Ruling on a woman waiving her financial maintenance in exchange for not being divorced

Question:
This is a message from the listener (S. Q. 'A). He says: A man wants to travel to seek religious knowledge, and he has a family consisting of a wife and children. He consulted with his wife regarding divorcing her and not providing for her financial maintenance. She said: Do not divorce me, and I have waived my right to financial maintenance and anything else. So, does she remain without financial maintenance and is there no harm to him, or not?

Answer:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and his Companions, and whoever follows his guidance. As for what follows:
The right belongs to the woman, not to anyone else. So, if she permits the waiver of her financial maintenance, there is no blame on her. It is permissible for the husband to keep her in his marriage without providing for her financial maintenance if she permits it. And when she returns and asks for her financial maintenance, he is given the choice: either to provide for her, or to divorce her. Yes.