Excerpt from: احکام و مسائل کتاب و سنت کی روشنی میں by Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani
❖ Question:
If a husband deliberately curses his wife, what is the ruling?
Does such cursing make the wife unlawful (ḥarām) for him or count as a divorce (ṭalāq)?
What is the expiation for this?
❖ Answer:
A husband’s cursing (لعنت) of his wife is impermissible and considered a major sin (kabīrah).
This is because the Noble Prophet ﷺ said:
❖ Prophetic Evidences:
① “لَعْنُ الْمُؤْمِنِ كَقَتْلِهِ”
“Cursing a believer is like killing him.”
📖
② “سِبَابُ الْمُسْلِمِ فُسُوقٌ، وَقِتَالُهُ كُفْرٌ”
“Abusing a Muslim is wickedness, and fighting him is disbelief.”
📖
📖
③ “لَا يَكُونُ اللَّعَّانُونَ شُفَعَاءَ وَلَا شُهَدَاءَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ”
“Those who frequently curse will not be witnesses or intercessors on the Day of Resurrection.”
📖
❖ Ruling on the Marriage:
✅ Cursing the wife does not make her unlawful (ḥarām) for the husband.
❌ Nor does it count as a divorce (ṭalāq).
However, such a man must:
✔ Sincerely repent to Allah ﷻ.
✔ Seek forgiveness from his wife.
✔ Strive to protect his tongue from every utterance that brings Allah’s wrath.
Likewise, the wife must:
✔ Treat her husband with goodness.
✔ Guard her tongue from any speech that could provoke Allah’s anger or displease her husband.
✔ However, she may speak the truth and assert her rights in a respectful manner.
❖ Quranic Command:
﴿وَعَاشِرُوهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ﴾
“And live with them (your wives) in kindness.”
📖 [al-Nisā’: 19]
﴿وَلَهُنَّ مِثْلُ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَلِلرِّجَالِ عَلَيْهِنَّ دَرَجَةٌ﴾
“And for women are rights similar to those over them in kindness, and men have a degree over them.”
📖 [al-Baqarah: 228]
✅ Conclusion:
✔ Cursing one’s wife is a major sin, not a joke or minor issue.
✔ It does not nullify the marriage or count as divorce.
✔ Sincere tawbah (repentance) and reconciliation are obligatory.
✔ Both spouses are instructed to live with mutual respect and goodness.
