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Fatwa CenterWife left for a long time seeks divorce
Question
What is the punishment of a man who leaves his wife for a very long time and doesn't divorce her and she wants a divorce?
Thank you.
Answer
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
One of the most important aims of Shariah in legislating marriage is to make affection, love and friendship prevail between husband and wife.
Allah ordered them to keep good relations and to be kind to each other. Allah says: "And live with them honorably. (An-Nisa 4:19)
There is no doubt that a husband leaving his wife without a reasonable excuse in Shariah is contradictory to this aim. This is an injustice that Allah forbade, and the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said that such injustice will be a darkness on The Day of Judgment.
Despite all this, we advise the wife to convince her husband with good manners and soft words, choosing the best time to do so, i.e. when the husband can concentrate and is very relaxed. She has to beautify herself and seek courtship in order to attract him. If she is unsuccessful despite all attempts, she can seek the help of wise and righteous people, and those who can influence him, and ultimately bring him to normal by settling their differences.
However, if all the above is with no avail, and she finds herself in hardship, and fears harm, then she can take the matter to the Islamic court, if available; otherwise she can consult Islamic Centers or organizations to lift the harm from her by admonishing and warning him or grant a divorce from him.
Allah knows best.
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