Mother has no right to force son to divorce
Fatwa No: 282280

Question

Assalamu alaikum, Please refer to your answer to my question on Fatwa No: 251251. My wife and two kids have returned to my home after intervention from my uncles. This is not without issue. My mum has become furious because she was not aware of her return until later coupled with the trauma of the death of my father. my elder brother called my uncles to blast them on what they have done. Their argument is that my uncles did it for selfish reasons to frustrate my mum and since my mum has more rights over me than them. I called my mum's line and she refused to pick and later sent me text that if I will not returned my wife to her family's home I should neither call or sent her text message again. Even some money I sent to her she returned it to me. Please advice me and remember me in your prayers.

Answer

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.

We ask Allaah to ease matters for you, relieve your distress and reconcile between you and your mother; Allaah listens and responds to our supplications.

We advise you to supplicate Allaah often and to turn to Him for all your affairs,. You may supplicate according to the supplication narrated by Nufay‘ ibn Al-Haarith that the Prophet said: "The supplications of the distressed are, 'Allaahumma rahmataka arju, fala takilni ila nafsi tarfata ‘ayn, wa aslih li sha’ni kullahu, la ilaaha illa ant (O Allaah, Your mercy I desire, so do not leave me in charge of my affairs even for the blink of an eye and rectify for me all of my affairs. None has the right to be worshipped except You)." [Abu Daawood and Ahmad]

We congratulate you on the reconciliation that has taken place, and on your wife's return to your home. As regards your mother objecting to it, she has no right to do so, so you are not obliged to separate from your wife in order to please your mother. The obedience of the parents is not absolute; it is only an obligation when the parents have a valid reason and if it is not harmful to the children as the scholars have stated. For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 84056, 131695 and 245677.

However, you should try to please your mother and treat her in a good manner. You should try to earn her sympathy by telling her that you feel compassion for your children and that you desire to give them a good upbringing, in order to gain her pleasure. It is also advisable to seek the intercession of her relatives and friends who may influence her.

We ask Allaah The Almighty to help you in this regard.

Allaah Knows best.

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