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Is the situation of a husband—who spends a long time online and on his phone under the pretext of work, despite accumulating debts and having indecent messages from other women, in addition to neglecting his prayers and displaying irresponsible behavior—a trial or a punishment from God? And what is the optimal course of action for the wife and children towards him?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

The husband must be advised and warned against violating the sacred limits of Allah and against his relationships with non-mahram women. He should also be reminded of the impermissibility of being lax in congregational prayers. If he persists, someone who has the authority to restrain him can be informed. As for shunning him in bed (in the marital bed), there is a difference of opinion on this, with the preponderant view being that it is not permissible unless there is a specific command. It is not permissible for children to shun their father; rather, they should advise him gently and seek assistance from someone who can influence him. If the husband insists on committing forbidden acts, the wife is permitted to seek a divorce due to his immorality.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

Read the full answer on Ftawy