What is the expiation for a disobedient wife who acted out of ignorance, unintentionally, and without deliberation, and if she repents but her husband does not respond, how can she expiate her sin in this world?
Rebellion (nushuz) is forbidden and involves a shortcoming in fulfilling the husband's rights. Its expiation is through repentance that meets all its conditions, including clearing one's conscience if the sin relates to the rights of people, as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Whoever has wronged his brother concerning his honor or anything else, let him seek his forgiveness before a day when there will be neither dinar nor dirham. If he has good deeds, some of them will be taken proportionate to his injustice, and if he has no good deeds, some of his companion's evil deeds will be taken and laid upon him." The husband's right over his wife is one of the greatest rights. Therefore, one must seek his forgiveness for any shortcoming in his right, and repeat the attempt if he does not respond, as the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Your women from the people of Paradise are the affectionate, the fertile, the one who returns to her husband. When he is angry, she comes until she puts her hand in her husband's hand and says: 'I will not taste sleep until you are pleased.'"
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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