As for a man’s extreme stinginess, that is forbidden and impermissible. Whoever is subjected to such treatment may present his grievance to someone capable of restoring his right. Hind herself complained to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and he did not tell her, “Do not describe the man as miserly.” Instead, he acknowledged her statement because she was seeking what was due to her. The Prophet ﷺ said to her, “Take what is sufficient for you and your child in a reasonable manner,” thereby permitting her to take from her husband’s wealth, without his knowledge, whatever would meet her and her child’s needs—yet only within reasonable limits, without exceeding them.

This ḥadith establishes several points.

First: It is permissible to backbite a person when petitioning for redress, provided the complaint is made before someone able to enforce the right. If that capacity is absent, the complaint serves no purpose.

Second: A man must spend on his household—his wife and children—in a customary manner, even if the wife is wealthy; the responsibility of maintenance remains his.

Third: If the wife is employed as a teacher and, at the time of the marriage contract, it was stipulated that the husband would allow her to continue teaching, he has no claim whatsoever to her salary—whether half of it, more, or less. The salary belongs entirely to her as long as that stipulation stands. Consequently, he has no right to prevent her from teaching or to take any part of her compensation.

Fourth: If no such stipulation was made and, after marriage, he says to her, “Do not teach,” then the two of them may agree on whatever arrangement they wish—for example, that he receives half, two-thirds, three-quarters, a quarter of the salary, or any other share on which they both concur.

But if it was stipulated that she would teach and he accepted, then he has no right