Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad
Question
My fiance lives in another country. One of us has to relocate after marriage, even if it is another third country. Neither of us wants the other person to sacrifice their dream.
Is there any Islamic guidance in our case? Is it only subject to a mutual agreement or is there any gender-specific instruction?
Answer
Thank you for your question.
Mutual Agreement
I referred your question to Shaykh Mohamed Badhib, who gave me this answer: “If the husband and wife can come to an agreement on living in a country that suits them both, then this is the desirable outcome. However, one should not place this stipulation in the marriage contract.”
The Hanafi School
There is some detail about this in the Hanafi school. I learned that there are two positions. First, a woman must obey her husband and move to the place where he wants to live. Second, there is an opinion that a woman is not obliged to leave her homeland and family unless it was agreed upon in the marriage contract.
Please come to a decision mutually, consult others, seek guidance from Allah, uphold the very best character in the process, and trust in Him.
Related:
How Can I Resolve With My Fiance Which City We Should Live In?
May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.