Is what the woman does, in terms of patiently enduring her polytheistic mother-in-law, raising her grandson, and tolerating her actions, considered a form of patience for which she will be rewarded? What is its rank? Is her coming to live in the family home without a mahram, and her presence with her polytheistic mother-in-law who practices polytheism in the house, and her informing her husband about his mother's bad behavior, considered sins? And is the degree of honoring a disbelieving mother the same as the degree of honoring a Muslim mother?

There is no harm in living with the husband's brothers and relatives if the house is spacious and the facilities are not shared. There is no objection to residing with a disbelieving mother when necessary, and informing the husband about his mother's offensive and disbelieving actions is not forbidden backbiting. Honoring one's parents is obligatory, whether they are Muslims or disbelievers, but a Muslim mother has an added right due to the brotherhood of Islam. What the questioner is doing is considered patience, and the rank of the patient is great with Allah. Trials contain good for the believer; they are an expiation for sins, and among them are: contentment with Allah's decree, and believing that everything Allah has ordained contains all good. The questioner should encourage her husband to live in a separate, independent house to avoid mixing with non-mahrams and to protect the child.