Is it permissible in Islamic law for a man to return his wife to her family, citing the popular proverb "Her good is for her husband and her evil is for her family," when her behavior deteriorates, and does the husband thereby shirk his responsibility?
Every person is responsible for themselves, and a husband has more authority over his wife than her own parents. A woman is a trust with her husband, and he is her maintainer. The nature of abuse that may emanate from the wife varies: if she disobeys her husband in what she is obliged to obey him, then she is disobedient (nashiz), and the husband has the right to discipline her. If the abuse pertains to the rights of Allah, then jurists have differed on the husband's right to discipline her. If the abuse is directed towards others, jurists have also differed on the husband's right to discipline her. If the wife commits abuse, the husband has the right to divorce her, but it is preferable for him not to rush into divorce and instead strive to reform her.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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