Ruling on a woman deeming herself unlawful for her husband

A: Women do not have the right to initiate divorce either by uttering the word of divorce or the word of Tahrim (unlawfulness). Rather, divorce is pronounced only by the husband. Accordingly, what your wife did is not tantamount to a divorce. On the contrary, she is still your wife but must make Kaffarah (expiation) for this oath which is to feed ten (Part No. 20; Page No. 107) needy persons on a scale of the average of what she eats, clothe them, or manumit a slave. In case that your wife cannot afford any of these compensations, she is to fast for three days. In addition, it is not permissible for a woman to curse her husband, her son, or any other Muslim, for the Prophet (peace be upon him) said in a Hadith related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim, "Cursing a believer is as sinful as killing him." He (peace be upon him) also said, "Those who curse cannot be an intercessor nor witness on the Day of Resurrection." (Related by Muslim) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.