Marriage: Haram

Alcohol

Question:

What is the Islaamic ruling upon a husband offering khamr (wine and intoxicants) to his wife, threatening to divorce her if she refuses it, although he knows that she is regular in her Prayers?

Reply:

The answer to this question is well-known! “There can be no obedience to the creator, if it involves disobedience to the creator.”^[1] It is not permissible for the wife to obey her husband in disobedience to Allaah – the Most High, and her divorce from him is better for her. Allaah says:

“But if their intention is firm for divorce, Allaah sees and knows all things.” [Sooratul-Baqarah 2:227]

This is especially true when the cause for divorce from the woman is her obedience to Allaah and disobedience to her husband, who is flouting the commands of Allaah. However, other issues need to be taken into consideration; and each case is to be judged according to its individual circumstances. If the woman is divorced from her husband, her and her children’s lives may be ruined. In such a case, it would be possible for us to say that she should stay with her husband, by way of choosing the lesser of the two evils. However, we do not give such a ruling generally, for it is against the essential principle. The matter is as Allaah says:

“But each man is aware of his own self.” [Sooratul-Qiyaamah 75:14]

[Sheikh Muhammad Naasirud-Deen al-Albaanee]

^[1] Saheeh: Related by al-Waahidee in al-Asbaabun-Nuzool (p. 195), and by al-Baghawee in his Tafseer (5/188). It was authenticated by al-Albaanee in al-Mishkaatul-Masaabeeh (no. 3696).