Is a wife's asking her husband for permission to dispose of her wealth obligatory or recommended, and why did the Prophet (PBUH) ask her, "Did you ask Ka'b for permission?" if it is merely a recommended matter?

Some scholars, like the Malikis and some Hanbalis, inferred from the hadith (definition) of the woman whom the Prophet (peace be upon him) asked if she had sought her husband's permission to donate her jewelry, that a woman is not permitted to donate more than one-third of her wealth without her husband's permission. Ibn Qudamah, however, stated that a mature woman has the right to dispose of all her wealth through donation and exchange, and this is the view of Abu Hanifa, Al-Shafi'i, and Ibn Al-Mundhir.

We have previously explained in a fatwa (definition) that a wife seeking her husband's permission for what she spends from her money is desirable (mustahabb) but not obligatory.