What is the ruling on obeying parents when they demand divorcing the wife, especially if she has children?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Obedience to parents is obligatory, but it is restricted to what is good and lawful (ma'ruf). If parents order their son to divorce his righteous and religious wife merely out of whims or personal motives, then their obedience is not binding upon him, and he is not obligated to divorce her. Imam Ibn Taymiyyah was asked about this and replied: "It is not permissible for him to divorce her because of his mother's words; rather, he must honor his mother, and divorcing his wife is not part of honoring his mother." Therefore, he must honor them and treat them well, without divorcing his wife.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 30780
- 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