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Relationships

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My husband will leave me if I take off the hijab.

354 replies

Lotusflowerbombx · 31/05/2026 23:46

I’ve been married and a revert/covert to Islam for 6 years now for, yes I did it for my husband but I was so blindly in love at the time theres not much I wouldn’t of done. 6 years on and 2 DC I’m questioning everything!! I always have tbh, I’ve spoke many times with my husband about the hijab and how I don’t want to wear it but he said he’ll leave me if I don’t. He’s very much practicing and prays 5x a day at the mosque and he believes I do too but half the time I’m not actually.. I do feel bad about it though that’s why I think do I believe in this religion? When I’m having a bad anxiety day I pray and it makes me feel better but soon as that days done I’m back to pretending :( I had a conversation with my husband the other day about if our daughter didn’t want to wear hijab when she’s older what would he do and his answer was he would wash his hands of her and I just catch fathom how a parent could be so cold.. I hate wearing the hijab I don’t feel free and if my daughter was in my position I would say get rid but I’m just so scared I’ll regret it, is losing love worth it to show my hair? In all other areas he’s great, he’s the best dad and always helping with house work.. if I could dress how I want I would never think about leaving him :( anyone been in a similar situation? I struggle to find anything relatable online

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
stargirl27 · 01/06/2026 14:07

SignGrudgeBluebook · 01/06/2026 13:45

That was my point. The fact there is no legal UK marriage is lucky. @Lotusflowerbombx could simply walk out and take her kids with her although, as I have posted previously, she needs to take extreme precautions commensurate with this particular situation.

The fact there is no legal UK marriage has no bearing on child arrangements.

TheshadesofPemberley · 01/06/2026 14:12

I used to act for women who thought their partners/dh were fine while they toed the line. Different when they started not to. Take care of yourself.

This isn’t about Islam. It’s about men and control.

I have several Muslim friends and only one wears the hijab. The rest don’t.

Take of yourself and contact one those groups listed upthread.

murasaki · 01/06/2026 14:14

If they split, the daughter will be in a hijab pronto on his days, regardless of what the OP or she wants.

SignGrudgeBluebook · 01/06/2026 14:16

stargirl27 · 01/06/2026 14:07

The fact there is no legal UK marriage has no bearing on child arrangements.

It does make a difference compared to what the poster stated that elicited my response. He/she said that in sharia marriage, the children of the marriage are the property and in care and control of the husband.

As there is no formal sharia marriage and no UK marriage at all, the OP is lucky in that her 'D'H has no right to 'ownership' of her children at all.

CornishDaughteroftheDawn · 01/06/2026 14:18

Notsosweetcaroline · 01/06/2026 12:50

This isn’t ok to write. This is a common interpretation many Muslims live with, to decide they are just controlling men and it’s unacceptable isn’t ok. Other people have religious beliefs. Christianity has some very extreme ones,most religions do, it doesn’t mean you get to become abusive as you don’t agree.

Nothing that @stargirl27 said is remotely
abusive.

This isn’t ok to write

It very much is ok to have a discussion about any religion and issues where it is being used to subjugate women (by making them eat a head covering for example) - in fact I think it is our responsibility to have those conversations as a free and democratic society.

Christianity has some very extreme ones,most religions do,

Yes, and we call it out - why do you term a discussion and criticising of poor behaviour in one particular religion (which, let’s face it, hasn’t got the best track record on human rights for women globally) as ‘abuse’?

Rosesandthorns66 · 01/06/2026 14:20

@Cheese55
This is very true, I saw a very nasty side to my ex-husbad after my separation.
They will do anything to hurt you.
I was very naive.

CornishDaughteroftheDawn · 01/06/2026 14:22

CornishDaughteroftheDawn · 01/06/2026 14:18

Nothing that @stargirl27 said is remotely
abusive.

This isn’t ok to write

It very much is ok to have a discussion about any religion and issues where it is being used to subjugate women (by making them eat a head covering for example) - in fact I think it is our responsibility to have those conversations as a free and democratic society.

Christianity has some very extreme ones,most religions do,

Yes, and we call it out - why do you term a discussion and criticising of poor behaviour in one particular religion (which, let’s face it, hasn’t got the best track record on human rights for women globally) as ‘abuse’?

