I am a religiously committed Muslim man and recently engaged with a religious knowledge able lady. Now the problem is, I want she stop using internet after Nikaah as I have some doubts in my mind due to many evils on internet and I fear this may create problems between us after marriage, she want to get Islamic knowledge and I am ready to provide her with books cds company of pious and noble ladies or she can use internet two or three times a week with my permission but she is not ready to obey me regarding this issue even after Nikaah. Please guide me what should I do, because I know I can’t bear this. What is the ruling on this, is it obligatory for her to obey me or she has right to use internet against the will of her husband?

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 is His slave and Messenger.

First of all, may Allaah reward you for being keen on being steadfast on the Straight Path, and we ask Him to facilitate you a blessed marriage that will be a comfort to your eyes.

You should know that a fiancée is not obliged to obey her fiancé because he is not her guardian [he has no authority over her]. As regards after marriage, then she is obliged to obey him within what is permissible.

Among what is permissible is that a husband may prevent his wife from using the internet if he fears that it [the internet] will spoil her relationship with him; in this case, she is obliged to obey him in this regard.

Therefore, we advise you to have mutual understanding with her on this matter in the presence of her guardian or one of her relatives. In our view the matter is easy and both of you may find a solution. As far as you are concerned, you want good for her; the evidence is that you mentioned that you will provide her with other options or that you will allocate few hours for her for using the internet. As far as she is concerned, we think that she is a pious woman and it is hoped that she will not visit suspicious sites and that she will not be prevented by doing so from observing the rights of her husband or children.

In case you did not reach an agreement on this matter, and you fear that this will cause disputes in the future, then you may invalidate the engagement as this is better than divorcing after marriage. An engagement is a promise of marriage and each party has the right to invalidate it whenever he/she wishes.

For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 86143 and 81668.

Allaah Knows best.