It is not permissible to force one’s wife to give up her rights before divorcing her

 

What is the ruling on forcing a wife to give up her rights before divorcing her?.

Praise be to Allaah.
 

 

It is not permissible for a husband to take anything of his
wife’s wealth unless she gives it willingly; that includes her mahr,
except in a case where the wife has committed a blatant immoral action.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“but if they, of their own good pleasure, remit any part
of it to you, take it, and enjoy it without fear of any harm”

[al-Nisa’ 4:4]  

“and you should not treat them with harshness, that you
may take away part of the Mahr you have given them, unless they commit open
illegal sexual intercourse”

[al-Nisa’ 4:19] 

Ibn Qudaamah said: 

The scholars are agreed that the husband may not take her
wealth, except in the case of willful defiance and bad conduct on her part.
Ibn al-Mundhir narrated that al-Nu’maan said: If the wrongdoing and
mistreatment is on his the husband’s part and she seeks divorce by means of
khula’, then it is permissible for him (to take the mahr), but he is sinning
because of his bad conduct, and he should not be forced to return what he
took. 

Ibn al-Mundhir
said: What he said goes against the apparent meaning of the Book of Allaah,
and the proven reports from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him), and the consensus of the scholars. 

Al-Mughni, 3/137 

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said in Majmoo’ al-Fataawa
(32/283): 

It is not permissible for a man to treat his wife harshly in
order to make her give up part of the dowry, or to beat her for that
purpose. But if she commits an blatant act of immorality then he has the
right to treat her harshly in order to make her give up her mahr or some of
it (so he can divorce her), and he may hit her. This is between the man and
Allaah. The woman’s family should investigate the matter and fid out who is
in the right. If it is proven to them that she is the one who transgressed
the sacred limits of Allaah and betrayed the husband, then she is a
wrongdoer and transgressor, so she should give back the mahr (or part of
it). End quote. 

What is meant by the act of blatant immorality (or “open
illegal sexual intercourse”) mentioned in the verse (interpretation of the
meaning):   

“and you should not treat them with harshness, that you
may take away part of the Mahr you have given them, unless they commit open
illegal sexual intercourse”

[al-Nisa’ 4:19] 

is adultery and lack of chastity, and bad behaviour such as
using foul language and offending her husband.  

See Tafseer al-Sa’di, p. 242 

And Allaah knows best.