Monday 10 Jumada al-ula 1446 - 11 November 2024
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Her husband is threatening to divorce her if she does not watch pornographic movies with him

Question

A woman’s husband tries to force her to watch pornographic movies with her and she refuses to do that and tries to stop him; she told him to choose between her and these movies and he chose the movies instead of her, What should she do – when he has threatened to divorce her if she does not watch these movies with him? What advice do you give her? Should she watch them or get a divorce – especially since she has three children with him?.

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

Allah has commanded the Muslim to protect himself and his family from the Fire. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“O you who believe! Ward off yourselves and your families against a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones, over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who disobey not, (from executing) the Commands they receive from Allah, but do that which they are commanded”

[al-Tahreem 66:6]

Allah has put the wife and children under the care and protection of the husband, and he will be asked about them on the Day of Resurrection. It was narrated from Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock. The ruler is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock; the man is the shepherd of his family members and is responsible for them; the woman is the shepherd of her husband’s house and children and is responsible for them; the slave is the shepherd of his master’s wealth and is responsible for it. Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock.” 

Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 853; Muslim, 1829. 

Allah has warned those who betray this trust and do not protect their families as required, that they will be denied Paradise. It was narrated that Ma’qal ibn Yassaar said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “There is no person whom Allah appoints in charge of some flock and he is not sincere towards them, but he will not smell the fragrance of Paradise.” 

Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6731; Muslim, 142. 

What this husband is doing, watching pornographic movies, is an evil and a great sin. It is not permissible for him to do that, let alone force someone else to do it. 

If the husband calls his wife to watch these movies, it is not permissible for her to obey him, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “There is no obedience if it involves disobeying Allah, rather obedience is only with regard to that which is right and proper.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 7257; Muslim, 1840. 

The husband’s threat of divorce does not count as a legitimate excuse for her, and is not regarded as her being forced to do it. Rather she should advise him in the way that is better. If he responds and gives up the evil that he is doing, this is something good that he is doing for himself, and she will be rewarded for that. If he refuses to respond to the command of Allah to lower the gaze and avoid looking at haraam things, then it is not permissible for her to obey him in committing sin, and she should not trust him with regard to herself or her children, and Allah will compensate her with someone better than him, in sha Allah. 

In the answer to question no. 12301 there is a statement of the shar’i ruling on watching these movies. 

In the answer to question no. 7669 there is a description of ways of advising and guiding this husband. 

If the husband does not pray, it is not permissible for the wife to hesitate in asking for an annulment of the marriage. We have discussed the ruling on staying with a husband who does not pray in the answer to question no. 4501 and 5281

And Allah knows best.

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Source: Islam Q&A