Could you tell me if it is permissible to stay with my parents for a short while (1 week without my husband) as I am pregnant with my 3rd child. My other children are both under 3. My husband finds it difficult to let me. Parents live in U.K we live in Belgium. My husband will take me and my father has offered to bring me back. I'm suffering in this pregnancy and can't look after my children or manage my home. My husband is also learned on Islam he is an Aalim and Hafiz. He is away most evenings and weekends giving Da'wa lectures and teaches in Madrassah. We are in a very happy marriage Alhamdulillaah. Please if I am in the wrong for asking please say so but if I have a right on this issue then also please give advise.

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. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

There is no harm for the wife to go to the house of her parents and stay there if her husband gives her permission. There is no harm on her as well to ask her husband about this. Moreover, the husband should not prevent his wife from visiting her parents.

Not visiting the parents is a way of being undutiful to them and cutting ties of kinship with them, especially if the wife is sick and wants to visit her family in order to recover in their home; so if the husband gives permission to her, then this is a means of keeping good marital relations with his wife. Allaah says (which means): {And live with them honourably.}[4:19]. The Prophet said: "The best among you are the best to their wives, and I am the best to my wives." [Al-Tirmithi and Ibn Maajah]

If the wife is unable to serve her husband and carry out the household duties, then she is not religiously obliged to do so. Allaah says (which means): {Allaah burdens not a person beyond his scope.}[2:286].

Allaah knows best.