Wife asking for a divorce.
In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.
Answer
It is totally impermissible in Islam for a woman to ask her husband for a talaq without any lawful reason.
The Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam said, "If a woman asks her husband for a divorce, for no reason, then the smell of paradise is forbidden for her" (Sunan Tirmizi)
To an extent it is considered an act of ungratefulness for the wife to ask the husband for a divorce without any legitimate basis.
A wife’s obedience to her husband is one of the things that may lead her to Paradise, as the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam said: “If a woman prays her five daily prayers, fasts her month (of Ramadan), obeys her husband and guards her chastity, then it will be said to her: ‘Enter Paradise by whichever of its gates you wish.” (Musnad Ahmad & Tabraani)
Saaidah Umm Salamah Radiallahu Anha narrates that Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam said, “Any woman who dies, and her husband is pleased with her, will enter Paradise.” (Sunan Ibn Majah p.133 v.1)
Divorce is the last thing a person should resort to and only after every other avenue has been exhausted should a person contemplate divorce. Before that stage the elders should be consulted as to who should arbitrate between the couple and try to reconcile the differences between them. Allah states in the Quran, “If you fear a breach of marriage between a man and his wife, appoint one arbiter from his family and another from hers; if they wish to reconcile, Allah will create a way of reconciliation between them. Allah is the knowledgeable, aware.” (Surah Nisa v.35)
If despite this, the couple cannot live in harmony then Islam does permit that divorce is issued, but only as I mentioned above if all the aforementioned avenues like mediation etc… have been tried but was unsuccessful in patching up the differences and the marriage.
Only Allah Knows Best
Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham.
