A woman says: I am a woman who has been married for 20 years, and during the last ten years my husband became committed to religion, and his treatment of me and my children changed. He forbade me from visiting

The questioner : This questioner, the mother of 'Abd al-Rahman, says: I hope the honorable Shaykh will be kind enough to answer me, may you be rewarded. She mentions that she has been married for twenty years, and during ten years she says her husband became committed to religion, and his treatment of her and her children changed. So he forbade her from visiting the neighbors, relatives, and family, and he cites as evidence for this the saying of Allah the Exalted . And she complied with his opinion, but they did not find in return anything to compensate them for it in terms of good treatment, or going out for innocent outings, or visiting family and relatives. With that harsh treatment, she and her children came to dislike him. So what is your advice to me and to this father who says that he is guiding you to the right path? Is this the right path, O honorable Shaykh? Inform us, may Allah reward you with good?

The Shaykh : I say to this husband, if what this wife attributed to him is true, I say to him: May Allah bless his commitment, guide his steps, and keep him firm on the commitment to the Shari'ah of Allah. And I also say to him that part of commitment is that a person is good to his family and makes things easy for them, and does not tighten things for them. For the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said . And he, peace and blessings be upon him, used to race with 'A'ishah, and he, peace and blessings be upon him, used to allow her to stand behind him and watch the Ethiopians playing in the mosque. There is no doubt that giving the family what pleases their souls, in a way that does not conflict with the Shari'ah, is undoubtedly a good thing. So I advise this committed brother to be soft and easy with his family, and not to prevent them from something that might cause sensitivity, especially if he prevents the wife from visiting her family and relatives, for that prevents her from maintaining family ties, which is one of the obligations of the religion. And if he fears fitnah if she goes, let him go with her to this place and stay there as long as he wishes, then return with her. But as for preventing her absolutely, this is not correct and is not the good treatment that Allah the Exalted commanded.
As for his citing as evidence the saying of Allah the Exalted , the verse is undoubtedly authentic and established, but the meaning of it is that a woman should not excessively go out and appear in public. Otherwise, it is established from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, that he said . So he forbade preventing women from going to the mosques. And women continued in the time of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to go out to the markets, but they went out in a way that was not tabarruj (display of adornment) and not fitnah. So a woman should not go out perfumed or displaying her adornment.
As for the woman, I advise her to be patient, to seek reward from Allah, and to wait for relief from Allah. Perhaps Allah the Exalted will guide her husband to what is good and right for her and for him. This question actually contains two answers: an answer directed to the husband not to be strict in these matters, and if he fears fitnah, let him take the measures that prevent this fitnah.
And another answer for the wife: let her be patient and seek reward. And regarding maintaining ties with her family and neighbors, she can contact them by telephone if there is a telephone in the house.

The questioner : May Allah bless you, O honorable Shaykh.