Does the Wife Have the Right to Know Where the Husband Is?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
My husband insists he has the right not to tell me where he was and with whom. He has the habit of going out late at night and sometimes even returning after the morning prayer. I used not to question this until he admitted he cheated on me twice and drank alcohol secretly. I forgave him for the sake of our family, but now I feel suspicious and concerned when he leaves the house at night. Do I have the right to know where he goes?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question. I am saddened to hear about your husband going out at night in this way.
It is not permissible for a husband to spend a night out of the house leaving his wife alone, except for a genuine reason, like work, family needs, commitment, etc.
Marriage should be built on trust and mutual understanding. Couples should also learn ways to communicate compromise, respect, and appreciation of each other, as these skills foster trust. A marriage in which each spouse can be trusted fully will provide dividends for their family for years to come.
Pray the Prayer of Need (Salat al-Haja), seek guidance through istikhara, ask Allah Most High for guidance in this matter, and sit with your husband and discuss the matter that his actions will affect everyone and beyond. Tell him you are giving him a chance to change and that you will help and support him in making some changes. Tell him you will take advice from reliable scholars and righteous family and friends, too.
All the while, take care of yourself, exercise, see your close family and friends, turn to Allah and, be the best Muslim you can be, and focus on your kids. Remember Allah because “truly it is in the remembrance of God that hearts find peace.” [Quran, 13:28] and He will guide you to do what is best for you.
I pray to Allah to guide you to say and do what is best for you and guide him to repent and live a normal married life, amin.
I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. You will receive guidance and direction, in sha’ Allah.
Related:
- How to Deal with My Husband Who Is in a Relationship with Another Women?
- Love, Good Character, and Mercy Between Spouses.
- Love, Marriage and Relationships in Islam: All Your Questions Answered.
- How Does One Perform The Prayer Of Need (Salat al-Haja)?
- Istikhara, The Prayer of Seeking Guidance: The Ultimate Guide – A Reader.
Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance?
I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.
