Her husband only gives her maintenance, and he lives far away from her. Can she ask for a divorce?

 

Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allaah, 


I have been divorced (with talaaq) two times. The first time was because I asked my husband to give me and my children just one day each month when we could sit together, against his wishes and those of his family. The second time was because he loves another woman and he humiliates me in front of my children, and he shows favour to her and does not care about my feelings or the feelings of my children. He tells her that he loves her on the phone, where I can see and hear him, even though he is not married to her. Now he had traveled and left me alone with our children, and he has no connection with us apart from some money which he sends via his family.


 If I get divorced, will Allaah compensate me with something better and make me independent of means by His bounty, and will He compensate me for the wrongs that have been done to me by this hard-hearted man? Or will that mean that I am not content with the decree of Allaah? Do I have the right to have a husband with whom I can live in love, mercy and tranquility, or do I have to put up with living a life of humiliation, me and my children, for the sake of this monthly allowance that he sends via his family in order to humiliate me even further? Am I regarded as patient or as weak and broken because I have put up with this life for 11 years for fear of the word of divorce?.

Praise be to Allaah.
 

 

Firstly: 

Allaah has permitted a man to have several wives, and has
forbidden men to mistreat their wives. If a man wants to have more than one
wife, then he can keep the first wife on a decent and reasonable basis, or
he can let her go in a kindly manner. It is not permissible for him to keep
her married to him whilst forsaking her and not giving her her rights. It is
not permissible for him to be negligent with regard to his family and the
upbringing of his children. Plural marriage has not been prescribed in order
to destroy families, rather it is prescribed to build families and increase
their numbers. 

This forsaking of his wife and negligence is haraam for him,
even if he had another wife according to sharee’ah, so how about if he is
forsaking his wife and neglecting his family for an illegitimate reason such
as a haraam relationship and corrupt desires? 

Secondly: 

The wife has the right to ask for a divorce from her husband
if she cannot bear his bad treatment. This does not mean that she does not
accept the decree of Allaah. Indeed in some cases it may be haraam for her
to stay with a husband who commits major sins and whose children are not
safe from his evil influence and bad treatment. As divorce is allowed in
Islam and it may even be obligatory to ask for a divorce in some cases,
there is no need to think that this may go against belief in the divine will
and decree, because Allaah has decreed both marriage and divorce. 

The wife has the right to live with her husband and be
treated in a decent and reasonable manner, and to have a husband with whom
she can feel happy and who will be like a garment for her, so that there
will be love and compassion between them. This is the reason for which
marriage was prescribed, and if anything detracts from what we have
mentioned, then it is contrary to the reason for which marriage was
prescribed. 

Hence the husband should choose a woman who is
religiously-committed, and fathers and guardians should marry their
daughters and female relatives under their care to men who are
religiously-committed and of good character, because if the Muslim household
is established on the basis of the laws of Allaah, no wrongdoing or cruelty
will be seen in it. If a wife dislikes her husband for a legitimate shar’i
reason, then she can ask for divorce (talaaq) or can divorce him by khula’,
and if he dislikes her he can divorce her by talaaq and give her her rights
in full. He should either retain her on reasonable terms or release her with
kindness.  

If divorce takes place, then Allaah may decree that she finds
a good, righteous husband, as He says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“But if they separate
(by divorce), Allaah will provide abundance for everyone of them from His
Bounty”

[al-Nisa’ 4:130] 

Thirdly: 

Some woman stay and put up with their husbands because of the
possibility that Allaah may reform them, or so that he will remain in
contact with his children and take care of them and spend on them. If a long
time goes by and he does not reform or he mistreats his wife and children
too much, and she has sufficient money to spend on herself and her children,
then there is no point in her staying with him. Rather the right thing to do
is to rid herself of him so that she can live a better and more decent life,
and raise her children to obey Allaah and His Messenger (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him). 

You should take stock of yourself and repent to Allaah for
any sins or transgressions that you may have committed against the rights of
Allaah or the rights of your husband, or anyone else. Perhaps what has
happened to you may be a punishment for a sin that you have committed,
because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of
what your hands have earned. And He pardons much”

[al-Shoora 42:30] 

Think long and hard about your situation and how likely it is
that you may find a husband after him or live a peaceful life without him.
Consult people around you who are close to you and are sincere. I advise
you, if they agree with you, to divorce him if the situation is as you
describe in your question. So pray istikhaarah and ask Allaah for guidance,
and if you feel at ease with the idea of divorce then go ahead, and ask
Allaah to make you independent of means by His bounty. We ask Allaah to set
your affairs straight and to relieve your distress and reconcile between you
if that is better for you both. 

And Allaah knows best.