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Being satisfied with the lesser harm is better than seeing the greater harm fulfilled

Question

My husband watches TV stations which show everything that is unlawful. He also works at a center for massage which is run by semi-naked women. Whenever I advise him, he threatens me with depriving me of my children. I am sure of the fact that if I leave my children, they will deviate from the right path because they are still young. What should I do?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

Your husband should stop working at that center and watching such TV stations. He should know that he exposes himself to a temptation that is of the most dangerous Fitan (temptations) against one's religion, the temptation of women. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “I am not leaving behind me a more harmful trial for men than women.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Hence, he should beware of this temptation and this dangerous slope.

You should advise him and do your best to divert him from that work. If you give up hope of his abandoning these things and becoming righteous, then, it is permissible for you to seek divorce. As for the children, you have the right of custody until they reach the age of discretion as long as you do not marry another man. Their father does not have the right of custody while he is in this state because one of the custodian’s conditions is that he is not a dissolute person.

However, if you see that the consequent harm resulting from divorce is graver than the harm of being his wife, we advise you not to seek divorce for being satisfied with the lesser harm is better than seeing the greater harm fulfilled.

Allaah Knows best.

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