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Fatwa CenterHis wife has withheld his money to buy an apartment in her name
Question
assalamualaikum; I am a white american male 37 years that converter to Islam 9 years ago and have been married to my egytian wife for 6 years and we have a son almost 5 years old now. I have always provided for my family and have had no problems doing so ever. I moved to egypt 2 weeks ago for the sake of Allah. I didnt have a bank account in egypt before I left, so I sent my money to wifes account in egypt(165,000 american dollars). Now I get to egypt and my wife gave me back all my money except for 82,000. She said we have to buy an apartment with this money so there is no reason for me to take it. She says we can pay this direct to the realitor man and buy an apartment. I said I want my money to put in my own bank account with my name only and then I can buy an apartment as I like or do whatever I wish since I worked 25 years in american and saved this money. She wont give me my money and says she dont trust me and she needs an apartment in her name ONLY. My name cannot be on the deed at all. She says what if I leave then her and her son dont have a place to stay. She says it is her right to have a place to stay, which is not a problem. I have always taken care of my family on plan on doing so. The bottom line is I trusted her with my money for a few weeks and now she wont give it back to me. Does she have to give this money back to me since I am demanding it? After that she wants to know what kind of guaratee she has that I will provide for her and our son. But she has never had a guaratee before this and we never had a problem. But now she has the money so she is making demands that I dont accept. Is the husband in control of the family or not in Islam? Do I have to put her name on the apartment? Please help Thank you
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
It is not permissible for your wife to withhold this amount of money and refuse to give it back to you, as this is betraying the trust. Allaah Says (what means): {O you who have believed, do not betray Allaah and the Messenger or betray your trusts while you know [the consequence].}[Quran 8:27] Furthermore, she is not permitted to oblige you to buy a apartment for her and register it on her name. All what you are obliged to do towards your wife and son is to spend on them according to what is reasonable and provide for them a suitable accommodation even by renting, and protect them, because a husband is in charge of his wife and family.
Therefore, we advise you to try to convince her and remove the doubts that she has, and confirm to her that you are not willing to separate from her, and show her this Fatwa.
Finally, we ask Allaah to guide her.
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