A husband accused his wife of not being a Muslim, saying, "A Jahoodi stays a jahoodi even if s/he has become a Muslim," and "Why do you still wear a hijab? You should take it off as it is only appearance," and "Your prophet....." as if they don't have the same religion. The wife feels greatly humiliated. In a hadith it says that someone who accuses a believer of being a kafir, it is as if he has killed him. What should be her reaction? A quick reply is highly appreciated.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

It is not permissible for a husband to accuse his wife of disbelief because calling a Muslim a non-Muslim is a very serious matter as we clarified in Fataawa 87963 and 18167.

His statement that a Jewish woman stays as a Jewish woman is wrong; whoever embraces Islam and avoids the things which nullify it is a Muslim and he has the same rights and obligations like all Muslims, whether he was beforehand a Jew, a Magi or else.

If this man has evidence that his wife apostated, then his marriage contract with her becomes void and he is obliged to separate from her and it is not permissible for him to have sexual intercourse with her unless she repents to Allaah before her waiting period expires.

Moreover, it is not permissible for a husband to utter such statements even if he really does not mean it. Allaah ordered husbands to treat wives kindly; humiliating the wife and harming her is not kindness at all.

For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 88304.

As regards the wife, she should be patient with her husband and advise him in a nice and soft manner, and she should supplicate Allaah to guide him and turn him into a righteous man.

However, if she wishes to take the matter to whomever may deter her husband from such practises and harm, or divorce her from him, then she may do so.

Allaah Knows best.