that they must choose for them righteous husbands and keep them away from licentious, ill-mannered men, for such husbands inevitably influence the women in their religion and in their daily lives.

As for the estrangement that followed, it is something blameworthy. You must not cut off your relatives or sever the ties of kinship; rather, you are required to maintain the womb-bonds and to show kindness to your family members. Should that man repent to Allah and abandon his drinking of alcohol, then social relations and contact with him may likewise be resumed. If, however, he persists in his waywardness and sin and has not repented to Allah, then he is to be shunned for the sake of Allah until he repents. As for the rest of the relatives, there is no reason to boycott them, and it is not permissible to do so, for the Most High says: “No bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another” (Al-Anʿām 6:164).

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A Serious Matter That Leads to Hardship

Question: A misunderstanding arose between my wife and me. I left the house in anger and said: “Upon me be divorce: I will not return to her, nor will I have marital relations with her for a month. If I do return, she is thrice divorced.” I uttered this three times. Yet only a week later I went back to her and had relations with her. What is the ruling on the divorce statements I made? Has any of it taken effect, and what must I do now?

Answer: What you have described of becoming angry with your wife and pronouncing divorce is unbecoming of you.