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Fatwa CenterWorking wife spends a lot of money on her parents
Question
It's clear that Islam gives rights to married women to own and manage their money "as they like" but does Islam put preference on how to spend this money? I and my kids are making a lot of investing to let my wife work, we have did the right to have this money back instead of spending it on my wife's parents or any other issues? Please advice us as I am close to taking a decision to divorce her because of this issue. I will then choose a not workingwomen who takes care of me and my child better.
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.
A woman has the right to own and manage her property according to Islamic conditions just like a man. The Quran advised her like a man to be economical when spending without being extravagant or too stingy. Allaah Says (what means): {And give the relative his right, and [also] the poor and the traveler, and do not spend wastefully. Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and ever has Satan been to his Lord ungrateful.} [Quran 17:26-27] Allaah also Says (what means): {And [they are] those who, when they spend, do so not excessively or sparingly but are ever, between that, [justly] moderate.} [Quran 25:67]
In principle, a woman's work should be at her home, educating her children and taking care of her husband. If she needs to work outside her home, she should abide by the Islamic conditions, like wearing Hijab, not staying in seclusion with non-Mahram men, and not traveling alone without a Mahram.
As regards the money you and your kids had given to your wife, then if you had given it to her to invest it and you had not given it to her as a gift, then you have the right to take your money back whenever you wish and spend it in whatever you want.
However, if a woman has money, she should not be prevented from helping her parents or managing her wealth as she wishes unless she becomes extravagant in her spending, in which case, the Muslim judge decides whether or not she is legally incompetent to spend her own money.
Having said that, we advise our dear brother not to hasten to divorce his wife as divorce is the most hateful but lawful act in the Sight of Allaah. You can manage to get this problem settled with your wife. We also advise your wife to concentrate on her household, on the education of her children and on taking care of her husband. This is indeed more appropriate to her nature and more preferable to her husband.
Allaah Knows best.
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