What is the criterion for coercion in divorce?

The questioner : Coercion involves pressure that forced us to divorce.

The Shaykh : No, no, absolutely not, that is not coercion. For example, if his father, friend, or brother insists that he divorce his wife, that is not coercion. But coercion is either through the body, wealth, family, honor, or lineage. So if he threatens to destroy one of these things and is capable of carrying it out, that is coercion. If he says, for example, "Either you divorce her or I will kill you, or beat you, or break your hand or leg, or imprison you," that is coercion. Or if he takes your wealth, or denies the wealth he has for you. He says, "I have a million riyals for you, I have a million riyals for you. Either you divorce her, or you will see me deny it." He says, "I have nothing for you," and you have no witnesses. What do you do? One either divorces, or the million riyals are lost on him? He divorces. But it has been established that a person can interpret the situation.

The questioner : There is no necessity for it. He gives him money that he is not in need of. He was receiving money or provision, and he is not in need of it. So he says, "We will cut off this money."

The Shaykh : Either you divorce, or I will stop providing your maintenance. Yes, that is right.

The questioner : And he is not in need of this.

The Shaykh : So this is not coercion. This is not coercion, because he can live without it. But if he cannot live without it, then this is coercion.