Is a woman's financial independence separate from a man's, and is it permissible for her to dispose of her wealth without his knowledge, within the limits of Sharia and religion, such as giving charity and gifts to family and friends?

A woman has the absolute right to dispose of her wealth, whether through donation or exchange, unless there is a legitimate impediment. This is the view of Abu Hanifa and Al-Shafi'i, and one of two narrations from Imam Ahmad, who cite the Almighty’s saying: ﴿And test the orphans until they reach the age of marriage. Then if you perceive in them sound judgment, release to them their property…﴾ [An-Nisa: 6], and hadiths such as: "O assembly of women, give in charity, even from your jewelry." Whereas Imam Malik and Imam Ahmad, in another narration, held that a woman does not have the right to donate more than one-third of her wealth except with her husband's permission, citing hadiths that scholars have deemed weak. While the first opinion is more preponderant, it is better for a woman to act according to the latter opinion to safeguard the marital relationship.