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The question

What is the ruling on a wife refusing intercourse if her husband does not perform ghusl (ritual bath) after major ritual impurity إلا after a long time?

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Source: FtawySummarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 20261 min readAlso available in العربية
The answer

A husband's negligence in prayer and the sin of abandoning it is a grave transgression. The wife should continue advising him kindly, seeking help from close relatives, and praying for his righteousness. If he repents, then it is better to separate from him through divorce or khul' (dissolution of marriage initiated by the wife), as there is no good in remaining with someone who neglects the rights of Allah. It is not permissible for the wife to refuse intimacy merely because she is disgusted by his failure to perform ghusl (ritual bath) after janabah (state of ritual impurity requiring ghusl), unless she genuinely fears harm. It is advisable to choose a husband of good religious practice and character and to perform istikhara (prayer seeking guidance) before marriage.

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

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