What is the Islamic stance on domestic abuse, and can a wife seek khula or divorce because of it?

Islam categorically condemns cruelty and abuse within marriage; the Quran instructs spouses to live together in kindness even where affection has faded, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) taught that the best among believers are those who treat their spouses best, explicitly modeling gentleness and never striking his own wives. Scholars across the schools agree that physical harm, humiliation, threats, or severe neglect breach a husband's basic obligations toward his wife, and none of this is excused by claims of religious authority within the household — interpretations of the Quran that are sometimes invoked to justify harsh treatment are firmly rejected by the overwhelming majority of scholars as misreadings that ignore the Prophet's own example. A wife facing abuse has real options: she can seek intervention from family arbiters, appeal to a judge for a judicial divorce (faskh) on grounds of harm, or pursue khula to release herself from the marriage, forfeiting financial claims if necessary to secure her safety. Many contemporary scholars and Islamic legal bodies explicitly affirm that remaining in an abusive marriage is not a religious obligation, and safety takes priority.

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