The Committed Believer · Kindness in the Family

Marital Challenges and Solutions in Islam

Explore Islamic guidance for resolving complex marital issues.

6 questions · Medium · about 4 minutes

Test yourself properly, with scoring and instant feedback.

6 questions, about 4 minutes.

Take the quiz
Show questions and answers Spoilers: every answer and explanation for all 6 questions.

1. What may a wife do if her mentally ill husband harms her?

  • She may be patient if she can, or refer the matter to a qaadi for a ruling. (correct answer)
  • She has no option because he may not be accountable.
  • She must ignore all harm and never seek help.
  • She must automatically remain with him in every case.

Why

If the husband is aware of what he is saying and doing, he remains accountable and must not accuse, neglect, or harm his family. If he is not aware because of illness and loss of reason, he is not accountable in the same way, but people’s rights still matter. The wife may either bear the situation with patience if she can, or refer the case to a qaadi to determine whether he is fit to remain her husband or whether the marriage may be annulled. If he understands what he is doing, she may also seek divorce if she cannot bear the harm.

View source on IslamQA →

2. What should a wife do if her husband wastes her money and threatens her to get more?

  • Not give in to his threats, seek Allah’s help, and involve trustworthy people who can advise him. (correct answer)
  • Give him whatever he demands to avoid conflict.
  • Force her parents to give him money.
  • Help him with any business plan, even if it involves haram dealings.

Why

A wife has her own independent financial responsibility and does not have to give her husband any of her wealth. If he mishandles money, takes her wealth, threatens her, or pressures her family, she should not give in to his threats or give him hope of taking what remains. The source advises kind treatment and sincere advice, seeking help from trustworthy religious people who can advise him, encouraging him to seek halal work, and turning to Allah with patience and du‘a.

View source on IslamQA →

3. What may a wife do if her husband commits sins and mistreats her?

  • Advise him and pray for him, while choosing patience or divorce if she cannot bear the harm. (correct answer)
  • Ignore his sins and stop advising him completely.
  • Stay in every case, even if she fears for her religious commitment or children.
  • Respond harshly and stop fulfilling all duties immediately.

Why

If the wife is not the cause of the husband’s change, the situation may be a test from Allah. She should advise him gently, treat him kindly, seek help from suitable righteous people, and make du‘a for him. If she cannot bear his mistreatment, fears for herself, her religious commitment, or her children, or if his sin reaches the level of disbelief, she may seek divorce. The source gives special emphasis to abandoning prayer, saying that if he does not pray at all she should not remain with him.

View source on IslamQA →

4. What is one recommended step when direct discussion about marital intimacy problems is difficult?

  • Bring in a wise, trusted mediator who understands Islamic rights and duties. (correct answer)
  • Publicly shame the spouse until they change.
  • Ignore the issue completely.
  • Tell everyone the private details of the marriage.

Why

When a wife is suffering because her husband is not fulfilling her marital rights, she should first try gentle and frank communication, written communication if that is easier, kindness, du‘a, and practical efforts to improve the relationship. If these steps do not work, she may seek help from a wise, trustworthy mediator whom the husband respects. The mediator should discuss marital rights and duties without exposing unnecessary private details.

View source on IslamQA →

5. After a valid marriage contract but before the agreed public consummation, what should the husband do regarding intercourse?

  • Refrain from intercourse and be patient until the agreed time. (correct answer)
  • Insist on intercourse secretly because the contract has been done.
  • Treat the contract as only an engagement with no marital rights at all.
  • Ignore the agreed condition because it was made by the family.

Why

Once a valid marriage contract is completed with its conditions, the woman becomes the man’s wife, and forms of intimacy such as kissing are permissible. However, if there was an agreement to delay consummation until a set time, that condition must be respected. The husband was wrong to hasten to intercourse before the agreed public consummation, because it may lead to serious harms such as pregnancy, suspicion, denial, or family conflict. Contact or meetings should be with the family’s knowledge and permission, and anything that may lead to intercourse should be avoided until the agreed time.

View source on IslamQA →

6. What should a wife do if her husband disappears and his whereabouts are unknown?

  • Refer the matter to an Islamic judge to determine the next steps. (correct answer)
  • Remarry immediately after four months and ten days.
  • Assume he has died without any judicial ruling.
  • Take no action unless his family agrees to support her.

Why

If a husband is missing and there is no word of him or known location, the wife should go to an Islamic judge. The judge may set a time period after which the missing husband may be presumed dead; if that period passes without trace, the judge may rule that he is presumed dead, then the wife observes the ‘iddah of a widow before remarrying. Maintenance during the absence is due from the husband’s wealth if available; if there is no accessible wealth, the wife should refer the matter to the judge for a maintenance ruling or permission to borrow. In a non-Muslim country without shar‘i courts, Islamic centres may take the place of the shar‘i court.

View source on IslamQA →

A note on these answers

These questions are for learning and self-testing. Explanations are drawn from the sources linked on each question and are not a fatwa. For a ruling on your own circumstances, please consult a qualified scholar.

More in Kindness in the Family

Browse all 281 quizzes or explore guidance topics.