custom. Even if she normally eats bread alone, the condiment remains due.

As for clothing, he must give her what suffices her needs: a tunic, trousers, a head-scarf, and a miqab (a shoulder-wrap). In winter he adds a cloak, the best kind being cotton, if