Abusive husband using marijuana
Fatwa No: 86282

Question

Please advise the ruling (or the correct procedures) on the following problems that have unfortunately entered my home. 1) Marijuana - the Satan has caught my husband with this disgusting addiction - it is causing problems in my home, with my children etc as it makes my husband very short tempered, very violent and abusive and not really much of a pleasure to be around. What can I do about this problem? Although it is his problem it really does affect the whole house. 2) Because of the above problem he has said to me that if I don't like what's going to leave him and the house (obviously in such a pleasant way with words either) What are my rights as the wife with 2 children (one only 2 months old) and I really don't have anywhere else to go. Please help me as I really don't think I can take much more and I can feel my "Iman" changing with every slap across the face and every abusive name he is calling me.

Answer

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions. To begin with, we pray to Allah, The Almighty to help you and us and grant us all steadfastness on His Right Path. What you have to know, our dear sister, is that you must warn your husband from Allah's wrath, advise him, and remind him continuously of Allah and the Last Day (the Hereafter). You have to do your duty with him in enjoining good, forbidding evil, and reminding him of the Qur'anic verses and the Ahadith (Prophet's sayings) that deal with the consumption of intoxicants. Drugs are of the same bad effects, rather worse. You may remind him of the verse in which Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), gambling, Al-Ansâb, and Al-Azlâm (arrows for seeking luck or decision) are an abomination of Shaitân's (Satan) handiwork. So avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be successful.}[5:90]. You may also remind him of the Prophet's saying: "Every kind of intoxicants is Haram (prohibited), and Allah has set a pledge (vow) upon Himself that He would enforce those who drink intoxicants (wine and its like) to drink from 'Teenat Al-Khabaal'. It was said: 'O Allah's Messenger! What is Teenat Al-Khabaal? He answered: 'It is the sweat that the people of the Hellfire ooze or their seepage (of flesh and bones)'."  [Narrated by Muslim] Tell him that by doing so he will be a bad model for his children and ask him what his feeling will be if he sees his children doing the same. Tell him also that the drugs and alcohol addict is a castaway, rejected and lowly looked upon by the whole society. You must use wisdom and lenient and soft of argument when discussing this matter with him in order to make him yield and to avoid his negative or violent response. You may preferably give him some booklets or cassettes that tackle the problem of intoxicants and show their detrimental consequences. As concerns you, you have the right to seek divorce as you say that he beats and abuses you. If you have a family with which you may live then we advise you to ask for divorce and Allah will surely reward you with a better husband Insha Allah (Allah willing). After divorce you will have nothing as your right except for the right of a suitable gift, unless there are some liabilities due upon him such as dowry or expenditure, etc. If you have no family to return to, then you have to live with him patiently, hoping for Allah's reward and continue admonishing him in various ways. Keep close company with righteous women and resort to Allah, the Almighty in your supplications to guide your husband and rectify his condition and yours. Finally, we would like to remind you that your responsibility towards your children would be doubled, so do your level best to raise them properly. May Allah help you, guide you and ease your matters. Allah knows best.

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