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In plain terms
Qiwamah
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Qiwamah is a husband's charge to stand over his family's affairs and provide for them.
What it means for me: The verse in Qur'an 4:34 is the anchor scholars cite for this charge. Jurists describe it as a duty bound by justice and consultation, not a license for domination. Its financial side, chiefly maintenance, can lapse in certain circumstances. This is why a mufti asks for the specifics of a case before answering.
Example: A wife asks whether she must still hand over her salary to her husband. The answer separates qiwamah's duty to provide from any claim on what she independently earns.
Do not confuse with: Wali, the marriage guardian, and guardianship over property. A wali's role ends once the marriage contract is signed. Qiwamah begins with the marriage and continues through it. Qiwamah is also not a blanket claim of obedience. Jurists tie it to justice and providing, not command alone. Guardianship over a person's property is a separate legal role again, unrelated to marriage.
If scholars differ: Scholars differ on exactly when a wife's conduct suspends her right to maintenance. Some tie the suspension narrowly to leaving the home without cause. Others include a wider set of situations under the same principle.
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