Back to search

Is it permissible to seek divorce from a husband who has written the marriage contract with her but has not yet consummated the marriage, given that he concealed from her his suffering from depression, which has progressed to affect his physical health, along with her fear of the impact of his psychological condition on her, and is she entitled in this case to demand her legitimate rights of mahr (dower) and shabaka (engagement gifts), and is she required to observe 'iddah (waiting period)?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

If a wife dislikes her husband due to his character, conduct, religiosity, old age, or weakness, and fears she will not fulfill Allah's right in obeying him, it is permissible for her to seek khulu' (divorce at the instance of the wife) in return for a compensation by which she frees herself. This is based on the verse: {But if you fear that they will not uphold the limits of Allah, then there is no blame upon either of them concerning what she gives in compensation.} [Quran 2:229] If the husband secludes himself with his wife in a valid seclusion after the marriage contract, she is entitled to the full mahr (dowry), and she must observe the 'iddah (waiting period) upon divorce.

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

Read the full answer on Ftawy