Is a married woman's conversation with a man she knew before marriage, for the purpose of checking on him and without revealing her true identity, with the wife's knowledge of her husband's abandonment of her, considered legally forbidden? And is a husband's abandonment of his wife and cursing her with foul language permissible in Islamic law? What is the expiation for this sin if it is forbidden?
A woman's phone call with a non-mahram young man is impermissible and is considered a pretext to falling into sin. Its expiation is sincere repentance, by immediately ceasing the act, regretting it, and resolving not to return to it. The husband's abandonment or ill-treatment is not a justification for what she did, as a woman is entrusted with her husband's honor. If the husband is unjust, abandoning her or insulting her, she has the right to seek divorce. It is advised to try to reach an understanding with him first; if that does not work, she should weigh the harm of divorce against remaining with him and choose the lesser of the two harms.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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