My question is this. If a man and woman get a nikkah done, Is it permissible for the now legally married couple to live seperately for a set period of time.
The situation is this. Myself and the girl I wish to marry live in different countries. I am 24 years old and she is 20. I live in New York and she lives in London. We both wish to get married but she wishes to finish her education in London. Her degree would be completed within 2 years. In that time I would be able to pursue my masters degree as well while I financially establish myself so once we do begin living together I can support her as my wife.
What is the correct course of action regarding this situation?
We were planning on getting our nikkah done and then our visiting each other and spending time with each other would be permissible in Islam but I heard that living seperately is not.
JazakAllah to anyone who can help
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
The purpose of nikaah is to safeguard ones chastity and attain peace and comfort through ones spouse. The separation of the spouses will defeat that. We therefore advise you to make adjustments and live together.
However, if the spouses mutually agree to live separately and occasionally meet and fulfil their marital requirements, then that is their choice. However, the separation of the spouses does not invalidate the nikaah.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Bilal Issak
Student Darul Iftaa
Leicester, England, UK
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (3/ 3)
قوله: عقد) العقد مجموع إيجاب أحد المتكلمين مع قبول الآخر أو كلام الواحد القائم مقامهما أعني متولي الطرفين بحر وفيه كلام يأتي. (قوله: أي حل استمتاع الرجل) أي المراد أنه عقد يفيد حكمه بحسب الوضع الشرعي. وفي البدائع أن من أحكامه ملك المتعة وهو اختصاص
وَلَا يَبْلُغُ الْإِيلَاءَ إلَّا بِرِضَاهَا، (الدر المختار، المطبوع مع حاشية ابن عابدين (3/ 203))
وَيَجِبُ أَنْ لَا يَبْلُغَ بِهِ مُدَّةَ الْإِيلَاءِ إلَّا بِرِضَاهَا وَطِيبِ نَفْسِهَا بِهِ. (فتح القدير (3/ 435))
وَلَنَا أَنَّهُ ظَلَمَهَا بِمَنْعِ حَقِّهَا (الهداية، (2/ 259))
فَأَمَّا فِي الدِّيَانَةِ فِيمَا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى فَعَلَيْهِ أَنْ يُجَامِعَهَا أَحْيَانًا لِيُعِفَّهَا ، فَإِنْ أَبَى كَانَ عَاصِيًا ، وَالنُّصُوصُ مِنْ السُّنَّةِ وَالْآثَارِ تُفِيدُ ذَلِكَ. (فتح القدير (4/ 192))