*wear a head covering 🙄🙄

PumpkinsAndCoconuts · 01/06/2026 14:27

Lotusflowerbombx · 01/06/2026 13:57

I didnt expect this post the get the attention it has but my husband is none of the things he been made out to be on here, the simple explanation is if I take my hijab off he’s willing the end the relationship, he’s not gonna kill me or hurt me or try to take the kids. He’s not a bad person he’s a good dad and a good husband and if we were to break up we would just share custody of the kids and I have no problem with that. Islam comes first for him, that’s how it goes and if my daughter ended up not believing in it and he reacts then that’s his problem I would always be there for her, he wouldn’t lay hands on her or anyone. I wrote this last night when I was in a state just so upset by it all knowing I need to choose between my husband and my hijab and it’s upsetting! I appreciate all the genuine advice. I’m safe and so are my kids, I just have a hard decision to make x

Islam comes first for him, that’s how it goes and if my daughter ended up not believing in it and he reacts then that’s his problem I would always be there for her, he wouldn’t lay hands on her or anyone

how would that work if your partner were to disown your DD for not wearing hijab?
How would you provide a safe space for her?
Would you expect her to live with the father who disowned her? Would you try to kick him out? Would you move out with your DD disowned and try to take your DS with you? What would your DS were to refuse to leave with you?
How would you decide which child to prioritise?
what would you do if your DS put Islam above everything and disowned his sister of for not wearing hijab? What if he were to disown you?

If you stay with your partner, you accept that you may very well have to make those kinds of decisions one day. So I would encourage you to decide what you could live with and what risks you’re willing to accept.

(these possibilities obviously don’t just apply to your DD. Your DS could decide to leave Islam - or just not prioritise it sufficiently to satisfy your DH - as well!)

I am glad that your partner isn’t violent and that you are physically safe. I would simply encourage you to think this through. Do you really want this for your DC? Or do you want them to have the freedom of choice?

I would encourage you to prepare for a separation (whether that’s a separation instigated by you or your DP).
do you have your own savings? If you own your house: who is on the deeds? Or who is on the lease of the rental property?
do you have people that would support you in the case of a (messy) breakup and stand up to your partner?

YoCharlie · 01/06/2026 14:27

Lotusflowerbombx · 01/06/2026 13:57

I didnt expect this post the get the attention it has but my husband is none of the things he been made out to be on here, the simple explanation is if I take my hijab off he’s willing the end the relationship, he’s not gonna kill me or hurt me or try to take the kids. He’s not a bad person he’s a good dad and a good husband and if we were to break up we would just share custody of the kids and I have no problem with that. Islam comes first for him, that’s how it goes and if my daughter ended up not believing in it and he reacts then that’s his problem I would always be there for her, he wouldn’t lay hands on her or anyone. I wrote this last night when I was in a state just so upset by it all knowing I need to choose between my husband and my hijab and it’s upsetting! I appreciate all the genuine advice. I’m safe and so are my kids, I just have a hard decision to make x

Islam, if it's true what they say about not requiring the hijab, does not come first for your husband. His interpretation of it or his family's interpretation of it or the mosque interpretation of it, comes first. If he's being contradictory to the teachings, Islam does not come first for him and neither do you or your daughter.

You can't excuse his behaviour because you think he's a good person. A good person would hear what you're saying, research, assess and cooperate. Not threaten you on the basis of incorrect information.

So, either the religion or the culture or both, require you to cover up and will require your daughter to so so, also. You have told us those are the facts. We are saying you don't have to put up with it. You don't have to pretend to be Islamic, you don't have to capitulate to the demands, you don't have to pretend he's a great person etc. You are in the UK. It is not an Islamic state here. Use your courage, your rights, the resources available and get out of a situation that is wrong for you and your children.

If you were okay with it, you wouldn't be here. Now, you see many of us see what you see, no need to doubt yourself. Do what you need to do.

Edited to say: as I said before, the hijab is always "optional" until it's not. Many things are presented as "optional" when you're first inducted into the religion and the noose tightens. Many will say this is not true of Islam but it is, from experience in my own family, so no one can contradict my experience with any degree of knowledge or authority.

stargirl27 · 01/06/2026 14:37

SignGrudgeBluebook · 01/06/2026 14:16

It does make a difference compared to what the poster stated that elicited my response. He/she said that in sharia marriage, the children of the marriage are the property and in care and control of the husband.

As there is no formal sharia marriage and no UK marriage at all, the OP is lucky in that her 'D'H has no right to 'ownership' of her children at all.

not quite right - op is lucky to live in england as her husband wouldn't have the right to 'ownership' of the children. as i said the marriage has no bearing on child arrangements.

