Marriage is not a life sentence.

Breaking taboos

Islam is not an alien religion which puts women under threat or expects them to tolerate abuse or harm. Any abuse is haram. I am not in any way promoting or encouraging divorce, or the break up of families and upheaval of children, but if a marriage is abusive or oppressive, there is no imperative that a woman must stay in that relationship. Clearly, we should encourage reconciliation and counselling, and talaq is the only ever last resort, but there is a big difference between a couple making mutual sacrifices and one person annihilating them self in a marriage or any relationship. Mutual sacrifices and compromises create a good relationship, however, if they are entirely one sided they are unjust.

Marriage is not a life sentence of suffering

Marriage is not supposed to be life-sentence of suffering, pain under the mistaken impression it is rewarded. This is the wrong definition of marriage. I am addressing this issue because in some communities, from a cultural point of view talaq is viewed as haram and is a big taboo, yet Allah Almighty permitted talaq as an option when all else has failed. The Prophet (peace be on him) said:

The most hated of permissible things to Allah is divorce. (Ibn Majah)

All marriages experience difficulties, challenges and sacrifices but sometimes when people realise that they can’t tolerate being married anymore their families pressurise them into staying together when divorce would be the more humane option. Allah Almighty created mankind to have dignity and respect, not to be degraded in any situation including marriage.

Truly, We have honoured the children of Adam. (17:70)

There are many women who have been stuck in humiliating marriages, with narcissistic husbands, to preserve the honour of their family. And this does not just affect women, as there are men who are suffocated in bad marriages too. No one should suffer because their family want to maintain a façade in the community that they are OK.

Misunderstanding the concept of sabr within a bad marriage – Mistaking weakness for sabr

A woman is not rewarded for staying in a bad marriage. If her mental and emotional well-being,  safety or home are at risk from a violent or alcoholic husband etc she must leave. She is not rewarded for her patience by staying in such a marriage. She is only prolonging the suffering. The suffering is not always physical. It can psychological which leaves no scars but can be just as damaging and can take the form or gas-lighting and coercive control. No one’s marriage should be filled with fear. If there is fear, there is a problem.

The distinction between sabr and suicide

Staying in a harmful relation is not classified as patience, it is ‘suicide’. If a wife remains in such a situation, she is punishable if her patience is creating more problems. This is not sabr, this is weakness. There is a thin line, which we tend not to see, between sabr and weakness. The greater benefit lies is outside such a marriage, where she would gain safety, sanity and tranquillity, which is a healthier environment.

When the angels take away from their bodies the souls of those who have wronged themselves, they will ask them, ‘How did you live?’ They will reply, ‘We lived on earth in weakness and oppression.’ The angels will say, ‘Was not God’s land vast enough for you to go wherever you could live in peace?’ The dwelling of these people will be hell fire, a terrible destination. (4:97)

Mental health

Mental health is important not just to function properly, but also be able to perform any form of ibadah competently and to be a good mother. Women have to look after themselves. Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be on him) said:

The strong believer is more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, but there is goodness in both of them. Be eager for what benefits you, seek help from Allah, and do not be frustrated. If something befalls you, then do not say: If only I had done something else. Rather say: Allah has decreed what he wills. Verily, the phrase ‘if only’ opens the way for the work of Satan. (Muslim)

Many women will put up with anything against themselves and cannot see the the mental harm to their children until it’s very late. They hope that their husbands will change, and at the same time they fear the consequences of leaving. However, every day they do not leave is detrimental to their mental health and ultimately manifests itself physically. The impact on the children as they grow up is also negative and affects their hormonal mechanisms with issues such as depleted adrenals and heightened chronic cortisol levels. This impacts them in different ways, from gut issues, headaches, detachment, fatigue, depression. This is why it is important to get priorities in the right order, and realise that self-sacrifice is the wrong.

Barriers to escaping

Some women are so scared what people will think or the social repercussions on their family that they remain in toxic marriages, to the detriment of their mental and emotional health, and that of their children. Even when they have all the right reasons for leaving, they feel consumed by guilt, anxiety and fear of what others will think. In such a case, it is an obligation for them to leave, as remaining in the marriage is harming their well-being. Yet having been in such marriages for years, the women are sadly unable to see clearly that they have been brainwashed by their culture to remain. They lack the confidence to change their reality. If you are a weak person, then ask for help. Why would you expose your children daily to shouting, swearing and screaming? It is psychologically damaging for them. They will hate getting married. Sometimes a woman thinks she is the only one suffering and does not want to walk away from her children, so sacrifices herself, often because this is a behaviour she has inherited this from her mother, who was probably also dying in silence.  It is wrong. Children inherit patterns of behaviours from their parents – whether it is oppressive fathers or self-sacrificing mothers. This is not healthy.

