Is it permissible to seek divorce for harm (ḍarar) due to recurring marital problems, the husband leaving the home, and his threats of divorce, knowing that the law allows for this?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
A woman is not permitted to seek divorce from her husband unless there is a legitimate شرعي excuse. The husband's dereliction of his duties towards his wife, his abandonment of the home, and his changing of the locks to prevent her entry, all constitute a permissible excuse for seeking divorce. However, it is not advisable to do so except when there is despair of mending the relationship, due to the consequent destruction of the family and the neglect of the children.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/69323
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 69323
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy