Why do some husbands not give their wives housekeeping money?

Such behaviour is wrong and contrary to Islam. A husband is obliged to provide for his family, and in a good marriage the means belong to both.

Many women carry the full responsibility for the home and the children. In this way their husbands entrust them with the most important thing they have, their family. If those same husbands then do not trust them with money and do not even give them housekeeping money, that is contradictory and hurtful.

Islam does not approve of such behaviour. The Holy Qur’an obliges a husband to provide food, clothing and maintenance for his family, each according to his means. He does not fulfil this duty if he holds the money back and makes his wife ask for every little thing. Stinginess towards one’s own family is not a right but a wrong.

In a good marriage nobody keeps count of who takes how much from whom. The husband’s wealth is there for the wife whenever she needs something, and the wife often brings what is hers into the family as well. A beautiful example is Khadija (ra), the first wife of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw). After their marriage she placed her entire wealth at his disposal.

The hadith above shows how highly Islam values this generosity. The money a man spends on his wife and children is not a burdensome expense. It is among the spending that brings the greatest reward from God. A man who refuses his wife housekeeping money is therefore depriving himself of that reward.