The Rules of Separation
Question
Q. Kindly advise rules of separation in Islam. Can the husband and wife be separated and still meet with each other? Is intimacy between the two be halaal or haraam while separated?
Answer
Separation and divorce are two distinctly different things. Separation is when the spouses or either of them choose to live separately while remaining married, and a divorce is the end of the marriage.
Separation by mutual decision is permissible. Separation by one party is not permissible as this leads to neglect of marital responsibilities except under extraordinary circumstances, like domestic violence.
In a separation, the marriage is intact and therefore the couple remains husband and wife. All things that are permissible between the husband and wife including intimacy are permissible for a separated couple.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best
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