To break ties with sinful father?
In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.
In the aforementioned scenario you should try and talk to your wife’s father to give up his evil ways. If he does not then you can stop your wife visiting him or being in a place alone with her father where there may be a danger of her being assaulted.
Saaiduna Abu Al-Ansari Radiallahu Anhu narrates that the Prophet of Allah Sallallhu Alahi Wasalam said, ‘It is unlawful for an individual to sever relationships with his brother (in deen) for more than three nights, thus they meet and ignore one another. The best amongst them will be the one who greets the other first’. (Sahih Bukhari)
However, scholars have said that for valid purposes such as the possibility of rectification, if he is not spoken to for a period, it will be permissible. (Aapke Masaail p.209 v.7 & Maariful Quran p.489 v.4)
Only Allah Knows Best
Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham.