Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Brothers,

Assalm o Alikum

My problem is that i have a freind whose husband has been physically beating her for the past 12-13 years. my freind has 2 sons. both of them are married. she has not told her sons about his issue as she does not want to create tensoins in theri households. she jsut quietly bears all th torture inflicted upon her.

MY question is that till what extent should she tolerate the beating and what are the ways islam gives to a women inorder to protect herself as you see this is a serious matter and is getting worse by the day that is why i would appericiate your reply as soon as possible

wassalam.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Wife abused beaten by husband

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Islam guides both the husband and the wife who are united in the sacred institution of marriage to fear Allah and love, honor, and cherish one another. Both the partners in marriage are guided to be considerate, merciful, and generous towards their spouse, and deliver the due rights of their partners in full benevolence.

If one of the partners in marriage abuses the other, usurps the rights of the other, or does not fulfill their obligations and rights in marriage, etc.; they will be held severely accountable in the Just and Supreme Court of Allah Subhanah on an Inevitable Day for each and every one of their evil deeds.

If the husband has been physically abusing the wife for the past so many years, and the wife has borne her hardship with patience only for the sake of preserving the family; she will indeed have her reward for her immense patience in the Just Court of Allah Subhanah, and her abusive husband will have a very severe accounting on that Inevitable Day! Even though it seems that he might get away with his evil deeds in the life of this world, Allah is the Witness over all things; and no evil doer will escape His Accounting and Justice on a Day which is sure to come!

Since your friend has grown up and married children, there is absolutely no harm if she seeks their help in stopping the constant abuse of her husband. If that does not improve her conditions and there is no other alternative, the woman is well within her rights in Islam to initiate a divorce proceedings against such an evil person, and there will be absolutely no sin upon her. If the husband does not repent to Allah Subhanah and seek forgiveness from his wife, and does not immediately stop his abuse and honor and cherish his wife; the wife must immediately seek the help of her sons; and it would be their duty to help her, support her and protect her.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan