Is It Permissible for Me to Move Out of the House with My Mother?
Answered by Ustada Shazia Ahmad
Question
My father has been mentally abusing my mother all along their married life. Since my childhood, I have witnessed frequent fights, foul language and everything un-Islamic that can take place in a household. He appears as a pious and practicing Muslim in front of others. When he comes home, he confines himself in seclusion and doesn’t talk to us. He often tries to instigate anger through his actions. Sometimes it does get to the point of a fight. My mother believes that he has jinn-related issues. Due to this friction, it becomes suffocating to live inside the home. I have been witnessing this for almost 20 years. I can’t bear it anymore.
Answer
Moving Out
Turn to Allah
Find solace in this hadith: The Prophet, may Allah bless him and give him peace, said, “There are three whose supplication is not rejected: The fasting person when he breaks his fast, the just leader, and the supplication of the oppressed person; Allah raises it up above the clouds and opens the gates of heaven to it. And the Lord says: ‘By My might, I shall surely aid you, even if it should be after a while.’” [Tirmidhi]
A way out
Keep your hopes up and know that Allah’s promise is true in the Quran: “And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide for him from sources he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Indeed Allah has set a measure for all things.” [Quran, 65:2-3]
[Ustada] Shazia Ahmad
Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqida, 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.