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Is it permissible for the husband to divorce his wife who is seeking separation from him due to her discomfort with him, knowing that she testifies to his good character and that her family forced her to complete the marriage, and what if the dowry has been fully spent?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

It is impermissible for a woman to seek divorce or khul' without a legitimate Shar'i reason, such as the husband's injustice or his inability to fulfill her rights, for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Any woman who asks her husband for divorce without any [valid] cause, the scent of Paradise will be forbidden to her." If the reason is legitimate, there is no blame upon her, and it is recommended for the husband to grant her request. As for this specific case, the girl's family's harsh treatment of her is an act of wrongdoing. The questioner is advised to strive for reconciliation and to ascertain the reasons for her desire to separate. If the reasons stem from him, he should work to remove them. If she insists on refusal, it is recommended to divorce her amicably. If he has consummated the marriage with her, he is not entitled to anything from the mahr except what she offers as fidyah (ransom). If he has not consummated the marriage with her, she is entitled to half of the mahr, unless she forgives it, or you forgive it. He is also permitted to request fidyah in exchange for divorcing her.

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

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