Husband wants divorce

23-1-2002 | IslamWeb

Question:

I am married, but my husband doesn't love me. He told me that I lied to him. He didn't see my real hair, teeth, and I have facial hair. When he saw me I had some makeup on my face. Can he divorce me for these reasons?

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Answer:

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the World; and blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

Morally it is desirable for a husband to be patient with his wife even if he dislikes her. Many discomforts there are that bring blessings to the patient person. Most probably Allah will grant him pious children from his wife. Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {It may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allâh knows but you do not know. }[2:216] He also Says: {O you who believe! Turn to Allâh with sincere repentance! It may be that your Lord will remit from you your sins, …}[66:8]
If this wife is religious and follows the Sharia then we advise the husband to keep her and not to divorce her since the religion of a person is the most important quality to be preferred over other matters. The Prophet said: "Select a pious (wife) that you may be blessed". [Reported by Imams Bukhari and Muslim]
As for the claim of her husband that she did not show him her real teeth and hair, if it is correct, then it is a deception which is not permitted in Sharia. The Prophet said: "Whoever deceives us is not one of us".(Muslim)
In spite of this act, keeping a righteous wife and covering her shortcomings is among noble characteristics.
As far as the matter of divorce is concerned, it is in the hands of the husband and he is permitted to divorce his wife as long as there is no legal objection such as divorcing her during her menses, etc.
On the other hand, it is not advisable to divorce a wife without any reason as emphasized by the Muslim scholars. Rather, the husband should take time before divorcing his wife, should overlook his wife's shortcomings and look at her good qualities.
The Prophet said: "Allah did not make anything lawful more abominable to Him than divorce". [Abu Dawood and Ibn Majah]
Allah knows best.