A woman's disposal of her wealth
بَاب هِبَةِ الْمَرْأَةِ لِغَيْرِ زَوْجِهَا وَعِتْقِهَا إِذَا كَانَ لَهَا زَوْجٌ
Chapter regarding a woman's giving a gift without the permission of her spouse and her freeing [a salve] when she has a husband
فهو جائز إذا لم تكن سفيهة، فإذا كانت سفيهة لم يجز
This is permissible when she is not foolish. But if she is foolish then this is not permissible
اختلف العلماء فى المرأة المالكة لنفسها الرشيدة ذات الزوج، فقالت طائفة: لا فرق بينها وبين البالغ من الرجال، فما جاز من عطايا الرجل البالغ الرشيد جاز من عطائها، هذا قول سفيان الثورى، والشافعى، وأبى ثور، وأصحاب الرأى، وروينا معنى ذلك عن عطاء
The scholars have differed regarding the woman who is free and possesses intellect [i.e. is not foolish] and has a husband. A group have said that there is no difference between her and men who have reached the age of puberty. Just like an intelligent man, who has reached puberty, is allowed to give from his wealth, so is she. This is the opinion of Sufyaan Al-Thawri, Al-Shaafi, Abu Thawr, and the Ashaab Al-Ra'y. And a similar opinion has been related from 'Ataa'.
وقالت طائفة: لا يجوز لها أن تعطى من مالها شيئا بغير إذن زوجها
A group of scholars has said that she is not allowed to give anything from her wealth without permission from her husband.
روى هذا القول عن أنس بن مالك، وهو قول طاوس والحسن البصرى، وقال مالك: لا يجوز عطاؤها بغير إذن زوجها إلا ثلث مالها خاصة، قياسا على الوصية
This is the opinion of 'Anas bin Maalik. It is also the opinion of Taawus, Al-Hasan Al-Basari.
And Maalik said: She cannot give anything of her wealth without the permission of her husband except one-third of her wealth. He said this based on Qiyaas [an analogical deduction] drawn from Al-waSiyah.
وقال الليث: لا يجوز عتق المرأة ذات الزوج ولا صدقتها إلا فى الشىء اليسير الذى لابد لها منه فى صلة الرحم أو غيره، مما يتقرب به إلى الله
Al-layth said: It is not permissible or a woman, who has has a husband, to free a slave or give in charity except that which is little in respect to matters she cannot escape such as joining the ties of kinship or other things which help her draw close to Allaah.
وقال: (وإن طلقتموهن من قبل أن تمسوهن (إلى) إلا أن يعفون) [البقرة: 237] . فأجاز عفوها عن مالها بعد طلاق زوجها إياها بغير استئمار من أحد، فدل ذلك على جواز أمر المرأة فى مالها، وعلى أنها فيه كالرجل سواء
And if you divorce them before you have touched them and you have already specified for them an obligation, then [give] half of what you specified – unless they forgo the right or the one in whose hand is the marriage contract forgoes it. And to forego it is nearer to righteousness. And do not forget graciousness between you. Indeed Allah, of whatever you do, is Seeing.
[Qur'aan 2:237]
Allaah has permitted her to forgo her wealth which belongs to her after her husband divorces her, and she can forgo regarding the wealth without having to consult anyone. That is evidence to the permissibility of a woman disposing in her wealth and to the fact that she is the same as men when it comes to the matters of her wealth.
واحتجوا بأمر الرسول (صلى الله عليه وسلم) أسماء بالصدقة، ولم يأمرها باستئذان الزبير، وأن ميمونة أعتقت وليدة لها ولم تستأذن النبى (صلى الله عليه وسلم) ، وبحديث ابن عباس أنه، عليه السلام، خطب النساء يوم عيد، وقال لهن: (تصدقن ولو من حليكن) ، وليس فى شىء من الأخبار أنهن استأذن أزواجهن، ولا أنه عليه السلام أمرهن باستئذانهم
And they have drawn evidence from the fact that the Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) ordered 'asmaa' to give in charity and did not tell her to ask the permission of al-Zubair. They have also drawn evidence from the fact that Maimuunah her slave-girl and did not ask the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) permission.
