Husband's Financial Obligations
The husband's obligation to provide for his wife is further regulated under Article 80 paragraph (4) of the Compilation of Islamic Law (KHI). Based on his income, the husband is responsible for:
a. Financial support (nafkah), clothing (kiswah), and accommodation for his wife;
b. Household expenses, healthcare and medical expenses for his wife and children;
c. Educational expenses for the children.
Requirements for a Wife to Receive Nafkah
According to Ibn Rushd al-Hafid, as discussed in his work Bidayat al-Mujtahid wa Nihayat al-Muqtashid, a wife may be entitled to financial support where the following conditions are met:
A valid marriage contract has been entered into between the wife and the husband who is responsible for providing support.
The wife is willing to make herself available to her husband, even if marital relations have not yet taken place.
The wife is willing to relocate with her husband if requested to do so.
The wife is an adult and legally capable of entering into marital relations.
The wife is obedient and compliant with her husband.
Although financial support is a right of the wife, such entitlement may cease or be lost in certain circumstances, including:
The wife refuses or acts against her husband's wishes without a valid justification under Islamic law (syara).
The marital relationship between the wife and husband has ended through divorce.
Types of Nafkah
Financial support (nafkah) may generally be divided into two categories:
Support for oneself
Support for others
Support for others may further include:
Self-support – financial support for one's own needs, which is considered the primary form of support.
Spousal support – financial support arising from the marital relationship.
Support for relatives – financial support provided to family members or relatives.
Support for property or possessions – expenses arising from ownership, such as the costs of caring for animals or pets.
Child Support
In addition to the obligation to provide financial support to a wife, parents also have an obligation to provide for their children. Failing to fulfill this responsibility may constitute a failure to carry out one's obligations as a parent.
Child support generally includes the provision of:
These obligations are also expressly addressed in the Qur'an.
Although the father has the primary obligation to provide financial support for the child, the mother may also play an important role in meeting the child's needs.
The mother's role may include providing food, clothing, and other necessities, particularly when the family's financial circumstances decline and the husband's ability to provide support is reduced. In such circumstances, the mother may contribute to fulfilling the family's financial needs.
Legal Basis
Law No. 1 of 1974 concerning Marriage, as amended by Law No. 16 of 2019 concerning Amendments to Law No. 1 of 1974 concerning Marriage;
Presidential Instruction No. 1 of 1991 concerning the Dissemination of the Compilation of Islamic Law (Kompilasi Hukum Islam / KHI).
