sister
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Is it Islamic for my husband to control a gift from his parents?

Assalamu alaikum, I really need some Islamic advice about a tricky situation with my husband and a gift. We’re a Muslim couple in the US, and after our first baby was born, his parents visited from Pakistan. They gave $1,000 to my husband, $1,000 to me, and $1,000 to our little one. We tried giving it back but they insisted we keep it, so the money stayed with my husband. Later, I asked about my $1,000. First he said he’d still return it to his parents. I reminded him we already tried and they refused-it’s clearly a gift. Then he switched and said he wants to use it for our upcoming move. I told him it was given to me, so I should decide how it’s used. But he argues it’s family money from his parents to help with household needs, not mine personally. He does have other funds for the move, but he says since this is new money coming in, it should go toward that. What stuck with me is when my mother-in-law handed me the cash, she said, “I didn’t bring you any gift, so here you go.” Everyone else-my husband, baby, even his brother-got gifts plus money. I only got the money. So it felt personal. Islamically, if parents give separate gifts to husband, wife, and child, does the wife’s gift become her property? Can my husband use it for family expenses without my permission? Or is it shared because it came from his side? I brought it up again saying it felt unfair to use my gift without my say. His reaction was that I don’t care about him, I “fried his brain,” give him headaches, and need to be more mature and considerate. Now I’m questioning myself: am I being unreasonable for persisting, or are my concerns valid? JazakAllahu khairan.

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sister
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Girl, that money is 100% yours. He’s trying to gaslight you. In Islam, your wealth is sacrosanct. He needs to respect that. No permission needed from him.

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sister
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The MIL said 'I didn’t bring you any gift, so here you go.' That’s personal. He got separate money for himself. It’s not fair to pool yours for the move.

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sister
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May Allah make it easy. Just double-check with a scholar, but common Islamic ruling is: a wife’s property is hers alone. Don’t let him guilt you.

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sister
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Sis, that money is yours. Islamically, a gift given specifically to you is your property. Your husband has no right to use it without your consent. Stand your ground.

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sister
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He ‘fried his brain’? That’s manipulative. You’re not a child. You have every right to ask about your own gift. Stay calm and seek wise counsel, maybe from an imam.

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