How Can I Move On after My Wife Took Everything from Me?

Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad

Question

I have just been divorced by my wife Islamically, but I didn’t sign the divorce papers because she took my daughter with her. She took all my life savings which were in her control, and now she has gone to work and met somebody new. I am depressed and tried to commit suicide. My son came to live with me but I have no money as she left me with outstanding rent and took the furniture. I can’t even work due to what she has done.

Answer

Thank you for your question. I am very heartbroken about your situation and I pray that you recover from this. Remember that you still have your faith and that Allah loves you, as you are a believer.

Seek Help

The very best advice that I can give you right now is to get some support in every facet of your life. Get some financial help, get professional therapy immediately, spend time with good friends and family, spend time at the local mosque, speak to your boss, and see if he can support you during your time off. You can’t get through this alone. Depression is not easy at all and it will be difficult to make a plan to move forward until you resolve your emotions. When you make some progress emotionally, you should look into getting your wealth back and fight for your rights of custody and property.

Turn to Allah

Allah loves to be asked and there will be ease after this difficulty. I can guarantee it because this is what He has told us in His book. “So, surely with hardship comes ease. Surely with ˹that˺ hardship comes ˹more˺ ease.” [Quran, 94:5-6] Your supplications are heard, especially when your soul is repentant, broken-hearted, impoverished, and sincere.

The Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “When half of the night or two-thirds of it is over, Allah (the Blessed and the Exalted) descends to the lowest heaven and says, ‘Is there any beggar so that he be given? Is there any supplicator so that he be answered? Is there any beggar of forgiveness so that he be forgiven? (And Allah continues saying it) till it is daybreak.'” [Muslim]

No Hardship

Find solace in this hadith, and hold fast to your faith during this difficult time. Pray on time, read some Quran daily with the meaning, and be grateful for what has not been taken from you. Keep this hadith in mind:

“On the Day of Resurrection the disbeliever who lived the most luxurious will be brought, and it will be said: ‘Dip him once in Hell.’ So he will be dipped in it, then it will be said to him: ‘O so-and-so, have you ever enjoyed any pleasure?’ He will say: ‘No, I have never enjoyed any pleasure.’ Then the believer who suffered the most hardship and trouble will be brought and it will be said: ‘Dip him once in Paradise.’ So he will be dipped in it and it will be said to him: ‘O so-and-so, have you ever suffered any hardship or trouble?’ He will say: ‘I have never suffered any hardship or trouble.’” [Ibn Maja]

Please don’t question your will to live and know that you have worth and are needed in this world by those around you. May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.

[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.