Ruling on a woman seeking divorce from a husband who is in debt
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Question:
The questioner from the Holy City of Madinah wrote this lengthy message in her own style, summarizing it as follows: Her Eminence the Shaykh: She recalls that she has been married for nine years. She has one son from her husband. Her husband does not work permanently; he used to work in trade but lost all his money and the money of his business partners. Then he worked for a company but left it after three months. He is constantly borrowing, and he has become indebted to people for 150,000 riyals. He is currently unemployed. She notes that she has always stood by his side in all his crises. Now, this wife is ill and cannot bear to see this husband because of his behavior, the debts that have accumulated on him, and the lack of family stability. Her question to Her Eminence the Shaykh is: If I seek divorce from this man, will I be sinful? She notes that her family wants her to be divorced from him because her husband sold all her property, including the house, furniture, and gold. Is my seeking divorce forbidden or permissible?
Answer:
If he fulfills what is obligatory regarding financial maintenance, then seeking divorce is not permissible. If he does not wrong you and provides what you need in terms of maintenance, even if he is in debt, you have no right to seek divorce. However, if he wrongs you and you fear for your safety from him, such as his beating you or demanding the rest of your property, then you have the right to seek divorce.
The point is that if he harms you in your religion or in your property, you have the right to seek divorce. But if he does not, and he has fulfilled your rights, but he has debts, that does not harm you. You should listen and obey, remain in his household, and be cautious about seeking divorce without right.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
The questioner from the Holy City of Madinah wrote this lengthy message in her own style, summarizing it as follows: Her Eminence the Shaykh: She recalls that she has been married for nine years. She has one son from her husband. Her husband does not work permanently; he used to work in trade but lost all his money and the money of his business partners. Then he worked for a company but left it after three months. He is constantly borrowing, and he has become indebted to people for 150,000 riyals. He is currently unemployed. She notes that she has always stood by his side in all his crises. Now, this wife is ill and cannot bear to see this husband because of his behavior, the debts that have accumulated on him, and the lack of family stability. Her question to Her Eminence the Shaykh is: If I seek divorce from this man, will I be sinful? She notes that her family wants her to be divorced from him because her husband sold all her property, including the house, furniture, and gold. Is my seeking divorce forbidden or permissible?
Answer:
If he fulfills what is obligatory regarding financial maintenance, then seeking divorce is not permissible. If he does not wrong you and provides what you need in terms of maintenance, even if he is in debt, you have no right to seek divorce. However, if he wrongs you and you fear for your safety from him, such as his beating you or demanding the rest of your property, then you have the right to seek divorce.
The point is that if he harms you in your religion or in your property, you have the right to seek divorce. But if he does not, and he has fulfilled your rights, but he has debts, that does not harm you. You should listen and obey, remain in his household, and be cautious about seeking divorce without right.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.