Nafaqah
نفقة
Pronunciation: nah-fah-KAH
The husband's Islamic obligation to financially maintain his wife and household.
Definition
The financial maintenance a husband is obligated to provide for his wife and children in Islam — housing, food, clothing, and reasonable needs. Nafaqah is owed regardless of the wife's own wealth: even a wealthy or high-earning wife retains the right to be maintained by her husband, because in Islam each spouse independently owns their property (separation of property) while the duty to provide rests on the husband. This asymmetry of financial obligation is one reason Faraid assigns a son twice a daughter's residuary share.
Nafaqah continues for the wife during the iddah period after divorce. It is a claimable right, not optional charity.
Related Terms
Mahrمهر
The obligatory bridal gift in Islamic marriage — a financial right of the wife, due from the husband.
Nikahنكاح
The Islamic marriage contract — verbal or written, requiring offer, acceptance, and witnesses.
Iddahعدة
The post-divorce (or post-widowhood) waiting period during which the wife is entitled to maintenance.
Faraidفرائض
Islamic inheritance law prescribing fixed shares for heirs based on Quranic guidelines.
Further Reading
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Nafaqah (نفقة) — The husband's Islamic obligation to financially maintain his wife and household. The financial maintenance a husband is obligated to provide for his wife and children in Islam — housing, food, clothing, and reasonable needs. Nafaqah is owed regardless of the wife's own wealth: even a wealthy or high-earning wife retains the right to be maintained by her husband, because in Islam each spouse independently owns their property (separation of property) while the duty to provide rests on the husband.
- The husband's Islamic obligation to financially maintain his wife and household.
- Category: Contracts
- Related: Mahr, Nikah, Iddah, Faraid
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Last reviewed: 2026-07-01
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