Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

is my husband allowed to live at his childrens house with his divorced wife since she has become ill and unable to take propor care of their children,until she becomes better or they find another solution

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Husband live with divorced wife

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person,  no grave, no prophet,  no imam,  no dai,  nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

A husband who divorces his wife becomes a non-mehram to her, and all the conditions that apply to a non-mehram would apply to him.  Provided all the conditions of associating with a non-mehram person (observance of veil/purdah, no vain or private talk, etc.) are met, there is absolutely no harm or restriction in Islam if two people who are non-mehram to each other live in one house.

Since the divorced wife is sick and there is none to take care of her children, there is no harm if your husband wishes to temporarily live in the house with her and her children until a suitable solution is found.  But if you or your husband fear that this situation would create a ‘fitnah’ or a situation whereby the two people who were once married cannot control their desires, it would be best for them to find another solution and not put themselves in a trial.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan