What is the appropriate action to take towards a wife who conversed with a foreign man via a chat program, then regretted it and repented? Is it better to divorce her or to keep her? Is staying with her a form of cuckoldry (dayatha)? Is she obligated to be punished, and how should desertion (hajr) be carried out? Is the husband sinful if he does not desert her in bed, and for how long should the desertion last? How can he be sure of her repentance and that life will return to normal?

A woman conversing with a man other than her husband is reprehensible, especially for a married woman, as it involves neglecting the husband's rights, which must be preserved in his absence. If the wife repents and shows remorse and uprightness, she should be judged by what she demonstrates, and presumed to be good. In this case, holding onto her is not considered dayathah (cuckoldry/lack of protective jealousy). Divorce without a valid reason is disliked. A husband is not permitted to discipline his obedient wife, and Allah has threatened those who oppress women. It is important to strive to raise her in faith and virtue, and for the husband to be a role model. Abandonment (of the bed) occurs when there is nushooz (disobedience/rebellion), and it is not limited to a specific duration. The husband may deprive the disobedient wife of conjugal relations, but he is not obligated to abandon her in bed.