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I’m asking about a woman’s maintenance during the iddah if she leaves the husbands house due to

Last updated: 7th January 2026
Question ID: #12679
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I would like clarification on the Islamic ruling regarding a husband’s obligation of maintenance during the ʿiddah period. If a woman requests a divorce due to her husband’s disloyalty, emotional neglect, and failure to uphold her Islamic rights, and the husband then issues a divorce, is he still obligated to provide maintenance during her ʿiddah if she chooses to stay at her mother’s home rather than remaining in the marital home—especially if she left the marital home due to his actions and the negative impact on her mental and emotional well-being resulting from his failure to fulfil his responsibilities as a husband? Additionally, if there was an agreed-upon amount of maintenance during the marriage that the husband failed to provide, can the wife request this amount as part of her Islamic maintenance during the ʿiddah? If he did not give it during the marriage, is he still obligated to pay it? Finally, if the wife left the marital home during the ʿiddah and did not return, does this affect the husband’s obligation to provide maintenance during that period?



بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب حامداومصليا

A divorced woman stays in her husbands house. If that is difficult for her it is better for the husband to leave. Also, she can pass her Iddat in another house. The husband should provide maintenance to her whilst she passes her Iddat.

If it was agreed that he will give her maintenance and he didn’t fulfill it he will be obliged to pay it.

واذا وجب الإعتداد في منزل الزوج فلا بأس………..وإن تعذر فلتخرج هي تعتد في منزل اخر وكذا لو ضاق البيت وإن خرج هو كان أولي الخ
(بحر ٤/١٥٤)

إذا خاصمت المرأة زوجها في نفقة ما مضي من الزمان قبل أن يفرض القاضي لها النفقة وقبل أن يتراضيا على شئ فإن القاضي لا يقضى لها بنفقة ما مضى عندنا كذا في المحيط
(فتاوي قاضي خان ١/٥٥١ دارالنوادر)

And Allah knows best

26 Rajab 1447/ 15 January 2026

Mufti
Answer last updated on:
15th January 2026
Answered by:
Ulamaa ID 04
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