Dealing Wisely with Marital Disagreements

27-8-2026 | IslamWeb

Question:

My wife, who reverted to Islam four years ago, wants to take our daughter to her grandmother’s birthday celebration with her non-Muslim family, where alcohol will be present. I’ve expressed my opposition, but she’s decided to go regardless. I’m honestly exhausted by this recurring conflict. I’m hesitant to consider divorce, mainly because I’m afraid of leaving our daughter in that kind of environment without me there to guide her. Should I Attend to protect her, or divorce or else what is right?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

We do not consider divorce to be a solution to such problems. Rather, it would be an unwise choice because there is a daughter who would live far from her father in such a country, where there are great risks to raising children properly according to Islam.

Rather, we advise the questioner to consider what is beneficial and weigh it against the harm involved if he goes with his wife and daughter to the birthday celebration, which includes evils such as the presence of alcohol and other things.

The benefit of his going may be greater, or the harm may be greater. Determining this depends on knowing many things that are not mentioned in the question; therefore, we are unable to advise him to go or not to go.

Accordingly, we advise him to strive to call his wife to obey Allah, and to strive to determine the benefits and harms resulting from his going or not going. We ask Allah to guide him to what is best for him, his wife, and his daughter.

Allah Knows best