Financial support by wife to her husband's family?

Question: I would like to ask a question relating to financial support for the husband's family. The man and woman put their earnings in "one pot", hence her money is also used to finance the needs of his family. To what extent is the son obligated to finance his family needs and to what extent does the wife have to help?

Fatwa: 

If this man has more than what is necessary for spending on his wife and children it becomes obligatory on him to spend on his parents if they are poor. Allah Says:


 (interpretation of meaning): {Worship Allâh and join none with Him in worship, and do good to parents,}[4:36].

Spending on them is part of doing good to them. It is also obligatory on him to spend on his poor brothers and sisters who do not have a source of income. Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {And on the (father's) heir is incumbent the like of that (which was incumbent on the father).}[2:233].

The meaning is that the one who may inherit has to spend on any person from whom he could inherit if that person dies. This verse is an evidence, according to the Muslim scholars, for the obligation to spend on close relatives.

Anyway, this man has to help his family as much as he can without neglecting spending on his wife and children.

But the wife is not required to spend on anybody nor to help in the home's expenditures or to give anything to her husband's family. But it is likable for her to help her husband accomplish the duties and obligations due on him. If she does so, Allah will reward her.