How to deal with an immoral father? Fatwa No: 473650
- Fatwa Date:2-4-2023
My father told me has girlfriends and he also pays prostitutes for services. My mother knows this but she says that she will never divorce or separate from him because he provides financial support. I saw my dad raping a girl that visited the house and now she is in mental institute. My dad drinks alcohol and beats my mom. My mom still does nothing. We got a phone call from another woman who said that she is his new wife. He secretly got married too in another country without anyone knowing, he sold my mom's property and used all the money to marry the new wife. My mother has been beaten so much, her kidneys are gone and skull was stapled together. She tells me that its better to die than to get a divorce (which is shame in the community). What is Islamic method to deal with this problem?
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu`alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
If this is the case of your father, he has thus committed many evil and prohibited acts, not to mention that he violated the Laws of his Lord and committed injustice against Allah’s creatures, especially your mother since he wronged her against herself and her money. We have previously clarified the way how to give a piece of advice to the immoral, addicted father who violates the Divine limits, so you can consult them under Fatawa 19274 and 23587.
In this case, it is recommended for your mother to ask for a divorce. On that, Al-Bohooti Al-Hanbali said, “In case the husband violates one of Allah’s, the Exalted, Rights, the wife is recommended – under this case – to ask for Khul.”
It becomes also clear that separation from her husband is not obligatory upon her, so she would not be blamed if she shows patience with him. We supplicate to Allah, the Exalted, to guide him to the Right Path and to magnify her reward. Kindly refer to Fatwa 83577 on the Virtue of Patience.
Allah knows best.