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:

Is it allowed for a lady to keep living in his ex husband,s house after the divorce to take care of her growing daughter.? 

(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:

Divorced couple stay in same house

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

A couple between whom a divorce is established are non-mehrams to each other in the Sight of Shariah Law, and each and every restriction which would apply between two non-mehram members of the opposite gender would be applicable between them.

Provided all the conditions of associating with a non-mehram person (observance of veil/purdah, no vain or private talk, etc.) are met and scrupulously honored, there is no harm or restriction in Islam if two people who are non-mehram to each other live in one house.

But if the divorced couple fear that their living together would create a ‘fitnah’ or a situation whereby the two people who were once married cannot control their desires, or that they would not be able to conduct their lives within the prescribed Boundaries of Shariah Law, it would perhaps be best for them to find another solution and not put themselves in such a severe trial.

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan