And since this is so, he has authority over providing for her, just as he has authority over providing for his slaves and livestock. Allah Most High says:

“Men are in charge of women.”

Zayd ibn Thābit said, “The husband is a master according to the Book of Allah,” and recited His words:

“And they found her master at the door.”

ʿUmar ibn al-Khattāb said, “Marriage is bondage, so let each of you consider to whom he gives his cherished kinswoman in bondage.” This is supported by the Prophet’s words—may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“Fear Allah concerning women, for they are captives in your keeping. You have taken them as a trust from Allah and made intimacy with them lawful by Allah’s word.”

He thus stated that a woman is a captive in her husband’s keeping, and that the husband has taken her as a trust from Allah: he is therefore entrusted with her care. This is why Allah has explicitly permitted a man in the Quran to strike her: only someone with authority over another may discipline that person.

Since the husband is entrusted with her care and has authority over her, his word is accepted regarding what has been entrusted to him and placed under his authority. This is just as a guardian’s word is accepted concerning expenditure on an orphan, and as the word of an agent, partner, profit-sharing investment manager, orchard sharecropper, or crop-sharing farmer is accepted concerning expenditure on partnership property—even though these arrangements involve an element of reciprocal exchange.

Marriage likewise involves partnership and reciprocal exchange, and the man holds a position of trust within it. There is therefore greater reason to accept his word in this matter than to accept the word of either partner.

Likewise, if a woman takes reasonable maintenance from his wealth and asserts that he has not provided her with maintenance, her word is accepted in this case, together with her oath, because the Lawgiver has authorized her to do so. Thus the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said to Hind, “Take what suffices for you and your child according to what is reasonable,” when she said, “Abū Sufyān is a stingy man, and he does not give me enough maintenance for myself and my child.” He said, “Take what suffices for you and your child according to what is reasonable.”