Marriage is not supposed to be painful

It is not destiny to live in hardship. Who said you have to have hardship in your marriage? There will be some difficulties here and there, but it is not meant to be bumpy all the way through. We have been brainwashed that we have to learn how to live with pain in marriage, as if they are twinned. Of course, we need to learn how to live with our differences and accommodate differences. But no one teaches you this, so when you get married you are thrown in the deep end without knowing how to swim, then you are blamed when you sink. The common scenario is that many people are familiar with the pain, but then the pain grows into cancer. There shouldn’t be pain in marriage. The Prophet (peace be on him) didn’t say you have to tolerate hardship and you will be rewarded. When approached by a woman who wanted to leave her husband even though he had good character, the Prophet (peace be on him) asked her to return back the garden her husband had gifted her and told her husband to release her from the relationship even though her husband was heartbroken. Ibn `Abbas narrated:

The wife of Thabit bin Qais came to the Prophet (peace be on him) and said, ‘O Allah’s Messenger (peace be on you)! I do not blame Thabit for defects in his character or his religion, but I, being a Muslim, dislike to behave in un-Islamic manner (if I remain with him).’ On that Allah’s Messenger (peace be on him) said (to her), ‘Will you give back the garden which your husband has given you (as Mahr)?’ She said, ‘Yes.’ Then the Prophet (peace be on him) said to Thabit, ‘O Thabit! Accept your garden, and divorce her once.’ (Bukhari)

Seek help

Peace of mind

If a couple separate Allah Almighty is reassuring them not to worry about their rizq as ultimately He is the Provider.

But if they separate [by divorce], Allah will enrich each [of them] from His abundance. And ever is Allah Encompassing and Wise. (4:130)

Allah Almighty talked about marriage as a place of sukoon, (tranquillity) but it can become hell. If there is suffering then let the relationship go.

And of His signs is that He created for you mates from among yourselves, so that you may find tranquility in them; and He planted love and compassion between you. In this are signs for people who reflect. (30:21)

The husband might be worrying that his wife will become vulnerable if her divorces her and the family will be broken, or that he still has love for her, but if he is melting like a candle because of what she is doing to him, then he needs to draw a line. Allah Almighty will facilitate what is sufficient for them. He might replace their spouse with someone better. Trust Allah Almighty. The one who has been wronged in the relationship will be compensated. And the one who is in the wrong will suffer. There are countless examples of this around us. Allah Almighty tells us not to stay in a marriage because we are concerned we have no one else to provide for us other than your husband. In that case, we are doubting Allah Almighty without saying it. It is not worth staying in marriage because you are being provided for by your husband. Allah is the Provider and will provide you with sustenance. So have full trust in Him. Everything belongs to Him.

The healthy marriage

We need to create a good environment, equip our children with the right tools, and teach them the symptoms of healthy and unhealthy relationships. If they see the symptoms, they need to seek help. Divorce of course is not a light matter. And should only be taken when it is the solution, not the creation to a another problem. And the Prophet (peace be on him) also said:

If any woman asks her husband for divorce without some strong reason, the odour of Paradise will be forbidden to her. (Abu Dawoud)

Whether to divorce or not also depends on how long a couple has been married. If they are just starting out and in their first two or three years, they should work at making their marriage work, without being harmed and with the support of their families. Marriage is a mutual contract between two people with their consent, to live together and help and support each other to their journey to Allah Almighty and look after their family, give them the right tarbiyya to be among people of Jannah. Sign up to Shaykh Haytham Tamim’s marriage course

---

Jazakumullahu khayran for spending time learning with us. We need your support to enable us to reach more people and spread authentic knowledge. Every contribution big or small is valuable to our future.

‘If anyone calls others to follow right guidance, his reward will be equivalent to those who follow him (in righteousness) without their reward being diminished in any respect.’ (Muslim)

Help us promote a better understanding of Islam’s beautiful message of balance, moderation and tolerance.

Your support will help us make sacred knowledge accessible and empower people to improve themselves and their lives.

• The forces of Allah and the fate of the falsifiers
• Climbing the stairs: How to continue your spiritual journey post-Ramadan
• How Allah strengthens the hearts of believers
• Why should you follow up one good action with another one?
• Don’t be a Ramadani person – Be a Rabbani person.

Related Posts 7 Tips on Making Marriage Work Saving a marriage when it’s breaking down Divorce in Islam My Big Fat Asian Wedding – Culture vs Islam Anger Are men superior to women in Islam? Saving a marriage when it is breaking down How to communicate with your spouse Can Muslims marry non-Muslims Intimacy in Islam How to be patient How does Islam view In-laws Can a man beat his wife in Islam? What are the limits of interaction between boys and girls