What is the ruling of the Shari'ah concerning a wife who refuses to return to her husband's home, leaves without his permission, and rejects his request for her return, and what are the implications for the husband if he reduces the maintenance of his disobedient wife due to her disobedience?

A wife's disobedience (nushuz) means her defiance of her husband, her refusal to obey him, her turning away from him, and her superiority over him. One form of nushuz is her leaving the house without her husband's permission. The treatment for nushuz is, first, admonition and reminding the wife of Allah. If she does not respond, then the husband should abandon her in bed. If this does not work, he may strike her a non-injurious blow, as stated in the verse: "As for those [wives] from whom you fear nushuz, admonish them, and abandon them in bed, and strike them. But if they obey you, seek no means against them. Indeed, Allah is ever Exalted, Grand." (Quran 4:34). A wife leaving the marital home without her husband's permission and consent makes her disobedient (nashiz), and her marital rights, such as housing and maintenance, are forfeited until she returns to obedience. She is not permitted to request a divorce unless harm has befallen her, and if she requests it, he has the right to refuse to divorce her. As for the maintenance of children, it is obligatory upon him in all circumstances. If an oath was sworn by Allah, then expiation is obligatory upon violating it. If it was an oath of divorce intended as a threat and not an actual divorce, scholars have differed: the majority held that the divorce occurs, while others, including Ibn Taymiyyah, held that it does not occur, and he owes expiation for an oath. Swearing by divorce is not permissible.