Q. A married couple have experienced a marked improvement in their fortunes, earning much more than they used to. However, this led them to do things that they would not have done otherwise. They are fully aware that these practices are not permissible in Islam. But it also led to much friction between them, with either of them resorting to extreme measures, such as the wife preventing her husband from entry into their home when he was drunk. Please comment.
(Name and address withheld)
A. The couple need to have a good look at their behaviour, not only toward each other, but also toward God who has given them plenty of wealth. They should remember that whatever God gives us is a means of testing us. Some of us are tested with poverty or limited means, while others are tested with having plenty. So, using what we have in a way that pleases God is the course of action that brings us God’s pleasure and His reward in the life to come. Moreover, it will bring us an increase of God’s favors in this life. He says in the Qur’an: “If you are thankful, I will increase your blessings.” Now, using the riches God has favored us with to commit serious sinful acts such as drinking and gambling is not a way of thanking God for His favors. If one starts to gamble because he can afford that, he will soon lose his wealth. What he will be left with is the impulse to gamble, and when he does not have the money to satisfy this impulse, he will sell even his clothes to get hold of the money.
What the couple should do is to examine their behavior and look for ways to bring it in line with Islamic values and principles. Unless they do, they will continue to have problems with their marriage in addition to problems resulting from the immediate action they take. They should also look at what happened between them as a lesson which they will do well to heed. If it brings them to the point of one of them putting the other out of their home, then they must do something quick to stop all their sinful behavior and start looking at their wealth as a blessing which they should use to earn reward from God, not to incur His displeasure.