A Wife Supporting Her Straitened Husband
As-Salamu `alaykum. If a man is unemployed, is it against Islam for him to live on the income of his working wife? Now the only income we have is that which I am earning. My husband thinks that it is haram for him to live on my earnings, even though unemployment is endemic here in Sudan. We are not Sudanese, but came here because I had signed a 3-year contract in January this year, and we married unexpectedly in June. We had hoped that a job would become available for my husband, and he has diligently searched, but nothing has been forthcoming. The job that I am currently occupying is a big step professionally and will allow us to save enough money to buy a home in the near future. I have happily and willingly turned over all funds to my husband, and I know that this situation is of a finite nature, but he grows increasingly concerned that he is not fulfilling his obligation to cater for me. I hope you can allay his fears. Thank you for your help.