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What is the ruling regarding a wife who leaves her husband's house for several months without his permission, moves to her family's house, and stipulates that her husband be humiliated in order for her to return, knowing that she is pregnant and that attempts at reconciliation only exacerbate her ill-treatment and humiliation of her husband?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

A wife's departure from her husband's house without his permission, when there is no necessity, is considered clear defiance (nushuz) and results in the forfeiture of her maintenance (nafaqa). However, if she is pregnant, there is a difference of opinion regarding the obligation of her maintenance.

If a defiant wife repents, the husband is not obligated to go and bring her back, though it is commendable to do so to mend feelings.

The husband should pursue means of reconciliation with his wife. If these are ineffective, divorce is the last resort. He may also refuse to divorce her until she offers him a compensation for release (khulu').

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

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