Household debts and bills such as rent and utilities: whose responsibility are they, the husband's or the wife's?

The basic maintenance (nafkah) of the household is the husband's responsibility, but managing debts and bills is best faced as a team. Allah says: “Let the one who has means spend according to his means” (Surah at-Talaq 65:7); if the wife contributes voluntarily, that is a kindness to be appreciated, not a duty to be forced on her. List all fixed commitments and decide who handles each payment so nothing falls into arrears. Avoid blaming each other when money is tight; find solutions together. For disputes about the amount of maintenance, refer to the religious affairs office or the Syariah Court. Being transparent about income and commitments keeps many quarrels away. See maintenance.