What is the intended meaning of abandoning one's wife? Is it restricted to abandonment in bed, or does it include the absence of sexual intercourse or sleeping in a different room? And is the husband sinful if he sleeps in another room as a result of anger?

Abandoning one's wife is one of the means of reforming her when she is disobedient (nashiz). The evidence for this is the Almighty's saying: "As for those [wives] from whom you fear defiance, admonish them, and abandon them in [their] beds, and strike them." And the Prophet's (peace be upon him) hadith, in which he advises kindness to women and mentions abandonment in beds in cases of clear indecency.

The meaning of abandonment (hajr) in the verse and hadith is not to lie with her or have intercourse with her, but rather to turn one's back to her in bed. There is a difference of opinion regarding sleeping in another room or outside the house, with the preponderant view being its permissibility.

Commentators have differed on the exact meaning of abandonment. The majority hold that it means abandoning entering their rooms and residing with them. Some said it means lying with her but turning one's back to her. Some said it means refraining from intercourse with her. Others said it means having intercourse with her but not speaking to her. The truth is that abandonment varies according to circumstances. Sometimes, abandonment within the home might be more difficult than elsewhere, and vice versa. Abandonment is permissible for a legitimate Islamic reason, such as a wife's defiance (nushuz).