A Western woman who entered Islam while living in England and has a disbelieving husband: what should she do regarding her family, given that if she divorces her husband, he will take her children from her and legally prevent her from seeing them?
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The questioner : Another question: May Allah preserve you, O Shaykh. A Western woman who entered Islam while living in England has a disbelieving husband and children. What should she do regarding her family, given that if she divorces her husband, he will take her children from her and legally prevent her from seeing them, and she may lose them? If she stays with them, she may be able to protect them and introduce them to Islam?
The Shaykh : The ruling in this matter is that a person begins with himself, then with others. It is not permissible for a Muslim woman, no matter how many children she has with a disbelieving husband, to remain in the marriage of a disbelieving husband after she has embraced Islam. Rather, she must save her religion and migrate to the land of Islam if she is able. After that, she should strive, using the means available to her, to free her children from their disbelieving father. If she is unable to do anything, it is sufficient for her to save herself from being violated by that wicked disbeliever.
The Shaykh : The ruling in this matter is that a person begins with himself, then with others. It is not permissible for a Muslim woman, no matter how many children she has with a disbelieving husband, to remain in the marriage of a disbelieving husband after she has embraced Islam. Rather, she must save her religion and migrate to the land of Islam if she is able. After that, she should strive, using the means available to her, to free her children from their disbelieving father. If she is unable to do anything, it is sufficient for her to save herself from being violated by that wicked disbeliever.