What is the ruling of Islamic law concerning a man who contracted his marriage to a woman, then his behavior suddenly changed, and he became ill-tempered and ill-mannered, and he refused to divorce her, and demanded from her all the money and gold he had spent on her? And can she be divorced due to these reasons?

If a wife dislikes her husband due to his character, appearance, religious commitment, old age, or weakness, and she fears that she will not fulfill Allah’s rights in obeying him, then she has the right to seek Khul' (divorce initiated by the wife) from him by returning what he gave her, such as the mahr (dowry) and the like. This is based on the Almighty’s saying: "And if you fear that they will not uphold the limits of Allah, then there is no blame upon them for what she gives up to free herself thereby." The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, granted Khul' to Habiba bint Sahl from her husband Thabit ibn Qays when she disliked him, and he commanded Thabit to take back what he had given her.