What is the ruling on a wife seeking divorce from her husband without a clear reason, and what should the husband do in such a case?
A woman is not permitted to seek a divorce without a valid reason, based on the Prophet's (PBUH) saying: "Any woman who asks her husband for a divorce without any compelling reason, the scent of Paradise will be forbidden to her." However, it is permissible for her to do so if she is harmed by remaining married to him, or if she fears that she will not be able to uphold the limits set by Allah. Ibn Qudamah said: "If a woman dislikes her husband due to his character, appearance, religious commitment, old age, weakness, or similar reasons, and she fears that she will not be able to fulfill Allah's right in obeying him, then it is permissible for her to seek a khul’ (divorce by mutual agreement) in exchange for compensation by which she frees herself." The husband is advised to try to understand the reason and remove any harm from his wife if possible. If there is no reason, he should consider the benefits and harms, and consult trustworthy advisors.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/91201