🕊️ Conflict & resolution · #46
I am being abused but fear divorce because of the children and money. What are my options?
You have options and support — safety can be achieved without immediately deciding to divorce, and the law protects your rights to maintenance and to custody (hadhanah) of your children.
First step: protection. Contact the police 999 or Talian Kasih 15999; JKM can issue an emergency protection order and provide a shelter. Next, the Syariah Court can order maintenance for the wife and children, and young children are usually placed in the mother's care if she is eligible. Legal Aid (Biro Bantuan Guaman) and NGOs can help with lawyers' costs. Islam does not require a wife to endure abuse patiently (Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Fadha'il shows that the Prophet ﷺ never struck a wife). Take your time, but do not face this alone. See Nushuz & conflict, Maintenance and Custody & lineage.
First step: protection. Contact the police 999 or Talian Kasih 15999; JKM can issue an emergency protection order and provide a shelter. Next, the Syariah Court can order maintenance for the wife and children, and young children are usually placed in the mother's care if she is eligible. Legal Aid (Biro Bantuan Guaman) and NGOs can help with lawyers' costs. Islam does not require a wife to endure abuse patiently (Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Fadha'il shows that the Prophet ﷺ never struck a wife). Take your time, but do not face this alone. See Nushuz & conflict, Maintenance and Custody & lineage.