Real-Life Stories on the Power of Istighfar (With Authentic References)

 

Ruling on the Wife of One Who Reviles Religion

In Islam, reviling Allah, His Messenger ﷺ, the Qur’an, or the religion of Islam is an extremely serious matter. It is not something that should be treated as ordinary insulting speech. At the same time, rulings concerning a person’s faith, marriage, and family life must be handled with knowledge, caution, and proper scholarly authority.

The Seriousness of Reviling Religion

Islam commands believers to speak about Allah and matters of religion with the utmost respect. Allah says:

“And if you ask them, they will surely say, ‘We were only conversing and playing.’ Say, ‘Was it Allah and His verses and His Messenger that you were mocking?’”
— Qur’an 9:65

The verse demonstrates the gravity of mocking Allah, His revelations, or His Messenger ﷺ.

A Muslim must therefore avoid every form of contempt, ridicule, or deliberate insult directed toward Islam and its sacred matters.

What If a Husband Reviles the Religion?

If a Muslim man deliberately reviles Allah, His Messenger ﷺ, the Qur’an, or Islam, scholars have regarded such speech as potentially constituting major disbelief (kufr). However, applying a ruling of disbelief to a particular individual requires careful consideration of the circumstances, including what exactly was said, what was intended, and whether there were circumstances affecting accountability.

It is therefore important to distinguish between:

• The general ruling on a statement or action, and
• The ruling concerning a specific individual who made that statement or action.

The latter should not be casually determined by individuals without appropriate knowledge.

What About His Wife?

Marriage rulings become especially important if the husband's statement actually constitutes apostasy from Islam.

Allah says concerning believing women and disbelieving men:

“And do not marry polytheistic men until they believe.”
— Qur’an 2:221

The Qur’an also states regarding believing women:

“They are not lawful wives for them, nor are they lawful husbands for them.”
— Qur’an 60:10

Based on these principles, if a husband truly leaves Islam, the validity and status of the marriage become matters requiring detailed fiqh analysis. Scholars discuss questions such as whether the husband returns to Islam, when the apostasy occurred, whether the marriage is immediately affected or suspended, and whether a judicial authority must determine the matter.

Therefore, a wife should not independently declare her husband an apostate and assume a specific legal ruling about their marriage without consulting a qualified scholar or Islamic judicial authority.

If He Repents

If the husband recognizes his wrongdoing, sincerely repents to Allah, and returns to Islam, the matter should be referred to knowledgeable scholars who can explain the consequences for his faith and marriage according to the applicable school of Islamic jurisprudence.

Sincere repentance includes abandoning the sinful statement, regretting it, affirming the truth of Islam, and resolving not to return to such speech.

Allah says:

“Say to those who disbelieve, if they cease, what has previously occurred will be forgiven for them.”
— Qur’an 8:38

The Wife Should Seek Knowledgeable Guidance

A wife facing this situation may experience fear, confusion, or pressure, especially if the husband repeatedly insults religion. She should avoid escalating the matter through arguments or public accusations.

Instead, she should:

1. Protect her own faith and religious practice.
2. Document or clearly explain what was actually said, if necessary for a scholar to assess the situation.
3. Consult a qualified and trustworthy Islamic scholar or recognized Shariah authority.
4. Avoid making a personal takfīr judgment without sufficient knowledge.
5. Consider her safety if the husband is threatening, violent, or abusive.
6. Follow the appropriate ruling concerning the marriage only after the situation has been properly assessed.

A Necessary Distinction

Not every offensive or ignorant statement has the same ruling. A person's words may be sinful, disrespectful, misunderstood, or potentially kufr depending on their exact wording, intention, and circumstances.

For this reason, broad statements such as “Anyone who says this is automatically an apostate, so his wife is immediately divorced” can be dangerously simplistic.

The principles of Islamic law are serious, and so is applying them to real people.

Conclusion

Reviling Islam, Allah, His Messenger ﷺ, or the Qur’an is a grave matter and may constitute disbelief when done deliberately and with the relevant conditions established. However, determining whether a particular person has left Islam is a matter requiring careful scholarly judgment.

If a husband is accused of reviling the religion, his wife should not make a hasty decision about the status of her marriage. She should seek guidance from a qualified scholar who can examine the exact statement, circumstances, repentance, and relevant fiqh principles.

Islam combines reverence for Allah and His religion with justice, knowledge, and caution when applying serious legal and theological rulings.