I found out that my husband after 23 years has had a girlfriend for the past 8 years. I'm ready to confront him with the news of my knowledge of this affair. I know that he will not give me divorce easily and have consulted a Shaykh (Imaam) who told me to do certain things like reading specific Ayah in the Quran and say some Du'aa (prayers) to be able to control him and make the divorce easier on me. In other words these things he told me to read and do will separate between me and him but with the Quran and Du'aa not with any kind of magic. Is this Halaal or Haraam?

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.

If this relationship is illegal, we advise you to endeavour to turn your husband into a righteous person and guide him to the truth, even by seeking the help of righteous and pious people. You have to know that if you inform him about what you know about him, this could lead him to openly commit the sin he was doing in secret. You have to be keen on keeping your family united because if it breaks; this will spoil you and your children especially that we are living in an era where it is very difficult to bring children up according to Islamic morals and principles. It is for this reason that you have to conciliate with your husband. If he takes heed, accepts your advice and abandons his dissolute conduct, then you have to thank Allaah and be grateful to Him for this. Nonetheless, if he does not want to abandon his practice immediately, Allaah might guide him in the near future to do so. However, do not rush for divorce as this will break the family and lead it to much evil. So you have to be patient and supplicate Allaah as much as possible to guide him at times when supplications are most likely to be accepted. It might be that Allaah will answer your supplication immediately and rectify the affairs of your husband [and reconcile between you].

As regards what the Shaykh said that there are some verses and supplications that can be read to separate between a husband and his wife, then we do not know any evidence in this regard. However, if this is proven by experience then there is no harm in reciting them in order to get rid of this corrupt husband if you are unable to be patient with him and unable to advise him, so that you will save your family from being spoilt.  

Allaah Knows best.