11 tips for Muslim couples dealing with marital disputes in the West | SoundVision.com

11 tips for Muslim couples dealing with marital disputes in the West

tips for Muslim couples dealing with marital disputes

Marriages usually start off so nicely. Everyone cooperates-the couple, their parents, other relatives, friends. Things usually run smoothly.

But somewhere along the way, marital disputes pop up. This is of course natural, but these can escalate to dangerous levels if not dealt with correctly.

Sound Vision spoke to Shahina Siddiqui of the Islamic Social Services Association of the United States and Canada (ISSA) about tips for couples dealing with marital disputes. She pinpointed some problems and provided tips on how to deal with them.

1. Money

Couples argue over many things but money is by far one of the most frequent and serious. The solution is to discuss issues openly and consult within the family.

For instance, the issue of a wife working outside the home can become a contentious one. This should preferably be discussed before marriage. Also, if she does decide to work and the husband agrees, does she want to contribute a certain portion to household expenses or will she keep all of the money for herself (which is her right)?

One of the ways to avoid arguments about money is to simply make an easy budget which tracks expenses, income, investments, and establishes a framework for taking care of regular family necessities (see a sample budget for a family.)

Also, learn how to make a budget and deal with debt. If you are a young student, keep in mind you have to pay off student loans. You should also know where to get interest-free loans and what assistance is available (for more information about Islamic money issues, check out Sound Vision's money page.

2. In-laws

In-laws are the focus of blame and reproach when there are marital disputes. But there are ways to maintain a good relationship with them. Here are some tips:

  1. Remember your spouse's parents have known them longer and loved them longer. Never make an issue about "me or them".
  2. Let respective parties settle their own disputes. If your mother-in-law has a problem with her husband, let them deal with it. Don't interfere
  3. Don't tell your spouse how to improve their relationship with their parents.
  4. Expect some adjustment time for parents after marriage to adjust to this new relationship.
  5. Remember that mothers are usually skeptical about daughter-in-laws and fathers about son-in-laws.
  6. Always treat your in-laws with compassion, respect and mercy.
  7. Maintain a balance between your needs and that of your in-laws.
  8. Never compare your wife to your mother or your husband to your dad.
  9. Do not go to your parents with your quarrels.
  10. If you are supporting your parents financially inform your spouse as a matter of courtesy and clarity.
  11. Do not forbid your spouse from seeing family unless you fear for their religion and safety.
  12. Do not divulge secrets.
  13. Make time to know your in-laws but stay out of their disputes.
  14. Maintain the Adab (etiquettes) of Islam with your sister- and brother-in-laws (i.e.no hugging or kissing).
  15. You are not obliged to spend every weekend with your in-laws.
  16. Give grandparents easy and reasonable access to their grandchildren.
  17. Be forgiving and keep your sense of humor.
  18. Remember that nobody can interfere or influence your marriage unless you allow them to.
  19. Invite in-laws at least once a month for a meal.
  20. Visit them when you can and encourage your spouse to visit their parents and regularly check on them.
  21. When parents become dependent on their children, a serious discussion with all parties present should take place. Expectations and requirements of such a living arrangement must be worked out.

3. Parenting

The tug of war that results from differing understandings of parenting are also a source of tension in marriage. One solution is to start learning about Islamic parenting before having children. If you already have kids, you can still learn. Check out Sound Vision's parenting page. Or contact organizations like ISSA for resources.

4. Stress

Stress is an almost constant factor in most people's lives in North America. Muslim couples are no exception. Stress from work, for example, is carried into the home.

Couples and families need to work out a coping mechanism in the family. For instance, couples can take a walk to talk about the day or go to the Masjid for at least one prayer. They can read Quran individually or together. The methods can vary, but as long as they are Halal and work, they can be used.

5. Domestic violence

This is an extremely sad reality and unless it is dealt with promptly by victims, perpetrators and/or those concerned about the two, then the family will break. Seeking help is necessary and if domestic violence is not stopped, the destructive effects will not only be harmful to the husband and wife, but to their children as well.

Family members, friends and Imams need to stop the abuse. They must intervene and work on getting help for the husband and the wife.

6. Spiritual incompatibility

This is a growing problem in North America, where Muslims from all around the world live and different understandings of Islam are present. There is a disturbing lack of tolerance amongst young Muslims, especially, who may get sucked into cult-like groups which preach a "we're right and everyone else is wrong" mentality, whether the issue is where you put your hands in prayer or whether you decide to wear Western clothes or traditional Eastern ones.

This intolerance is being transferred to marriages, where a couple may differ on minor points of faith. Married couples must understand the difference between an Islamically acceptable difference of opinion and one that is not. They must develop a tolerance, balance and respect for their differences on that basis.

