Woman and Family Economy

Among the basic problems of human society are: the problem of money, individual and collective income, and the balance between income and spending. This includes the economy of family and its financial balance between expenses and consumption. So, wasting food, drink, ornament, clothes, house, luxuries, and services are among the most dangerous problems that face man. Extravagance destroys the economy of family, nation, and state. Most times this extravagance does not match the income of family. To organize the economic balance of society, Islam summons people to be moderate in spending. It forbids extravagance and miserliness.

She takes great responsibility in organizing family spending and identifying its nature.

Islamic Law has legislated general rules for organizing spending. It has also limited the basic system for family spending and balance. We will mention some verses from the Qur'an that decribes the servants of the Most Merciful (Allah) and regards them as ideal examples to others in spending. In this connection, Allah, the Most High, says: "And those who when they spend, are neither extravagant nor niggardly but are stationed between the two (extremes)." Holy Qur'an (Furqan 25:67)

"and eat and drink you and commit you not excesses." Holy Qur'an (A'raf 7:31)

"And give to the near of kin his due and to the needy and the wayfarer, and squander not (your earnings) wastefully. Verily the squanderers are brethren of the satan; and Satan to his Lord is ever an ingrate."

Holy Qur'an (Isra' 17: 26-27)

"And cause you not to shackle your hand unto your neck, nor stretch it forth to the maximum (limits of) stretching forth, lest you should (therefore) sit down blamed, destitute." Holy Qur'an (Isra' 17:29)

"Lodge them, wherever you lodge according to your means, and you harm them not to straiten (life for) them, and if they be pregnant, spend you on them until they lay down their burden; and if they suckle (to your issues) for you, you give them their recompense; and deal you unto one another in fairness; and if you find between you difficulties, then shall suckle some other woman for him. Let him with abundance spend of his abundance and he on whom is straitened his subsistence, let him spend of what Allah has given him; (for) Allah lays not on any soul a burden save to the extent to which He has given it; Allah will soon bring about ease after difficulty." Holy Qur'an (Talaq 65:6-7)

In this manner the general bases of family budget spending and expenses are limited within the frames of moral moderation, education, and guidance- they are the social and the family frame.

The role of woman is prominent in managing the affairs of the house and family economy. That is when she is careful with the budget of her family and moderate in spending on luxuries.

The wife is able to save part of the income of the family and to free her husband from debts. That is when she is moderate in spending on herself and her family.

Extravagance does not only affect the family but also affects the general economic situation of society and state. For the ability to buy in the market becomes high because of high spending and consumption. So, the value of money becomes low and the prices of commodities and services increase. Accordingly, the deprivation of the poor (of buying) increases, the family faces debts and social problems, currency faces inflation. As a result of the disorderly economic situation of society , moral, security, and political problems come into existence.

To educate woman to be moderate in spending special lectures on family economy in schools take part in building economic awareness and save it especially from the problem of over expending and the deprivation of poor classes.

With this woman participates in building society through directing and organizing family economy, and through being moderate in spending according to the method of the Qur'an and its wise summons. Therefore, woman should carry out her responsibility towards her husband and her house according to the previous Prophetic tradition.

Adopted from the book : "Woman and Society" by : "Al-Balagh Foundation"