DaisyChain505 · 01/06/2026 14:46

@Lotusflowerbombx

No good husband or father would ever contemplate leaving their wife or abandoning their child just for choosing not to wear a piece of material on their body.

SignGrudgeBluebook · 01/06/2026 14:50

stargirl27 · 01/06/2026 14:37

not quite right - op is lucky to live in england as her husband wouldn't have the right to 'ownership' of the children. as i said the marriage has no bearing on child arrangements.

What part is 'not quite right'. It's black and white surely? She lives in the UK. Under UK law she is not married, they are cohabitees. She can walk with no recourse to any other law.

DaisyChain505 · 01/06/2026 14:50

Notsosweetcaroline · 01/06/2026 12:50

This isn’t ok to write. This is a common interpretation many Muslims live with, to decide they are just controlling men and it’s unacceptable isn’t ok. Other people have religious beliefs. Christianity has some very extreme ones,most religions do, it doesn’t mean you get to become abusive as you don’t agree.

DecidIng you will divorce your wife and cut out your child if they decide not to wear a piece of material on their own body is extreme and controlling….theres no other way to put it.

EasternStandard · 01/06/2026 14:50

DaisyChain505 · 01/06/2026 14:46

@Lotusflowerbombx

No good husband or father would ever contemplate leaving their wife or abandoning their child just for choosing not to wear a piece of material on their body.

Agree

stargirl27 · 01/06/2026 15:16

SignGrudgeBluebook · 01/06/2026 14:50

What part is 'not quite right'. It's black and white surely? She lives in the UK. Under UK law she is not married, they are cohabitees. She can walk with no recourse to any other law.

i feel we are going around in circles. i'm well aware of the law. my point is that their marital status has no bearing on child arrangements, so it's neither here nor there that op is not legally married in this jurisdiction.

SignGrudgeBluebook · 01/06/2026 15:29

stargirl27 · 01/06/2026 15:16

i feel we are going around in circles. i'm well aware of the law. my point is that their marital status has no bearing on child arrangements, so it's neither here nor there that op is not legally married in this jurisdiction.

We are arguing the same point but if you saw the post that elicited my reply, you would understand my viewpoint. Oh well.

stargirl27 · 01/06/2026 15:45

SignGrudgeBluebook · 01/06/2026 15:29

We are arguing the same point but if you saw the post that elicited my reply, you would understand my viewpoint. Oh well.

Yep I saw your original comment.

CelticSilver · Today 10:20
The children belong to the father in the event of an Islamic divorce. Be wary.

SignGrudgeBluebook · Today 10:52
Not in the case where there is no legal marriage.

It was irrelevant to mention there is no legal marriage because in any event the children wouldn't belong to the father. Hence my repeated point that the legality of OP's marriage has no bearing on child arrangements. Hope this makes sense.

greencrab · 01/06/2026 16:03

ThatBlackCat · 01/06/2026 10:50

I don't believe it is a symbol of oppression

It truly is. It genuinely, truly is. Just witness the scenes in Iran with women dancing gleefully while removing their hijabs, that they were forced to wear. Then there is the Talibanic Afghanistan.

If it wasn't a symbol of womens oppression, men would wear it also.

I know the below isn't a hijab, but it shows the oppression of women.

That's your opinion and your entitled to it. I have my own opinion and lived experiences that don't align with your beliefs. This thread isn't about me. I am more concerned about the OPs situation which is far more complex that differences in opinion about dress.

At the moment she doesn't seem to fully know what she thinks, feels or wants to do. I'm not sure that a million other people's opinion help, I think for whatever reason she had lost a bit of her identity and needs a little bit of space and time to reclaim and reassess her decisions moving forwards.

I don't know the ins and outs of the relationship. He may be a horrible abusive man, he may be a man who was just clear about how own boundaries, he may be a man who just speaks before he thinks. None of this matters, the OP needs to decide on her own first who she is and how she wants to live. Her first reaction was about love for him and centred on his opinions....I think she needs to focus on herself first and secondary to that is how it affects her relationships including her marriage.

This thread descended into his being Muslim so he might start abusing shadow court systems, kidnap kids abroad (no details on op even suggest he had another nationality) or murder her. there needs to be a balance between having some awareness of risk with actually distracting from the issue at hand and scaring her from moving forwards on her own terms.

stargirl27 · 01/06/2026 16:13

greencrab · 01/06/2026 16:03

That's your opinion and your entitled to it. I have my own opinion and lived experiences that don't align with your beliefs. This thread isn't about me. I am more concerned about the OPs situation which is far more complex that differences in opinion about dress.

