Can a woman spend her earnings on charities or for helping others without her husband's permission?
Undoubtedly the free adult who is of sound mind and discernment is permitted to dispose of his own wealth with no restrictions as long as he is alive, whether he is buying, renting, giving a gift, establishing a waqf (endowment) or any other kind of transaction. There is no dispute among the scholars on this point.
There is also no dispute among the scholars concerning the fact that the husband does not have the right to object to the way his wife handles her wealth in transactions such as buying, donating, etc., if the woman is of sound mind and there is no reason why she should not handle her own money and she is not one of those who may be tricked.
But the scholars differed as to whether a woman has the right to give all or some of her wealth in charity or as a gift without the permission of her husband:
The first opinion:
The husband has the right to prevent her from giving if the amount is more than one third of her wealth, but he does not have this right with regard to lesser amounts.
The second opinion:
The husband has the right to stop his wife from spending in all cases, whether it is a small amount or a large amount, except in the case of insignificant things.
The third opinion:
The woman is not allowed to spend anything of her wealth at all, except with the permission of her husband.
The fourth opinion:
The woman has the right to spend her own money in all circumstances, whether in a transaction or otherwise, whether this involves all of her wealth or part of it. This is the opinion of the majority & is the soundest opinion, and is most in accordance with the Qur’an, the Sunnah and common sense.
So the woman is encouraged to seek her husband’s permission – but it is not obligatory for her to do so.
And Allah knows best!
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