What is the ruling on a wife who does not pay zakat on her money, and what is the ruling concerning the husband who suffers from his wife's rebellion (nushooz), and is it permissible for him to separate from her despite the presence of children?

Neglecting zakat is one of the gravest sins. A husband is the guardian of his wife, obligated to ensure she fulfills the rights of Allah and abstains from forbidden acts. Some scholars have held that a husband is permitted to strike his wife if she abandons an obligation, such as neglecting zakat. This view was transmitted by Imam Ahmad and definitively stated by the jurists in Al-Mughni and Al-Sharh. The husband should remind his wife of the obligation of zakat and the punishment for those who neglect it, and warn her against her disobedience (nushooz). If she does not respond, he should forsake her in bed. If she still does not return to obedience, he may strike her a non-injurious blow. If these measures do not succeed, divorce is the last resort. If the husband is able, he may marry another wife, provided he is just between them.