Is a husband entitled to demand $10,000 from his wife in exchange for Khulʿ or annulment of the marriage contract? And can the wife annul the contract, given that she sought Khulʿ due to his dereliction of her rights, his concealment of having children born out of wedlock before his repentance, and his desire to bring them to live with them, in addition to his negligence in caring for her during her pregnancy which led to a miscarriage, and the husband does not acknowledge divorce, nor does he accept the mediation of scholars, and there is no Sharia court?

Firstly: It is not permissible for a woman to seek divorce or khul' (divorce at the wife's instance, usually with compensation) unless there is a legitimate شرعي excuse, based on the hadith: (Any woman who asks her husband for a divorce without a valid reason, the scent of Paradise will be forbidden to her), and the saying of the Prophet, peace be upon him: (Indeed, the women who seek khul' and those who take themselves away are the hypocrites). If an excuse exists, such as the husband's ill-treatment or the wife's dislike of him, then it is permissible, as narrated in the story of Thabit ibn Qays's wife. Sheikh Ibn Jibreen, may Allah have mercy on him, mentioned five cases that permit seeking khul': disliking his character, or disliking his physical appearance, or his religious shortcomings, or his withholding of her maintenance, or his failure to grant her conjugal rights.

Secondly: The wife has the right to a private dwelling. She has the right to refuse to house the husband's children with her. His children born of adultery are not legally his children and are not mahrams (unmarriageable kin) to his wife.

Thirdly: If the husband insists on housing children born of adultery in his home, or if the wife dislikes it, it is permissible for her to seek divorce or khul'. However, she must fear Allah and not rush, and try to seek the help of good people to resolve the issue. If she can accept living with him in a separate dwelling, then it is not permissible for her to seek khul'.

Fourthly: It is not recommended for the husband to demand more than the mahr (dowry) he paid as compensation for khul'. The Malikis and Shafi'is permitted this, and the Hanafis elaborated on it, while the Hanbalis disliked taking more. If reconciliation is not possible, the husband should be advised to reduce the compensation and assist the woman.