When is a wife entitled to maintenance: Is it from the date of the marriage contract or upon consummation, and is she entitled to maintenance if the husband secluded himself with her but did not consummate the marriage?
The husband must provide for his wife, as is customary, in return for enjoying her, based on the Prophet's (PBUH) saying: "And they have a right upon you to their sustenance and clothing, as is customary." So, if the wife fully enables her husband to enjoy her, her maintenance becomes obligatory upon him, whether he enjoys her or not. However, if she refuses or if the enablement is incomplete, she is not entitled to maintenance. Seclusion alone is not sufficient proof of full enablement. If the husband divorces his wife before consummation, maintenance is obligatory if the delay was on his part despite her enablement, and it is not obligatory if the delay was on her part. It is necessary to refer to the Sharia courts in these matters.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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