Narrated Maimuuna, the wife of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) that she manumitted her slave-girl and the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said to her, "You would have got more reward if you had given the slave-girl to one of your maternal uncles."
[Sahih Al-Bukhaari Hadith No. 2594]
They have also drawn evidence from the Hadith of Ibn Abbaas that he (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) addressed the women on the day of 'iid and said to them: “O women ! Give alms even from your ornaments. “
There is nothing in the narration which suggests that they were to ask their husbands for permission and nor that he (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) ordered them to ask permission from their husbands.
ولا يختلفون فى أن وصاياها من ثلث مالها جائزة كوصايا الرجل، ولم يكن لزوجها عليها فى ذلك سبيل ولا أمر، وبذلك نطق الكتاب، وهو قوله تعالى: (من بعد وصية يوصين بها أو دين) [النساء: 12] ، فإذا كانت وصاياها فى ثلث مالها جائزة بعد وفاتها فأفعالها فى مالها فى حياتها أجوز
There is no disagreement among the scholars that a women is permitted to will of one-third of her wealth just like men will of one-third of their wealth. A man cannot prevent her from doing so. The Book of Allaah has explicitly stated this and it is the saying of Allaah:
“And for you is half of what your wives leave if they have no child. But if they have a child, for you is one fourth of what they leave, after any bequest they [may have] made or debt...”
[Qur'aan Al-Nisaa' Verse 12]
When a woman is permitted to bequest one-third of her wealth after her death then her being able to do so while she is alive is even more permissible.
والحجة لطاوس حديث عمرو بن شعيب، عن أبيه، عن جده، أن النبى، عليه السلام، قال: (لا تجوز عطية امرأة فى مالها إلا بإذن زوجها) ، فأحاديث هذا الباب أصح من حديث عمرو بن شعيب
And the evidence of Taawus [who is of the opinion that she needs her husbands permission] is the following Hadith of 'Amr bin al-Shu'aib:
It was narrated from 'Amr bin Shu'aib, from his father from his grandfather that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said in a Khutbah he gave:
“It is not permissible for a woman to dispose of her wealth except with her husband's permission, once he has married her.”
[Sunan Ibn Maajah Hadith No. 2388]
But the Hadith in this chapter are stronger than the Hadith of 'Amr bin Shu'iab mentioned above
وتأول مالك فى الأحاديث التى جاءت عن النبى، عليه السلام، أنه أمر النساء بالصدقة، إنما أمرهن بإعطاء ما ليس بالكثير المجحف بغير إذن أزواجهن؛ لقوله عليه السلام: (تنكح المرأة لمالها ودينها وجمالها) ، فسوى بين ذلك،
Maalik has interpreted the Hadith in which the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayi wa sallam) ordered women to give in charity to mean that the order was to give that which is not unfairly excessive. She can give wealth, which is not unfairly excessive, without the permission of her husband in charity. He drew evidence from the Hadith:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, "A woman is married for four things, i.e., her wealth, her family status, her beauty and her religion. So you should marry the religious woman (otherwise) you will be a losers.
[Sahih Al-Bukhaari Hadith No. 5090]
فكان لزوجها فى مالها حقا، فلم يكن لها أن تتلفه إلا بإذنه. وعلى هذا يصح الجمع بين حديث عمرو بن شعيب وسائر الأحاديث المعارضة له، فيكون حديث عمرو بن شعيب واردا فى النهى عن إعطاء الكثير المجحف، وتكون الأحاديث الواردة بحض النساء على الصدقة فيما ليس بالكثير المجحف، والله الموفق
The husband does have a right in the wealth of his wife. She does not have permission to waste it without his permission. Based on this one can reconcile between the Hadith of 'Amr bin Shu'aib and all the other Hadith in opposition to it. Thus, the Hadith of 'Amr bin Shu'aib means that a women can not give an unfairly excessive portion of her wealth in charity. Those Hadith which tell her give in charity refer to giving money which is not excessively large.
Reference(s):
Sharh Al-Bukhaari by Ibn Battaal Page 107-109 Volume 7
Al-Kaafi Fii Fiqh 'Ahl Al-Madinah Al-Maalikii