Is my nikah still valid?

Question

I need guidance on my marriage which I am not sure if nikah is still valid or not. May Allah ta'ala grant you full Jaza khair for your help in deen to the ummah Ameen. My marriage started 8 years ago where I wanted to lead a life keeping Allah ta'ala and His pleasure as my priority. Faced a lot of problems from in law's side from start of the marriage till now. I live in London and follow an Islamic attire whilst the family I married was from sub continent where modern clothes of today's times are preferred. The short and long of it is that my wife (or ex wife as I don't know) has said 'kufriya kalimat' like she doesn't believe in shariat or she will not follow what is in Islam because it doesn't sit with today's times or even at a point she said leave matters to me I will deal with Allah ta'ala when it comes to it don't tell me what is right in deen and what is wrong etc. She also has been to sooth sayers and fortune tellers seeking knowledge of future and continuing to do it. Secondly, she used to wear niqab. She started doing that after many weeks of targheeb and taleem. Her sisters had managed to persuade her not to live like a molvi! We had arguments and she expressed her anger towards the deen and said she wanted to remove niqab because in London we should be integrating into the society. Kids are growing and they ask me questions why do I wear the face cover etc. Despite me educating her and kids she remained adamant to remove niqab. I said to her once that if you do remove niqab I.e. live a life without niqab the you are free from me meaning she is not going to remain my wife. She has now started to live without niqab and continue to do so. My question here is also that is our nikah now invalid and due to her continuing to be without niqab and breaking of my condition. The 'kufriya kalimat' which she has uttered and continues to believe in her ways, where would this whole marriage stands. Also to add, I have felt the lack of barakah in life, in rizq and work in fact in the entire life dealings going downhill when I am with her and when I am away from her with a life of zikar, tilawat of Quran, tahajjud etc with taufiq if Allah ta'ala, life feels back on track and help of Allah ta'ala becomes feel able. Also to add that previously I had given one talaq and then had ruju'a to resume marriage. There also has been one occasion when our son was only one and she wanted to leave the house forever due to not liking the lifestyle where I had said that if you step outside this house then this marriage is null and void and you would be free to go. Things had calmed down later that day but indeed she had to leave the house and go out for various reasons. Would that also have triggered the talaq? I am not living with her anymore due to serious issues becoming unsolvable. She wants to live a liberal life and I cannot go against the commands of Allah ta'ala. I apologise for a any inconvenience due to my email or writing style. Can I seek a clarification that is this nikah or marriage still intact or there is nothing there anymore. We are now living our own lives. I still see the kids and have been treating their mother as my non mahram. Kindly guide.

Saad Haque · Accepted Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh. You refer to three instances of divorce without reference to the sequence of the events. Nevertheless, you state that you gave your wife one talaq, then did ruju’.[1] You then stated, “if you do remove niqab I.e. live a life without niqab the(n) you are free from me”. Since she started living a life unveiled, your condition has been fulfilled resulting in another irrevocable talaq (baain) taking place.[2] You also state that you uttered the words, “if you step outside this house then this marriage is null and void and you would be free to go”. You state she left the house after the situation had calmed down. This does not constitute a divorce.[3] Therefore, two divorces have taken place and your wife is separated from you. You are no longer husband and wife. You are correct in your treatment of her as a non-Mahram. You should continue to maintain a good relationship with your children. And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best Saad Haque Student Darul Iftaa New Jersey, USA Checked and Approved by, Mufti Ebrahim Desai. _______ [1] احسن الفتاوی (۵/١٥٠) فاحشہ کو طلاق دینا مستحب ہے [2] الهداية في شرح بداية المبتدي (1/ 244) - علي بن أبي بكر بن عبد الجليل الفرغاني المرغيناني، أبو الحسن برهان الدين (المتوفى: 593هـ) | دار احياء التراث العربي - بيروت – لبنان " وإذا أضافه إلى شرط وقع عقيب الشرط مثل أن يقول لامرأته إن دخلت الدار فأنت طالق " وهذا بالاتفاق لأن الملك قائم في الحال والظاهر بقاؤه إلى وقت وجود الشرط فيصح يمينا أو إيقاعا (1/ 235) وبقية الكنايات إذا نوى بها الطلاق كانت واحدة بائنة [3] تحفة الفقهاء (2/ 294) - محمد بن أحمد بن أبي أحمد، أبو بكر علاء الدين السمرقندي (المتوفى: نحو 540هـ) | دار الكتب العلمية، بيروت وكذلك إذا أرادت امرأة إنسان أن تخرج من الدار فقال لها إن خرجت فأنت طالق فتركت الخروج ساعة ثم خرجت لا يحنث ويتقيد بتلك الحال المحيط البرهاني في الفقه النعماني (3/ 498) - أبو المعالي برهان الدين محمود بن أحمد بن عبد العزيز بن عمر بن مَازَةَ البخاري الحنفي (المتوفى: 616هـ) | دار الكتب العلمية، بيروت - لبنان إذا قال الرجل لامرأته حين أرادت الخروج: إن خرجت فأنت طالق، فعادت وجلست، ثم خرجت بعد ذلك ساعة لا تطلق. الجوهرة النيرة على مختصر القدوري (2/ 191) - أبو بكر بن علي بن محمد الحدادي العبادي الزَّبِيدِيّ اليمني الحنفي (المتوفى: 800هـ) | المطبعة الخيرية فَدَلَالَةُ الْحَالِ تُوجِبُ قَصْرَ يَمِينِهِ عَلَى ذَلِكَ السَّبَبِ وَذَلِكَ كُلُّ يَمِينٍ خَرَجَتْ جَوَابًا لِكَلَامٍ أَوْ بِنَاءً عَلَى أَمْرٍ فَتَتَقَيَّدُ بِهِ بِدَلَالَةِ الْحَالِ نَحْوُ أَنْ تَتَهَيَّأَ الْمَرْأَةُ لِلْخُرُوجِ فَقَالَ: إنْ خَرَجْت فَأَنْتِ طَالِقٌ فَقَعَدَتْ سَاعَةً ثُمَّ خَرَجَتْ لَا تَطْلُقُ

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