His servants. Such a man does not love this wife and says, “My wealth cannot simply go to waste.” So he makes things difficult for her, withholds her rights, and abandons her in bed in order to make her ransom herself from him. We say: This is unlawful for you, because Allah has forbidden it.

His statement, “and this is not due to her unlawful sexual conduct”: if it is due to something other than her actual fornication, such as her being overly free in speaking with young men, talking on the telephone, and the like, should we say that this is bad conduct which permits him to pressure her into ransoming herself from him?

Yes. We understand his statement, “her unlawful sexual conduct,” to include the fornication of speech, sight, hearing, touching, and walking, as the Messenger, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, informed us: “The eye commits fornication, the ear commits fornication, the hand commits fornication, and the foot commits fornication.” (1) Thus, if this man says, “I cannot bear to remain with this woman while she is in such a state,” and he makes things difficult for her so that she will ransom herself from him, this is permissible.

If someone were to say: Allah says, “unless they commit a clear immorality,” whereas speaking or looking are not among immoralities, we reply: These are means that lead to immoralities. Moreover, many people possess protective jealousy and cannot tolerate their wives speaking with men or conversing with them.

But if he were to pressure her because of her unlawful sexual conduct, yet she offered no compensation and was unconcerned, is it permissible for him to keep her while she remains in this state?