Who to Obey: Her Husband or Her Father?
Fatwa No: 85169

Question

I am married lady from Gulf country and I am working as teacher (Islamic subject). My husband has the first year to study in UK and he has asked me to go with him but if I go with him my salary will stop and my father is forcing me to pay him half of my salary. I don't know if I am responsible to go with my husband or to stay in my home with my job so I can pay for my father, as he needs this money. My husband is going for 3 years.

Answer

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 is His slave and Messenger.

You should obey your husband and travel with him, as this will preserve him from temptations and trials that he would face in those countries.

We advise you and your husband to fear Allah, to abide by His orders, and avoid His prohibitions. Also, as soon as you arrive there, you should get in touch with the Islamic centers and any conservative Muslim families to help one another in righteous deeds and piety. This could be a compensation to the Muslim society which you will miss a lot in that non-Muslim country.
Moreover, you should come back – both of you – as soon as he finishes his studies because staying in non-Muslim countries can have very bad effects on you and your children.

For more benefit on Muslims living in non-Muslim countries, please refer to Fataawa 81142, 86405, 88291, 377986, 81642, 36966781464 and 89879.

Know also that the obedience to your husband is given priority over the obedience to your father. So, try to please your father in ways that do not go against obedience to your husband.

Allah knows best.

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