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Can a Muslim Woman Escape an Abusive Father?

10 September, 2026
Q I am seeking urgent guidance regarding my marital status and a dangerous family situation. An Islamic marriage contract (Aqd) was signed between me and a man over a year ago, but the wedding has not taken place, and the marriage has not been consummated. I do not want to go through with this wedding, but I don't know if I should stay married as protection from my father, even though I don't love the man I married because it was out of necessity. My father is extremely abusive, has a history of severe physical violence and death threats against my mother and me, and is using coercion to force this wedding. My mother has left Islam due to his severe abuse and has managed to get away from him. She is now offering to help me run away and escape back to America. However, my sister tells me that if I run away with my mother, my father will take his anger out on my siblings who are left behind, and that it will be my fault. Based on Islam, what do you think I should do in this situation? Should I take my mother's help and run away back to America? Given that my mother has left Islam, is it Islamically permissible for me to accept her help in escaping my father's abuse and forced marriage and returning to America? Am I Islamically or morally responsible for any abusive actions my father takes against my siblings if I choose to escape his violence? I don't want to oppress anyone, neither the man I am married to nor myself. I just no longer know what to do anymore.

Answer

Sheikh Ahmad Kutty
10 September, 2026

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. 

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

In this fatwa:

Islam does not require a Muslim woman to remain in an abusive or dangerous environment. A woman facing family violence or a forced marriage may seek safety and support, including help from a non-Muslim mother, while consulting qualified Muslim scholars about the validity of her marriage and the appropriate process for annulment or divorce.

Responding to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:

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First, remember this: Islam does not ask you to remain in danger or endure abuse. Your life, dignity, and safety are precious in the sight of Allah. You are not responsible for an abusive parent’s wrongdoing, nor are you required to sacrifice your future to protect someone else’s sins.

If your marriage contract was made under genuine coercion, many scholars hold that you have the right to challenge or annul it. Even if it is legally valid, you are still entitled to seek a divorce or Khulʿ if you do not wish to remain in the marriage. Islam does not require anyone to stay in a forced marriage.

If your father has been physically abusive or has threatened your life, you have every right to leave and seek safety. If returning to America with your mother’s help is the safest option, it is Islamically permissible, even if your mother is not Muslim. Islam allows us to seek help from anyone in protecting our lives and escaping oppression.

You are not responsible if your father chooses to mistreat your siblings after you leave. He alone will answer to Allah for his actions. While you should continue to care for your siblings and help them where you reasonably can, you are not required to remain in danger to control your father’s behavior.

You are also not wronging your husband by ending a marriage you never freely accepted. It is more just to be honest than to remain in a relationship built on fear and coercion. If possible, seek the help of a trusted scholar or Islamic center to arrange an annulment, divorce, or Khulʿ in the proper Islamic manner.

For now, your priority should be to get to a place of safety, seek support from trustworthy family members, scholars, or counselors, and ask Allah to guide you to what is best.

Above all, remember that Allah is Just and Most Merciful. He knows everything you have endured. He does not ask you to carry burdens beyond your strength, nor does He ask you to remain in oppression. Trust Him, take lawful means to protect yourself, and pray that He opens for you a future filled with peace, dignity, and hope.

👉 Read also:

How Can a Wife Protect Herself Against Abuse?

How Does Islam View Emotional Abuse?

Are Emotional Abuse and Neglect Valid Grounds for Divorce?

Almighty Allah knows best.