Her
Husband Drinks Alcohol – Is She Committing A Sin By Living
With Him?
Islamic Rulings -
Living Shariah Verdicts
Islamic Questions & Answers
What should a muslim wife do if her husband drinks
alcohol. She has tried to make him stop, but he
refuses. The only thing he has managed to do is lessen
the frequency of his drinking. She is very observant
in practicing the religion and fears that she may
suffer punishment for her husband's behavior. At the
same time, she does love her husband and wants to
preserve the relationship. What should she do in this
case?
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly, we advise this husband to repent to Allaah
from drinking alcohol, because drinking alcohol is
haraam according to the Book of Allaah, the Sunnah of
His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) and the consensus of the Muslims. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of
alcoholic drinks), and gambling, and Al Ansaab [stone
altars for offering sacrifices to idols etc.], and Al
Azlaam (arrows for seeking luck or decision) are an
abomination of Shaytaan's (Satan's) handiwork. So
avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that
you may be successful.
Shaytaan (Satan) wants only to excite enmity and
hatred between you with intoxicants (alcoholic drinks)
and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of
Allaah and from As-Salaah (the prayer). So, will you
not then abstain?
And obey Allaah and the Messenger (Muhammad), and
beware (of even coming near to drinking or gambling or
Al-Ansaab, or Al-Azlaam) and fear Allaah. Then if you
turn away, you should know that it is Our Messenger's
duty to convey (the Message) in the clearest way" [al-Maa'idah
5:90-92]
It was narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) said: "Every intoxicant is
liquor and every liquor is haraam." (Narrated by
Muslim, al-Ashribah 3735)
The scholars are unanimously agreed, with no dispute
on this matter. Some of the scholars even considered
the prohibition of alcohol to be one of the most well
known teachings of Islam (ignorance of which is
inexcusable). So our advice to him is that he should
give up drinking alcohol, and be content with [?] that
which Allaah has permitted to him of good drinks, and
not seek that which Allaah has forbidden. Alcohol is
the mother of evil and the key to all evil. Allaah has
issued a stern warning to those who drink it and do
not repent from that. It was narrated from Jaabir that
the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) said: "Allaah has made a covenant to
those who drink alcohol, that He will make them drink
teenat al-khabaal." They said, "O Messenger of Allaah,
what is teenat al-khabaal?" He said, "The sweat of the
people of Hell," or, "The juice of the people of
Hell." (Narrated by Muslim, al-Ashribah, 3732)
It is easy to give it up if one is sincere and
determined, and seeks the help of Allaah, may He be
exalted.
With regard to yourself, there is no sin on you if
your husband drinks alcohol, because a person will not
be brought to account for the sins of another. Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And no bearer of burdens shall bear another's
burden"[Faatir 35:18]
Rather, you will be rewarded for your sincere advice
to your husband. Your living with him is not haraam,
because drinking alcohol does not make him a kaafir.
So keep on calling him, advising him and making du'aa'
for him, and may Allaah cause him to repent. If your
keeping away from him in bed will serve the purpose of
deterring him and making give up alcohol, then it is
permissible, but if it will not achieve anything, then
do not do it. We ask Allaah to guide us all and give
us strength. For more information see the fatwa of
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 2/890
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