Enemies from the Day We Married!

05 August, 2017
Q I'm a married woman with three children; I have been married for almost ten years. Since day one of our marriage, my husband and I can’t get along although he loves me and I loved him. Through the years, the problems have grown, and fights have become a daily event in front of the children. I suffer a lot; he hits me when he gets angry and calls me bad names. I have been depressed. When I started to talk over the Internet with my family and relatives, I started to talk to his cousin, too, but my husband became aware of it. By time, however, his cousin and I developed some feelings for each other. When we met, we talked about our feelings and even kissed each other a few times, may Allah forgive me. A year ago, his wife found out, but al hamdulillah she hasn’t told my husband about it. I tried to tell it to my husband because I didn't want him to hear about it someday, but before I began to speak, he started screaming and hitting me and destroying things in the house in front of the kids, so I just said that he had misunderstood me in order to safe myself and the kids. But now I repented, I pray on time, give sadaqah, and cry almost every day because I'm ashamed of myself, and I hate myself for what I did. I just want some advice: should I confess my sin to my husband? The wife of his cousin knows, and I am afraid that she starts talking someday. I emailed her to ask her for forgiveness three times, but she doesn’t believe me. What should I do with that? If I don't tell my husband, how can I live with this lie? We already have problems, but this lie will always stand in our way. What should I do, and how can I know that Allah has forgiven me for this big and stupid sin I committed? I just feel like going away from my family.

Answer

Answer:

As-Salamu `Alaikum dear sister,

If you are being physically abused, you need to find a way to leave until your husband can deal with his temper in a healthier manner. Physical abuse is not something to take lightly as many injuries and even deaths can be attributed to accidental actions during periods of physical abuse. Many abusers, even if they did not intend to injure their loved ones, can easily do so if they lose control of their physical body in such a way, and an accident happens during this time when they do not have control over their actions.

Although what you did was wrong, and you have admitted this and realized this, it is not uncommon for an abused woman to seek refuge in someone or something else. This is because it may seem easier for her to seek an escape rather than to face the prospect of admitting that the situation she is in is dangerous and/or unhealthy and that she needs to leave. In the process of avoiding the most difficult decision she needs to make, a woman may seek other ways to “repair” the problem or deny it. The only way you will solve this problem is to face the real problem. You cannot make excuses for him, or try to fulfill your needs in other ways, or try to avoid thinking about the problem.

Also, keep in mind that although you did something wrong, this does not give him permission to injure you, so do not fall into the trap of thinking you deserve to be abused. Abuse of another human being is never the right of another. There are acceptable ways to communicate displeasure with another person. Some of these manners may involve physical communication. However, there is a big difference between established physical communication and abuse.

You also need to consider your children. Is this how you want your sons to treat their wives? Is this how you want your daughters to be treated? If you continue to allow them to see this example on a daily basis, this will become the relationship pattern they are most “comfortable” with.

 May Allah make it easy for you!

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