Q: My wife wants us to stay in the marriage for the sake of the kids. She does not trust me and I have hurt her many times. But I know she wants us to stay together for the sake of the kids. Also I know that she wants to abuse me mentally as she has done for the past seven years. I have done wrong and I admit it. However I know that all she wants us to stay together for the children, but I am 100 percent sure that she also wants to abuse me verbally so that I can be punished. Is this correct? I don’t want to be with her anymore but everybody feels that I should not divorce her for the kids. I feel I will just be living a lie and I feel that if she does not care about me, why should I live with her. I am fully prepared to look after my kids following the sharia. Please advise, is she correct or do I have a right to get a divorce?
A: You do not have to divorce her, but request her to exempt you from marital responsibilities.
And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
Answered by:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)