What is the ruling on maintenance if a wife observes a conditional, time-bound vow (nadhr) of fasting during I'tikaf?
Chapter on the Condition in which Maintenance is Obligatory on the Husband
Al-Mughni
Book of Maintenance (Nafaqāt)
Primary text
If the vow requires a specific time, Al-Qadi maintains that she is entitled to maintenance. This is because Ahmad explicitly stated that the husband cannot prevent her from fulfilling such a vow. It is likely that if this vow predated the marriage, or if the husband consented to the vow, her maintenance is not forfeited, as it was an obligation established prior to the marriage or an obligation he permitted.
Supporting text
If the vow was made during the marriage without his permission, she forfeits maintenance because she chose to fulfill a non-obligatory or non-recommended religious commitment through the vow, thereby depriving him of his right to conjugal enjoyment by her own choice.