𝗠𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 (75)

A Disobedient Wife's Right to Financial Support During Pregnancy and ’Iddah? Question: I am sending you my problem asking for a religious ruling. May Allāh reward you with good. I am an Egyptian man working in Saudi Arabia for about a year. Before I came here, I officially married my wife in Egypt. After arriving, I sent for her to come live with me so we could start our married life here. She and her family agreed. I sent her the full dowry as stated in the marriage contract and prepared our apartment. She came, and we began living together. After about a month and a half of marriage, signs of pregnancy appeared. She insisted on returning to her family to spend her pregnancy there, but I refused. I told her I was ready to take care of her with everything I had. I even took her to a specialist doctor who treated and followed up on her condition. But she refused everything except going back to her family. She would say: “If you want to divorce me, then divorce me. If you don’t want to send me money, then don’t. I will pay for the return ticket from my dowry, but I must travel.” I tried both gentle and firm approaches with her, but she insisted until our home became unbearable. In the end, I bought her a ticket and she traveled to her family. Now I have several questions. The first is: Is this wife considered nashiz? And is she entitled to financial support, considering she is pregnant? I was not pleased with her traveling and tried to stop her but could not. Sheikh Ibn Baz rahimahullah: In the name of Allāh, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allāh, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allāh, his family, and companions. If the situation is as the questioner described, then the wife is considered nashiz. She is not entitled to financial support because she traveled without your approval and against your wishes, due to her insistence and the distress she caused you, as you mentioned. Some scholars say she deserves support because she is pregnant. However, the correct opinion is that as long as she remains in this condition (disobedience), she is not entitled to financial support, even if she is pregnant. Presenter: May Allāh reward you. If I divorce her, would I be wronging her? Sheikh: There is nothing wrong with divorcing her. However, we advise you not to rush into divorce if she is good in her religion. Her behavior may have worsened because of pregnancy and the physical and emotional changes that affect pregnant women. So do not rush to divorce if she is good in her prayers, character, and modesty. Perhaps Allāh will guide her and improve her behaviour later. If you do divorce her, then it should be only one divorce (one pronouncement). Divorce by saying it three times at once is not allowed. If you decide to divorce, it should be only one. And again, we advise you not to rush. Presenter: If I divorce her, what financial rights does she have over me? Sheikh: If you divorce her and she agrees to return to you, then you must provide financial support during her waiting period (‘iddah). But if she insists on staying away and continues in disobedience, then you do not have to provide support, even after the divorce. However, if you divorce her and she changes her mind and returns, then you must provide support during her waiting period until she gives birth. After that, you must provide support for the child. Presenter: Can I consider the cost of her return ticket as part of her financial support for several months? The travel costs about 1,000 riyals. Sheikh: Since you voluntarily paid for the ticket, you cannot ask for it back or count it as her support. Presenter: If I send her a letter informing her of the divorce, is that divorce valid? Sheikh: You should officially register it at the court, with a notary, or with a licensed marriage official so that it will be recognised and legally documented. Source: https://t.me/Menzbenefits/280