Answered by Shaykh Yūsuf Badāt
Question:
The husband is abusive to the wife, she left him and he has divorced her. Is she still entitled to accommodation and expenditure although she is living separate?
Answer:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم
In the name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Jazāk Allāh Khayr/ Thank you for contacting Mathabah Institute.
In general, a wife is entitled to basic necessities of food, clothing and shelter. Once a divorce takes place, the husband is responsible to provide the basic necessities up to and until the duration of the ‘iddah (waiting period after divorce). – (See: Mukhtaṣar Al-Qudūrī, Dār Al-Kutub Al-’Ilmiyyah, page 172)[1]
“When you [Muslims] divorce women, divorce them for [the commencement of] their waiting period and keep count of the waiting period, and be mindful of the Almighty, your Lord. Do not turn them out of their [husbands’] houses.” – (Qur’an 65:1)[2]
Only Allāh knows best.
[1] وإذا طلق الرجل امرأته فلها النفقة والسكنى في عدتها رجعيا كان أو بائنا ولا نفقة للمتوفى عنها زوجها وكل فرقة جاءت من قبل المرأة بمعصية فلا نفقة لها وإن طلقها ثم ارتدت سقطت نفقتها – مختصر القدوري ١٧٢
[2] فَطَلِّقُوهُنَّ لِعِدَّتِهِنَّ وَأَحْصُوا الْعِدَّةَ ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ رَبَّكُمْ ۖ لَا تُخْرِجُوهُنَّ مِن بُيُوتِهِنَّ – الطلاق ١
