What is the ruling on a wife traveling without her husband's knowledge, given his threat of divorce if she does so, and what are her rights after divorce in this case?
A wife's departure from her husband's home without his permission, for reasons other than necessity, or her travel, is impermissible and considered an act of defiance (nushooz), which forfeits her right to financial support (nafaqah). However, her nafaqah is not forfeited if she leaves to appear before a judge to claim her rights, or to earn her livelihood if her husband is in financial hardship, or to seek a religious ruling (istiftaa') if her husband is not a jurist and does not seek one on her behalf. If the husband divorces her while she is in a state of nushooz, she is not entitled to nafaqah during her waiting period ('iddah). Her dowry (mahr) is her right, unless she is conditioned to waive it in exchange for the divorce. The husband has the right to refuse to divorce her until she forfeits the mahr, or a portion of it, to him.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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