Excerpt from: احکام و مسائل کتاب و سنت کی روشنی میں by Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani
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?
A husband's cursing (لعنت) of his wife is impermissible and considered a major sin (kabīrah).
This is because the Noble Prophet ﷺ said:
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."
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.
﴿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]
✔ 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.
❖ 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."
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Adab, Bāb Mā Yunhā min al-Sabb wa al-Laʿn: 6047
② "سِبَابُ الْمُسْلِمِ فُسُوقٌ، وَقِتَالُهُ كُفْرٌ"
"Abusing a Muslim is wickedness, and fighting him is disbelief."
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Īmān, Bāb Bayān Qawl al-Nabī ﷺ: Sibb al-Muslim Fisq wa Qitāluhū Kufr: 64
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6044
③ "لَا يَكُونُ اللَّعَّانُونَ شُفَعَاءَ وَلَا شُهَدَاءَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ"
"Those who frequently curse will not be witnesses or intercessors on the Day of Resurrection."
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Birr wa al-Ṣilah, Bāb al-Nahy ʿan Laʿn al-Dawwāb wa Ghayrihā: 2598
❖ 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.
