she demands in order to make him divorce her. She may not obey either parent in seeking divorce from him if he fears Allah in his treatment of her. In the four Sunan collections and the Sahīh of Ibn Abī Hātim, Thawbān reported that the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“Any woman who asks her husband for divorce without any cause of distress will be forbidden the fragrance of Paradise.”

Another hadith states:

“Women who seek release from marriage and those who tear themselves away from their husbands are the hypocrites.”

However, if her parents, or either of them, instruct her to do something that constitutes obedience to Allah—such as observing the prayers, speaking truthfully, and fulfilling trusts—or forbid her to squander and waste her wealth, or anything similar that Allah and His Messenger have commanded or forbidden, she must comply. This applies even when the instruction comes from someone other than her parents; how much more so when it comes from her parents!

If her husband forbids her to do what Allah has commanded, or commands her to do what Allah has forbidden, she may not obey him in that, for the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“No created being may be obeyed in disobedience to the Creator.”

Indeed, even if a slave owner commands his slave to disobey Allah, the slave may not obey him in that disobedience. How, then, could a woman be permitted to obey her husband or either parent in disobedience to Allah? All good lies in obedience to Allah and His Messenger, and all evil lies in disobedience to Allah and His Messenger.

He—may Allah Most High have mercy on him—was asked:

“A man has a wife whom he has housed among vile people. He takes her out to entertainments and places of corruption, and associates with corrupt people. When he is told, ‘Move away from this evil dwelling,’ he replies, ‘I am her husband. I have authority over my wife, and the choice of residence is mine.’ Is he entitled to do this?”