Fears that his wife's family will corrupt his wife and children Fatwa No: 92140
- Fatwa Date:21-5-2006
Alsalam Alykum, I live in one of the European countries with my wife and two kids. Her family lives nearby. I have no family here. My wife, I and her family went into some trouble in the past (three years ago) when my wife left me with the first kid asking for divorce and went to her family who supported her without even trying to listen to me. Her father kicked me of his house more than once when I went asking to see my kid and trying to solve the problem. He prevented me seeing my kid until few months later when I started a legal procedure to see the kid by law. After about one year my wife started to think again and found her self did a big mistake with me. She wanted to come back to her husband home and I told her you are welcome just to save my kid in Europe. Her parents felt that they were going to loose me and tried to apologise but I did not accept their apologies. This is because I spent one year alone having no one to talk to, having no job, and the only thing I had is the house and some money from the government to live with. I discovered that I am married from a bad family and their traditions are completely different from mine and they are not religious people. Since she came back to my house she asked for divorce many time but I solved the problem inside our house. I feel now that my kids are in danger when she goes to visit her family every week as she insisted (other wise she will ask for divorce or create problems). I feel visiting her family once a week would affect my kids in someway. I am telling her that visiting her family should be when necessary and about once a month or two months. also I prevent her parents from comming my home. Please advice me in this matter. Thanks you
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.
The scholars stated that a husband has the right to prevent his wife and his children from visiting her family and prevent her parents from visiting the wife and children if he fears that they will corrupt her.
So, if you fear any harm on your children and wife from this visit, then you have the right to prevent your children from visiting her family [parents] and prevent them from visiting your wife, as it is an obligation on the husband to protect his wife from corruption. Allaah Says (what means): {O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones.}[Quran 66:6].
Your wife is obliged to obey you and it is not permissible for her to ask for divorce just because you prevent her from visiting her parents, and you should endeavour to turn your wife into a righteous woman.
Finally, it should be noted that the family of your wife should help you and her in solving the problems that might occur between you, and not worsen the situation.
It should also be noted that if divorce happens, this woman has no right in fostering her children since she will take them to live in her parents house, and since this could corrupt them. In this case, it is an obligation upon you to use all means to take the children from her.
Allaah Knows best.