At the moment she doesn't seem to fully know what she thinks, feels or wants to do. I'm not sure that a million other people's opinion help, I think for whatever reason she had lost a bit of her identity and needs a little bit of space and time to reclaim and reassess her decisions moving forwards.

I don't know the ins and outs of the relationship. He may be a horrible abusive man, he may be a man who was just clear about how own boundaries, he may be a man who just speaks before he thinks. None of this matters, the OP needs to decide on her own first who she is and how she wants to live. Her first reaction was about love for him and centred on his opinions....I think she needs to focus on herself first and secondary to that is how it affects her relationships including her marriage.

This thread descended into his being Muslim so he might start abusing shadow court systems, kidnap kids abroad (no details on op even suggest he had another nationality) or murder her. there needs to be a balance between having some awareness of risk with actually distracting from the issue at hand and scaring her from moving forwards on her own terms.

Incredibly well put.

OpheliaWasntMad · 01/06/2026 17:50

Notsosweetcaroline · 01/06/2026 11:18

That doesn’t really meet the descriptor for extremism, which is believing one truth but critically imposing it on the rest of society, if he was dictating every woman wore a hijab it would be extremism, but this is just devout or strict,

I disagree . He has a hyper strict interpretation of Islamic requirements and is forcing his wife and daughters to comply with his interpretation. That is religious extremism.

OpheliaWasntMad · 01/06/2026 17:57

greencrab · 01/06/2026 16:03

That's your opinion and your entitled to it. I have my own opinion and lived experiences that don't align with your beliefs. This thread isn't about me. I am more concerned about the OPs situation which is far more complex that differences in opinion about dress.

At the moment she doesn't seem to fully know what she thinks, feels or wants to do. I'm not sure that a million other people's opinion help, I think for whatever reason she had lost a bit of her identity and needs a little bit of space and time to reclaim and reassess her decisions moving forwards.

I don't know the ins and outs of the relationship. He may be a horrible abusive man, he may be a man who was just clear about how own boundaries, he may be a man who just speaks before he thinks. None of this matters, the OP needs to decide on her own first who she is and how she wants to live. Her first reaction was about love for him and centred on his opinions....I think she needs to focus on herself first and secondary to that is how it affects her relationships including her marriage.

This thread descended into his being Muslim so he might start abusing shadow court systems, kidnap kids abroad (no details on op even suggest he had another nationality) or murder her. there needs to be a balance between having some awareness of risk with actually distracting from the issue at hand and scaring her from moving forwards on her own terms.

“I am more concerned about the OPs situation which is far more complex than differences in opinion about dress.”
The “difference in opinion about dress” is massively important because the husband will end the relationship with his wife and disown his own child if they don’t comply with his strict interpretation of Islamic dress.
That’s coercion.

fouroclockrock · 01/06/2026 19:00

YoCharlie · 01/06/2026 07:12

What a ridiculous thing to say especially since the OP said it was him that would leave her if she refused the hijab. See through your own bias before accusing others.

There’s nothing ridiculous about what I said but thanks for your opinion.

fouroclockrock · 01/06/2026 19:02

Ritasueandbobtoo9 · 01/06/2026 07:39

Plus, I get wearing hijab in a hot sandy country but UK is not one. There is no need to wear a hijab in the UK.

Do you really think its worn to keep sand out of your hair? Dont be silly.

YoCharlie · 01/06/2026 19:04

fouroclockrock · 01/06/2026 19:00

There’s nothing ridiculous about what I said but thanks for your opinion.

Yeah, there is because you said we're all crusading for the OP to leave her husband based on our bias against Islam and completely ignored that the OP said her DH would leave her if she rejected the hijab.

You made your story up so, yes, it's ridiculous and you're welcome.

fouroclockrock · 01/06/2026 19:08

CornishDaughteroftheDawn · 01/06/2026 09:23

The father of her children has knowingly denied her the full legal protection of proper marriage by only having a non binding religious ‘marriage’ and has threatened to leave her and disown his daughter if they don’t do something that is only made compulsory by the more extreme end of Islamic followers. But you suggest objecting to this is ‘anti Islam’.

I would suggest that if these extreme demands and behaviours were not done in the name of Islam, there would be far less objections to followers of the religion.

Nope. These kind of threads attack all those who love to hate Muslims. They only did a nikah. The op hasnt commented on who’s idea that was and how she felt about it. There is an awful lot of projection from people so far.

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