Without going to the husband’s home the wife has no right to demand maintenance

Question

Question: My marriage to Tanwir Ahmad took place on 3/2/72. Today more than two years have passed, and to this day he has never once enquired about me; rather, several times he wanted to take me by force to his house through the court, but God preserved my honour and I could not go. From the marriage until today he has not borne any of my expenses, and he is also to some extent good-for-nothing. I want my ruling from the Shari‘a, because I am a respectable woman and I observe hijab (seclusion).

Answer

If you do not stay at your husband’s house, and even when he wants to call you, you do not go, then you have no right to demand expenses from him. In the present situation there is great wrongdoing (zulm) on your part. It is necessary for you to ask forgiveness for your mistake and to go to your husband’s house and settle there. And Allah Most High knows best.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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