7. Sexual dysfunction

This is one of the least talked about problems, but it is one that is wreaking havoc in a number of marriages. Many couples who are marrying are not learning the Islamic perspective on sex and marriage. As a result, when they are not satisfied with their spouse, a number of them may turn to others or seek easy divorce, instead of a solution.

Couples have to understand that the marital relationship in this area, as in others, needs work and patience and cannot be the subject of whims and impatience. Knowledge, practice and if possible, the advice of a wise, compassionate scholar are two key elements in finding a solution to this problem.

8. Interfaith marriages

Islam forbids marriage between Muslim women and non-Muslim men. There are a number of Muslim women who have taken this step and regretted it later. Such an action, in most Muslim families, results in the woman being isolated from her family with no support. As a result, when marital disputes do arise, parental support, which is there for many Muslim couples, is not there for these women. These Muslim women may also experience guilt for disobeying Allah and hurting their parents.

In other cases, Muslim women ask non-Muslim men they want to marry to convert shortly before the marriage to appease their parents. Again this can lead to marital disputes. Two things usually happen. Either the man becomes a truly practicing Muslim and the couple is no longer compatible; or he's bombarded with Muslims from the community wanting to invite him to Islam and he gets upset and may hate Islam.

In the case of Muslim men marrying Jewish and Christian women, the situation is different. While Islam does allow this, Muslim men marrying Jews and Christians need to remember that living in the West, if they end up divorcing, the children will almost automatically be given to the mother. Also, remember that the mother is the child's most important school. If you want your kids to grow up as practicing Muslims, you are better off marrying a practicing Muslim woman, especially in the West, where the unIslamic cultural influences outside the home are strong enough. Inside the home, it will become even harder to maintain Islamic influences if a mother is not a practicing Muslim herself.

9. Intercultural marriages

While Islam does not forbid intercultural marriages, they can become a source of tension when Muslims, primarily the couple, but also their families, make their culture more important than Islam. If parental support is there for an intercultural marriage, things are smoother for the couple. If there is not, and if there is even hostile opposition on the part of one or both sets of parents, it could be better to not marry the person in the long run.

10. Lack of domestic skills

While girls are being encouraged to become scientists, engineers and doctors, for instance, there is little to no emphasis being placed on gaining domestic skills. It should be remembered that in Islam, while women are not forbidden from working within Islamic guidelines, and men are encouraged to help with housework, women's primary duty is within the home as a home manager and mother. As a result of the lack of domestic skills, many married couples find themselves in messy homes, where meals lack proper nutrition and in general, there is frustration.

If a married couple is working, husbands need to pitch in more in the home and remember that their wife is a not a machine, but a human being who also needs rest after a hard day of work.

11. The modern Muslim woman meets the old-fashioned Muslim man

While young Muslim women of the West are being encouraged to be strong and confident, boys are being raised in the same way and with the same cultural expectations as their fathers. As a result, young couples face a tug of war, when the old-fashioned, young Muslim boy won't lift a finger around the house (since he never saw his dad do this) and his young Muslim wife expects him to pitch in, as the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) did with his wives.

As well, a number of young Muslim men expect their wives not to argue with them since they never saw their mother cross their father. This is once again cultural. But what is clear is that boys and girls are being raised very differently. Parents have to be more careful to give proper training to both children. As well, parents need to intervene in cases of dispute of this nature and be fair, not favor their own child.

Comments

To my understanding this is open recipe to invite Narcissistic abuse. Wife earn and don’t contribute to the family then why they take time to go out from family and work the same time and attention they are taking from family. I have seen wives becoming financially strong and abusing husband in western society. They donate large sum to unknown Muslim man and become that families breadwinner but when same thing husband will ask they will say I am not breadwinner. It’s insane and disgusting. 

Location

Seattle

Asalamo alaykum. Before we got married, he agreed to quit one of his jobs which is Disc Jockeying in a night club.I am a new muslim so I asked that we observe salat and seek more Islamic knowledge together which he agreed. Four months into the marriage he started Dj-ing again and missing salat. And started receiving phone call from ladies and leaving home at night. We have moved into his family house where he’s now physically abusing me in front of his mother whenever he comes home late and I complain. The first time he beat me up, I complained to an imam who spoke with him. The second time, his mother wasn’t home and  I hit him back, now it’s the third time and I still hit him back in the presence of his mother and we fought hard and he’s telling me to pack and leave his house. My family are non Muslims so I don’t discuss any of these happenings with them because I fear I get a bias and an un-islamic advice. I want to ask for a divorce. Please advice me.

Location

Ghana

The primary duty of a wife is to look after the household and children of their husbands. If the wife does chose to work then she is taking attention and care away for the children and the household. She should therefore be equally responsible for the sharing of the finances if she chooses to do that. It is utterly unfair to the household, the children,  and the husband for the wife to not contribute to the finances even though she works and financial help is required. So whenever I read (she doesn't need to contribute) is pretty mind boggling and disturbing because it is unjust and unfair.

