What is the ruling on a wife refusing to visit her husband's family if her husband prevents her from visiting her own family and communicating with them, and is this refusal considered disobedience to the husband?
Scholars differ regarding a wife's going out to visit her family. The Malikis and Hanafis believe that a wife may go out to visit her parents and maharim (unmarriageable kin) with or without her husband's permission. This differs from the Hanbalis and Shafi'is. The preponderant opinion is that a husband should not prevent his wife from visiting her parents unless harm results from the visit, such as the parents corrupting the wife against her husband. He may prevent her if her going out causes harm to him or his children, or if her family members are people of sin and he fears for her from them. If the husband proves that her parents are corrupting her, the judge may rule for her to go out accompanied by a trustworthy woman. It is not permissible for a wife to go out without her husband's permission, and she must observe the Islamic guidelines for her outing. It is not permissible for a wife to refuse to receive her husband's family in her home, and she must be patient if he does not approve of her going out, and she must help her husband in honoring his family. Serving the husband's family is not obligatory upon the wife.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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