Divorce due to leasing a car

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Dear Sister,

Assalamu alaikum,

Instead of threatening divorce, the best approach would be for your husband to assist you in getting out of this situation. If you’re leasing a car, then you need to examine the terms of the contract and see if you can either terminate it or exchange the car for a no-interest lease. The rush to divorce is a bad move. If your husband knew you had this car, and married you anyway, then he really can’t blame you. I suggest you both speak to a marriage counselor to explore what deeper issues may be involved.

I think one of these deeper issues may be what you termed as your husband’s “imposition of his religious beliefs.” When two people marry, they must respect the fact that each partner has his/her own approach to Islam. The way of hikma, or gentle wisdom, is not to try to force our opinions down the other’s throat, but to explain to each other in a beautiful way why we think our position is sound. Allah Most High says, “Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance” (An-Nahl, 16:125).

Paying interest on a car is unlawful, and your husband is entitled to be concerned. Nonetheless, he needs to do what is most pleasing to Allah, and that is helping you secure a halal vehicle.

And Allah knows best.