Location

Canada

Asalaam 

I would like to know if its my husbands duty to support his mother constantly and his siblings (sisters) does not put effort in supporting her financially. We are currently unemployed and its very tough for us because we dont always have money and its harder supporting her alone. What should i do? Please help

Location

South africa

Is it halal for a Muslim sister to visit someone to destroy a cast spell that separate her from her husband after having three kids for a 6 years of marriage.... My husband has lost interest in me n married the woman I call a friend... I don't know what to do or think but I don't also want to do anything forbidden by Allah... I need help please 😢

Location

Banjul

It is absolutely HARAM to deal in such things, magic, witchcraft...this is forbidden. My solution is to make strong dua and beg Allah swt to help you find away out of your situation. I was in a marriage that was not good for me and I needed to leave desperately but could not. I got up every night and read quran and begged Allah to make it easy on me and help me get out. ALLHAMDULLI, Allah swt has answered my dua's. We are to only take our complaints to Allah swt. NO one in this world has the ability or power to do anything for us, we must be firm in this belief. We must be firm in our faith and our trust in Allah swt. Be patient, Allah swt says with hardship comes ease. If we are patient and have reliance on Allah he will reward us tremendously.

Location

Usa

Currently I am going through a divorce initiated by my husband. I am desperately seeking an imam to intervene. His aunt is being the mediator and she is just telling him to divorce and do not think about it or give us a chance. We just got married 8 months ago and this is wrong on so many levels. His brother is currently living with us, this is haram, and I have tried to explain to them multiple times. Instead of them agreeing and trying to help, they are just trying to exclude me and pushing my husband for divorce. As Muslims, we should ALWAYS encourage the couple to stay together and work on the marriage with help from others, no matter how difficult the problem. We should always try to seek guidance from a knowledgeable person with good intentions before just giving up or throwing in the towel. So many marriages fail just from a simple lack of knowledge, and skill to handle certain situations. Most importantly, BE WISE with who you pick to mediate your marital disputes, because I have learned that even some of the "best" Muslims do not have the young couples best interest at heart. It is VERY much true that a lot of people are bitter and/or unhappy themselves and they may not even realize how much they are destroying further. Forgive them for their shortcomings, but be very wise with who you confide in.

Location

Tennessee

Asalamo alikum,
MAshallah, you seem to be very sensible and urself have solutions. Just one advice, seek Help from Allah, extreme duas. I have some talks too. email me for further.

I moved with my husband and children to the Middle East, like many western families . The move had its benefits Alhamdulillah, but it also has caused MAJOR problems in on our marriage and we are on the verge of divorce EVERYDAY, Subhanallah.

My husband wanted to go to court to end the marriage, numerous times. I too have suggested khul to him as a solution, numerous times.

Not having family support, not living in a "stable" civil status (threat of being taken out every year, at the end of the work contract), not speaking the language, not being of the same culture as the locals, the difficult heat and dust, PLUS the presence of kafir women here who walk around without hijab in the streets/hospitals/workplace (even in Saudi Arabia).. these were some of the MANY factors which added tension between my husband and I.

We are not the only couple who suffered a blow to the marriage when "moving to a Muslim country".

Tens of westerns families, I know personally, are going through marriage strain: some have split , some live in the same house while hating each other, and some return west after years in a Muslim country.

My husband and I, have gone to such low levels of physical, verbal, emotional, and psychological hurt - to each other- that at this point we have given up on "starting again".

We no longer want more children, we don't eat together, we don't speak to each other, we only think of the hurt.

We did not have all these marriage problems when we were in the west. My biggest problem then, was the kuffar outside our home (The fitnah of women not wearing hijab, and my husband working with homosexuals).

Yes we had conflicts, but NEVER to this degree. And the proof is that we managed to have children together only when we were in the west - mashaAllah.

Now, like many western couples I know here, we live together because of the children (to keep the children in a two-parent home, InshaAllah).

Fear Allah, and Don't trick Muslims by telling them that "moving to a Muslim country" will fix their marriage/parenting problems! Tell the whole truth!

Otherwise these Muslims who move and face the difficult realities will complain to Allah against you in judgement day, for harming them through Tatfeef (campaigning to them to do "Hijra" by mentioning the "pros" of moving to a Muslim country but HIDING the cons - which these Muslims DO eventually face experience upon their arrival to a Muslim country).

The truth is that for foreigners without families, who would never feel the stability of "citizenship in these Muslim countries no matter HOW long they serve these countries".. the move to these countries ADDS great hardships to the marriage.

A Muslim should be truthful, telling both good/bad to his fellow brethren so that no calamity befalls them due to non-preparation.

If you wish to move to a Muslim country, prepare yourself for Trials from Allah, He will continue to test you.

{Do the people think that they will be left (untrusled) just because they said: "We believe"?}

Location

Middle East

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