Is the story true about the man who came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and he commanded him to isolate from his wife who was afflicted with "barsamiya"? What is the ruling on isolation from a wife afflicted with a mental illness? And what are the wife's rights upon divorce if the husband was aware of the illness before marriage?
A person afflicted with a disease that causes delirium and incoherent speech is called "al-Mubarsam." No hadith has been reported concerning this. As for contraception (azl), it is disliked unless there is a valid excuse, such as fear of the child apostatizing, or becoming enslaved, or harm to the woman's or infant's health, or the corruption of the times. If procreation leads to harm for the woman or the fetus, then there is no objection to contraception; otherwise, it is disliked. Divorce is permissible but disliked without a need. It is better for the husband to be patient with this woman and seek her treatment, especially if there are benefits, such as the presence of children. If a divorce occurs, the wife is entitled to the full sadaq (dowry). A woman's suffering from a mental illness does not necessitate a choice (for the husband) unless it reaches the point of insanity. Even if it does, the option of annulment is not established for someone who knew about the illness before marriage and consented to it.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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