Q&A: Taking financial right forcibly?

The following is a translation from Arabic.

Question: Can wife take money forcibly from a miserly husband without permission of state or husband? Can this be a proof for individual taking rights forcibly from kaafir state?

Answer:

It obligatory on the man to provide nafaqah for his wife. If he is a miser and does not spend on his wife then it is allowed for his wife to take from her husbands wealth without permission that amount which is enough by custom (bil-ma’roof) for her and her children. The evidence for that is what Bukhari narrated on the authority of ‘Aisha that Hind the wife of Abu Sufyan said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, indeed Abu Sufyan is a miserly man. He does not provide me with the maintenance that my children and I need except what I take from him without his knowledge.’ He (saw) said: ‘Take that which suffices you and your children in a fitting manner (bil ma’roof).’

As for when you have a financial right from the state, such as if the state usurped your wealth or confiscated your land, then you have the right to defend your land and wealth and if you are killed then you will be shaheed. However, if the state took your land and you did not defend but you wished to steal money from the state which is the price of your land which was confiscated in analogy with the wife who takes the wealth of her husband without his permission, then this analogy is not correct. It is not allowed according to this to steal from the state the value of your wealth. Rather you need to demand your wealth through open means. This is because stealing is not allowed except in a situation where another steals from you and you find the stolen goods with him. Then it is allowed to take back the (the same stolen property) even by theft due to the text mentioned regarding it.