What is the ruling on a wife performing Istikhara for divorce without her husband's knowledge, even while she attempts to treat him kindly?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
A woman is allowed to perform regarding her request for divorce if the request itself is permissible. It is not permissible to request a divorce without a legitimate religious reason, such as harm to the woman due to the husband's bad character, his inability to provide for her maintenance, or his immorality. If a legitimate reason for requesting a divorce exists, then Istikhara is permissible; otherwise, it is not.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/141099
Where this answer came from
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 141099
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy