Is it permissible for a sister to return to her husband who divorced her, after he forced her to remove her hijab and commit forbidden acts, and abandoned her and her daughters, and her father refused her return fearing for her honor and her daughters in a non-Muslim country, knowing that she claims that obedience to the husband takes precedence over obedience to parents?
If a woman becomes married, her obedience to her husband takes precedence over her obedience to her parents.
Regarding the sister's situation:
- If she is still in her waiting period (iddah), her husband has the right to take her back, even if her father disapproves, based on the Almighty’s saying: "And their husbands have a greater right to take them back in that [period] if they wish reconciliation."
- If her waiting period (iddah) has ended and her husband’s situation has improved, she has the right to return to her husband even if her father does not desire it, and the father should not prevent her, based on the Almighty’s saying: "And when you divorce women and they have fulfilled their term, do not prevent them from remarrying their [former] husbands if they agree among themselves on an honorable basis." The father must be advised against obstinacy due to the benefit it holds for her and her children. However, a new marriage contract is necessary with the permission of her guardian.
- If the husband is corrupt and the father prevents her return for that reason, then obedience to the father is obligatory, because it is obedience in what is good, and there is no good in remaining with a husband who incites immorality.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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