What is the ruling on obeying a husband who forbids his wife from watching religious programs and becomes angry when she does, justifying this by saying that he knows religion, despite his incorrect understanding of it, and who refuses to let her ask scholars, which causes her psychological distress and affects the family, in light of his severe control over her life and his desire to keep her away from sources of religious knowledge?

If a husband prevents his wife from watching religious programs or browsing religious websites, and these activities conflict with his rights or lead to neglect of his affairs, then she must obey him. This is because his right is obligatory, whereas these activities are not. However, if these activities do not conflict with his rights and do not result in neglect, then she is not obligated to obey him. Marital rights take precedence over voluntary acts, and a woman is not considered disobedient (nashiz) if she does not obey him in matters that are not obligatory, as long as there is no impediment to the husband enjoying her. The wife is advised to avoid anything that angers her husband and to treat him in a way that fosters affection, and to avoid showing superiority over him if that provokes his anger.