Religious Guidelines No: 27
Date: 10th of Jumādā al-Ūlā, 1443 H
Corresponding to 14th of December 2021

All praises be to Allāh. May Allāh’s blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allāh. To proceed: The Bangsamoro Dārul-Iftā has received an issue on ‘Wife Desertion and Abandonment, its causes and solution. Accordingly, the BDI would like to address this issue through the following points:

First: The guidance of the Prophet Muhammad (saws) is the most complete and most perfect, so he gave each person his/her right and preserved for each his/her share. The Almighty said: “Men have a share of what they have earned, and women have a share of what they have earned.” [An-Nisā’: 32] Women are partners of men. The Almighty said: “And they (women) have rights (over their husbands as regards living expenses, etc.) similar (to those of their husbands) over them (as regards obedience and respect, etc.) to what is reasonable, but men have a degree (of responsibility) over them. And Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.” [Al-Baqarah: 228]
Second: The relationship between the husband and wife is based on love, mercy, living and tranquility. The Almighty Allāh says: “And among His Signs is this, that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find tranquility in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who reflect.” [Ar-Rūm: 21] The Prophet (S.A.W.) said in his farewell sermon: “Fear Allāh concerning women! Verily you have taken them on the security of Allāh, and intercourse with them has been made lawful unto you by words of Allāh…” [Narrated by Muslim]
Third: She has the right to exercise her responsibilities with decency and morals, absorbing the useful things from the new and preserving herself. She has her fields and areas of goodness, giving, sacrifice and redemption, then she reaps the good fruits for herself and family, and she reaps for her society and nation the prosperous harvests, avoiding the scourge of the liars and the deceitful liberators of the screaming cries. This is how Islam preserved women and protected their rights.